Milan Fashion Week 2025 kicks off Tuesday with a tribute to Giorgio Armani and debuts at Gucci and Versace.

Milan Fashion Week, considered the grand celebration of Italian style, kicks off this Tuesday, September 23, with an air of homage and renewal.

The big focus will be the legacy of designer Giorgio Armani, who died in early September at the age of 91 , while the catwalk also opens up to new creative voices at iconic houses such as Gucci and Versace.

Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Max Mara, Fendi, Roberto Cavalli, Ferragamo, and Bottega Veneta are also part of the women's collection presentation calendar for the Spring/Summer 2026 season.

“We celebrate Milan Fashion Week in memory of one of its founders: Giorgio Armani,” said Carlo Capasa, president of the Italian National Chamber of Fashion, highlighting the designer's creative, entrepreneurial, and human qualities.

Even before Armani's death, the city was already preparing to pay tribute to the maestro who made Milan the capital of style. An exhibition featuring 150 of his most iconic designs will open at the Pinacoteca di Brera, where his latest creations will be displayed. His group confirmed that he worked on this project "until the last minute."

The week will also be marked by the debuts of prominent designers. Among them is Demna, who, after a decade at Balenciaga, joins Gucci with the mission of reinvigorating the French group Kering's brand. Although outside the official calendar, his presentation will take place on Tuesday at a private event that will include a film showcasing his vision for the house.

Dario Vitale, meanwhile, will assume the creative direction of Versace for the first time, having replaced Donatella Versace on April 1. His debut will be an "intimate event" on Friday, where he will unveil a collection that, according to the program, "embodies the foundations of the brand and reflects Vitale's new language." Vitale's arrival coincides with Prada's acquisition of Versace.

In addition, British designer Louise Trotter will present her first show for Bottega Veneta , while Italian Simone Bellotti will do the same for Jil Sander.

The event comes at a challenging time for the luxury industry, marked by slowing demand in China and global economic uncertainty. However, some analysts see signs of improvement. "With rising prices, it's always necessary to offer something new to the consumer," Bernstein specialist Luca Solca explained to AFP. According to him, the unprecedented changes in the creative teams respond to this market demand.