Milano Fashion Week

Hello fashion enthusiasts! 

In this week's article, we discuss the highlights of the Milano Fashion Week, one of the most prestigious fashion events in the world.

This event, where creativity, design, and luxury meet in the fashion world, continues to enchant fashion lovers worldwide every year. However, let's focus on the aspects related to our field and the green world for the future.

If you're ready, let's get started… 

But first, let's briefly talk about the agendas :)

The Venue of Fashion: Milano

Milano is not only one of the most important fashion centers in Italy but also in the world. The city offers a unique atmosphere by blending its historical texture with a modern design understanding. Milano Fashion Week is one of the significant international events that presents the new trends of the most important Italian brands for spring-summer and autumn-winter twice a year. The first show of 2024 was held between February 20-26.

At this ‘Fashion Week’, kings and queens of the industry, such as Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Botega Venetta, participated with their special shows from the front row.

Sustainability and Fashion

According to Reuters: 'Textile consumption in Europe has the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change after food, housing, and transport.' With this understanding, when we set out, the textile industry needs to take control of all its processes (from production to consumption) for a greener world in terms of sustainability. In the EU, approximately 5.8 million tons of textile products are thrown away each year, averaging about 11 kg (24 pounds) per person, and a large portion of these ends up in landfills or is incinerated. High-emission production processes complicate this transformation. A study conducted by Wrap shows that each ton of clothing produces about 26.2 tCO2e (ton of carbon dioxide equivalent) in the UK. Another part of the sustainability issue with textiles arises from cotton being the most consumed textile fiber worldwide (due to its quality and absorbency). This indicates that there is an urgent need for sustainable production methods in the fashion and textile industries; recycling and better processing of clothing and textile waste are not sufficient; perhaps it is necessary to incentivize companies through reward systems.

In addition to production, it is essential to promote a change in the consumption process, working decisively to reduce the need for new garment production. Adopting concepts like circular fashion, where clothes are designed to be recycled and passed on, can contribute to a more sustainable industry that uses resources efficiently.

What is Circular Fashion?

Circular fashion is a system where clothing items are produced with a thoughtful model, and both the production and the end of the product are equally important. This approach expresses a cycle where brands create products with materials and production methods that have core human and environmental sensitivities. Circular fashion emphasizes maximizing the value of a product until the end, then completing the process by reusing it for another purpose and ultimately recycling it. Therefore, the ultimate aim is to transform the product instead of throwing it away after use.

The Sustainability Process at Milano Fashion Week 

First, we need to explain how sustainability began in such events. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic showed its impact, representatives from fashion giants such as Chloé, Missoni, Dries Van Noten, and Gucci signed an open letter to the fashion industry, promising to enhance sustainability along the supply chain and sales calendar through actions like producing fewer products and using sustainable materials, revisiting and adapting shows. And this promise was not only initiated by these brands and this organization; brands and organizations worldwide have started implementing it. New products have begun to meet people. The menu has expanded. For example, bags made from chitosan, the second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose, which can be obtained from the shells of shellfish, insects, and fungi, and does not contain plastic, were used.

Last week, during Milano Fashion Week, THEMOIRè, known for its vegan bags produced 100% in Italy, introduced its latest collection "Wings of Change" along with the innovative Infinity Forest project. So what is the feature of the collection? It is sustainable :) Co-founders and Creative Directors Salar Bicheranloo and Francesca Monaco position THEMOIRè as a pioneer in sustainable fashion by leading the brand's commitment to environmental and social responsibility. THEMOIRè, recognized for its beautiful practices, has won awards such as the PETA Vegan Fashion Award and was nominated for the 2022 Sustainable Fashion Awards.

Sustainability Awards at Milano Fashion Week

CarbonSmart has compiled the highlights of Milano Fashion Week for you:

• Gucci's collection inspired by "The Joy of Life" received great attention.

• Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons created a collection emphasizing the importance of craftsmanship in Prada's latest collection. The aim of the collection was to highlight creative craftsmanship and the future sustainability of fashion.  

• In Fendi’s Milano Fashion Week collection, the elegance and freedom of Rome were celebrated.

• Max Mara showcases Colette's bold style and love for freedom with androgynous details and sophisticated features in the collection.

What is CarbonSmart doing?

It is a technology company that provides technological solutions that allow you to manage and reduce your carbon footprint, conducting analyses from production to consumption in compliance with regulatory requirements and standards.

For detailed information about our solutions, you can contact us.