Milan Design Week 2025: The Intersection of Fashion and Design
Milan Design Week 2025 began with great energy, showcasing fashion houses that presented innovative designs at iconic historical landmarks. These events created a cultural experience that blended fashion and design in a way never seen before. The exhibition featured numerous events that successfully combined creativity with craftsmanship.
“Bamboo Encounters” and Gucci’s Innovation at San Simpliciano Abbey
A standout event was “Bamboo Encounters,” organized by Gucci at San Simpliciano Abbey. This exhibition featured a collection of fashion that fused tradition with modernity. The use of bamboo, an unconventional material, highlighted the connection between fashion and nature.
“Second Skin” Exhibition by Aesop at the Carmine Church
At the Carmine Church, Aesop presented the “Second Skin” exhibition, which celebrated craftsmanship in leather design. The exhibition focused on natural materials and their interaction with the architectural design of the church, adding a unique layer to the overall event.
Loewe at the Citterio Palace and Milan Central Station
Loewe chose the Citterio Palace to showcase a collection of playful teapots, adding an artistic touch to the presentation. At Milan Central Station, Prada Frames further blurred the lines between fashion and architecture. The display demonstrated how fashion can integrate seamlessly with public spaces.
Saint Laurent and the Tribute to Charlotte Perriand
A major highlight of the week was the grand showcase by Saint Laurent in tribute to designer Charlotte Perriand. The exhibition highlighted Perriand’s role in shaping interior design and the relationship between furniture and architecture, emphasizing her lasting influence on the design world throughout the 20th century.
Bamboo: A Symbol of Innovation at Gucci
Few materials are as synonymous with the Gucci brand as bamboo. Since it was first used in the iconic Gucci bag of 1947, bamboo has become a defining element of the brand’s identity. Over the years, it has evolved into a symbol of continuous innovation, deeply ingrained in the history of the Florence-based fashion house.
“Gucci Bamboo Encounters”: The Interaction of Art and Material
At the 2025 Milan Design Week, Gucci presented “Gucci Bamboo Encounters,” an artistic event that invited seven artists to showcase their interpretations of this unique material. Curated by Ippolito Pestelli Labarili, founder of the 2050+ platform, the event took place in the Cloisters of San Simpliciano. The exhibition featured a variety of artistic styles and expressive mediums, highlighting bamboo’s versatility.
Diverse Artistic Works
The works presented spanned sculpture and material design. Swedish-Chilean artist Antón Álvarez created an interactive sculpture that creatively used bamboo. Palestinian architect and artist Dima Srouji displayed a series of baskets containing hand-blown glass elements, seamlessly integrated with bamboo in an innovative design.
Meanwhile, the Dutch design group Kite Club introduced a charming collection of kites entirely made of bamboo. The kites offered a meditation on bamboo’s flexibility, demonstrating how the material adapts to different contexts.
Participating Artists
In addition to the artists already mentioned, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Loridès Gallie, and Cesan Li contributed their own works to the exhibition. These artists explored the many possibilities of bamboo, emphasizing its chameleon-like quality. Bamboo, with its remarkable flexibility, can take on various forms and ideas, making it a perfect material for creative experimentation.
Loro Piana Transforms into a Luxe Cinema in the Heart of Milan
During Milan Design Week, Loro Piana presented a unique experience in the Cortile della Seta courtyard at its headquarters. This space, typically known for its simple natural lighting, was transformed into a luxurious cinematic scene that evoked the atmosphere of the 1970s.
A Luxe Cinematic Experience in the Heart of Milan
Visitors were greeted by a cinema-style entrance draped in red curtains, adding an opulent touch to the ambiance. As guests passed through the curtains, they entered a fully furnished home that combined classic cinematic elements with the sophisticated atmosphere of a Milanese apartment.
A Mix of Luxurious Designs and Art
Inside the space, the exhibition showcased furniture from Dimorestudio, specially designed for the Loro Piana Interiors collection, as well as reupholstered antique pieces crafted from Loro Piana’s luxurious fabrics. The event also featured artworks from renowned galleries like Tornabuoni Art, Cardi Gallery, Galleria Gracis, and Secci Gallery, which enhanced the artistic nature of the exhibition.
A Cinematic Addition to the Sensory Experience
To deepen the sensory experience, the event offered four-minute sessions curated by composer and multimedia artist Nicola Guedocchi. The soundtrack included dialogue snippets from a rainy night, a ringing phone, and piano melodies. These elements created an immersive cinematic atmosphere, enriching the visitors’ journey into the world of Loro Piana.
Reviving Charlotte Perriand’s Legacy in the World of Design: A New Tribute from Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent is one of the most influential names in design, with a deep connection to the renowned designer Charlotte Perriand. During Milan Design Week 2025, Anthony Vaccarello, creative director of Saint Laurent, honored Perriand’s legacy by unveiling a distinguished collection. This collection brings to life four pieces of furniture Perriand designed between 1943 and 1967, which previously existed only as sketches or prototypes.
The Revived Pieces
This collection serves as a tribute to both Perriand’s exceptional talent and Saint Laurent’s visionary design. For this special event, the following pieces were recreated:
- Rosewood and Bamboo Sofa (1967): Originally designed for the Japanese ambassador’s residence in Paris, this piece combines luxury with an Eastern-inspired aesthetic.
- Mille-Feuilles Table (1963): Perriand initially created a miniature version of this table in 1963. Now, it has been reproduced in full scale as a new tribute to the designer.
- Indochina Guest Armchair (1943): Designed for her own home, this armchair exemplifies simplicity and elegance.
- Rio de Janeiro Library (1962): Created for her husband Jacques Martin’s apartment, this piece blends opulence with practicality.
A Double Tribute to Design Vision
For the first time, these pieces were created in their full size exclusively for Milan Design Week, showing deep respect for Perriand’s legacy and Saint Laurent’s vision. These items will be available through a special order system once the exhibition concludes, making them rare and unique works of art.
“The Versace Art of Living” at Milan Design Week: A Balance of Luxury and Heritage
Despite recent changes at Versace, following Donatella Versace’s announcement of her resignation as creative director last month, her luxurious vision for home design remains unchanged. She clearly demonstrated this vision in her distinctive presentation at Milan Design Week 2025, titled “The Versace Art of Living.”
A World of Balance, Opulence, and Heritage
The exhibition presented a world that evoked a fantasy of balance, opulence, and heritage. Versace skillfully blended luxury with traditional touches, staying true to the house’s signature style. The Harem Chair stood out as the star of this presentation. It was reimagined with a luxurious steel frame, thick padded satin cushions, and the iconic golden Medusa head, a symbol synonymous with the brand.
A Modern Twist on Classic Heritage Pieces
The exhibition also featured an update on the classic Vanitas wooden chair, originally designed in 1994. Reupholstered in luxurious velvet fabric, this piece embodied a fusion of modernity and heritage, showcasing how Versace integrates both into its luxury furniture pieces.
A Complete Lifestyle
In a statement, Versace emphasized that the essence of the brand extends beyond clothing to encompass a complete lifestyle. “To embody Versace,” she said, “means adopting a lifestyle that combines pride in heritage with modernity, living it fully – wearing it, eating in it, sitting on it, and sleeping in it – with determination and clarity of purpose, without compromise.”
Fendi Casa Celebrates Collaboration with Louis Kimino at Milan Design Week
Fendi Casa continued its collaboration with British designer Louis Kimino, a partnership that began at Design Miami. This year, they showcased their latest work at Milan Design Week 2025. Kimino took charge of decorating the facade of the flagship Fendi store on Via Manzoni. He used large panels with abstract designs that metaphorically reflect the savoir-faire craftsmanship, which defines the brand’s Italian furniture.
Luxurious Duality in Interior Design
These works captured the duality present in Fendi’s new interior design collection, seamlessly blending rich luxury with elegant simplicity. The collaboration between Fendi and Kimino perfectly embodied the Italian house’s spirit, known for its elegance, opulence, and seamless integration of modern innovation.
Notable Additions to Fendi’s Collection This Year
Several standout additions defined this year’s collection:
- “Cover” Sofa: Designed to be “elegantly wearable or suitable for everyday use,” this piece cleverly references reliable wardrobe essentials, blending comfort with luxury.
- “Twist” Chair: Designed by Stefano Gallezioli, this chair features a wooden frame wrapped in leather. Its armrests, inspired by twisted ribbons, give it a modern architectural flair.
- “Later” Modular Sofa: Designed by Sirianni Zostak, this sofa draws inspiration from the rational architectural style of Fendi’s iconic Rome headquarters. It seamlessly blends luxurious and appealing design, making it a standout piece in any space.
Issey Miyake Unveils New Innovation in Design: “Type-XIII Atelier Oï”
Issey Miyake invited visitors to its flagship store in Milan to unveil its new project, “Type-XIII Atelier Oï.” This collaboration between the Swiss design studio Atelier Oï and the A-POC Able Issey Miyake team explores the limitless possibilities of the iconic “A Piece of Cloth” concept, blending art and design in a distinctive style.
Innovation in Lighting and Design
The exhibition showcased prototypes of innovative lighting pieces. These pieces were created using a single wire and a single piece of fabric, shaped into various configurations. The designs offered new insights, staying true to the brand’s philosophy of combining elegance and simplicity in a single piece.
The Two Main Collections
“A” Series
This series pays tribute to Miyake’s famous 1997 runway show, where models were connected by a continuous piece of fabric. In this project, a pre-knitted strip is stretched to create a lighting composition made of three connected units. These units can be cut to fit the desired size, allowing customization for any space.
“O” Series
Inspired by the Japanese art of Ikebana (flower arranging), this series consists of five sculptural lighting pieces. These pieces resemble decorative flower arrangements and are designed for easy movement within the home. They showcase Steam Stretch fabric made from recycled polyester, which appears to bloom spontaneously in multiple directions.
Hermès in Milan: “The Box of Light” Redefines Home Design
In a bold departure from the dim atmospheres Hermès previously used to showcase its collections, the brand transformed its exhibition space at La Pelota into a pristine white box. Designed by Charlotte Macaux Perelman, the architect and artistic director of Hermès’ home collections, the exhibition offered an innovative design that harmonized lighting and geometric abstraction.
Exhibition Concept: “To design an object, and to create it, we need a box”
Before entering the exhibition, visitors heard the phrase: “To design an object, and to create it, we need a box.” This set the stage for an exhibition that centered around the box as a symbol of formation and creation. Geometric structures suspended from the ceiling, illuminated from below by fluorescent lights, mimicked the marble block that sculptors work with in their craft.
Displayed Pieces: A Fusion of Art and Function
This year’s Objects For The Home collection showcased several items blending functionality with artistic aesthetics. These pieces were placed within cavities of the geometric structures or displayed on sculpted shelves. Notable pieces included:
- Contrepoint Dinner Service by Nigel Peake
- Pivot D’Hermès Side Table by Thomas Alonso
- Double D’Hermès Pitchers
- H Partition Sofa Covers by Hermès Studio
This exhibition not only highlights Hermès’ dedication to blending craftsmanship with art but also redefines our view of the relationship between everyday objects and the spaces they inhabit.
Giorgio Armani Celebrates 25 Years of Armani Casa with the “Asian Inks” Collection in Milan
After impressing visitors two years ago at the Orsini Palace on Via Borgonuovo, Giorgio Armani shifted the focus to the brand’s flagship store at Corso Venezia to mark the 25th anniversary of Armani Casa. The event unveiled the new “Asian Inks” collection of home accessories.
Collaboration with de Gournay
Armani collaborated with de Gournay to present innovative updates to iconic furniture pieces from the Armani Casa permanent collection. The pieces were enhanced with intricate silk embroideries, delicate beadwork, and gold applications, featuring symbols like bamboo, dragons, and tropical forest landscapes. These symbols were chosen for their representation of strength, resilience, and endurance—qualities Armani seeks to convey to those who own and admire these pieces, inviting them into a world of luxury and inspiration.
A Stunning Artistic Detail
One of the exhibition’s standout pieces featured embroidery of a scene with monkeys in a canopy on the “Amedeo” bed. This project took over 200 hours of meticulous work to perfect every detail.
A Vision for Art and Design’s Future
In a statement, Armani shared, “The exhibition and new pieces, which exemplify the highest levels of craftsmanship, are visible through the windows to anyone walking by. I love the idea of a surprise that grabs attention, offering a proposal that broadens horizons, now that horizons are often narrow.”
This celebration of Armani Casa’s milestone not only showcases a legacy of design excellence but also presents a forward-thinking vision that blends the past, present, and future of luxury living.
Jonathan Anderson’s Legacy at Loewe Continues Through “The Tea Pot” Exhibition at Milan Design Week
Despite his departure from Loewe, Jonathan Anderson’s influence remains deeply felt, with his legacy showcased at the 9th anniversary of the artisan exhibition during Milan Design Week. The Spanish brand presented the unique “The Tea Pot Loewe” exhibition, featuring 25 diverse interpretations of the traditional teapot by 25 international artists. This exhibition marks Anderson’s final showcase curated before his departure from the brand.
Diversity in Designs
The exhibition featured a range of interpretations—from classic designs using traditional ceramics to more unconventional, boundary-pushing creations that challenged design norms. It reflected Loewe’s ability to seamlessly blend artisanal craftsmanship with contemporary creativity. Some standout pieces included:
- A teapot by South Korean artist Jin Yang-Dhain, featuring a coral-like glossy glaze.
- A surreal design by Spanish artist Laya Arqueros Claramont, incorporating two faces within the teapot.
Symbol of “Intimate Rituals”
Described as embodying intimate rituals, the exhibition positioned the teapot as a symbol of the deep, almost spiritual connection humans have with this everyday object. Each piece told a personal story, reflecting cultural diversity and the artistic interpretations of a single, timeless concept.
Through this final project, Anderson’s creative vision continues to inspire and shape the future of design at Loewe.nfluence at Loewe continues to resonate, celebrating the intersection of tradition, art, and innovation.
Dior Maison and Sam Baron Collaboration: “Ode to Nature” Creations
Dior Maison has taken a new step by collaborating with French artist Sam Baron to expand its “Ode to Nature” collection. The new collection includes three glass vases, each standing one meter tall. These vases showcase intricate craftsmanship, reflecting the haute couture tradition Dior is famous for.
Nature-Inspired Design
Each vase features a unique garden with intertwined branches, petals, and leaves. The fine details exemplify Dior’s signature craftsmanship. Made using the blown glass technique, the vases were inspired by the original Miss Dior Amphora perfume bottle, released in 1947.
Meticulous Crafting Process
The creation of each vase started with a wavy glass tube. Artisans gently blew and shaped it over several hours to form its distinct shape. Then, decorative details were added carefully to enhance the design.
Historical Connection to the Brand
These vases are reminiscent of the flower arrangements that Christian Dior, the brand’s founder, insisted on having in his salon. As a tribute, each of the three designs was made in a limited edition of just eight pieces — the lucky number of the late designer.
Conclusion
This collaboration highlights Dior Maison’s skill in blending artistic design with natural elements. The vases are more than just decorative items; they are artistic legacies that reflect a long tradition of luxury and creativity.
