Two weeks ago, we headed to Milan, just before the start of Fashion Week, to learn more about the latest developments in an industry that moves at a pace almost impossible to keep up with. The fairs dedicated to fashion and accessories – MICAM Milano, MIPEL, TheOne Milano, and Milano Fashion&Jewels – brought together thousands of professionals from the sector from all over the world, making Fiera Milano Rho the perfect location to discover new projects, share ideas, and discuss the challenges that need to be faced. Today, we shine a spotlight on Milano Fashion&Jewels, which we had previously visited and which continues to establish itself as an unmissable event on the international scene.
In the days leading up to Milan Fashion Week, one of the essential stops on the international fashion calendar, thousands of buyers, journalists, and exhibitors were already working tirelessly at some of the most important events in the sector. These fairs, held simultaneously in a shared location, welcome a diverse range of creatives, brands, and projects from across this vast industry. From footwear to jewellery and accessories, Milan not only becomes the epicentre of fashion shows for a week each season, but it also serves as a meeting point for many industry agents who have much to contribute to the functioning of the global fashion system.
The last time we visited Milano Fashion&Jewels, we saw an event that was not only up to date with the latest developments in the field but also paying special attention to what is to come, with a particular focus on consumer needs and how brands are adapting to an ever-changing landscape. This strategy looks to the future, analysing the challenges, problems, and opportunities that each season presents, capturing the interest of new audiences. The four fairs held simultaneously at Fiera Milano Rho attracted 40,449 professional visitors, 45% of whom were from abroad, representing 127 countries, including Japan, China, France, Spain, Germany, Greece, and Turkey.
These successful results show how Milan, one of the prime showcases for major brands launching their new collections, also offers a prominent space for smaller, independent projects, as well as those that approach fashion from a more commercial, street-focused perspective and offer solutions for everyday life. From promoting craftsmanship and local techniques that make each project unique through immense creativity and hours of hard work, to the integration of technology in a sector that can significantly benefit from these new tools.
After attending the latest edition of Milano Fashion&Jewels, we must highlight its commitment to young talent and its support for emerging projects as one of its main strengths. While many fashion fairs and events focus exclusively on established brands, this fair dedicates much of its efforts to positioning younger projects on the international stage through strategic partnerships with design schools and organisations. Special mention must be made of its collaboration with the IED (Istituto Europeo di Design), which continues to support emerging creatives through the Contemporary upcycling project, culminating in a fashion show during the event.
Focusing on upcycling and tailored to the individual personality of each designer, the participants in this latest edition included Attilio Pallagrosi, Silvia Marsano, Tamar Bregadze, Mariana Maurity, Nirvana Rahmani, Neshat Jeganegi, Pasquale Montoro, Ines Barreto, Sophie Kuhar, and Surabhi Awate. Their work was showcased during a fashion show in the Fashion Hub area of Fiera Milano. We also thoroughly enjoyed the jewellery exhibition, in collaboration with Poli.Design, where stylists and designers interpreted the seasonal essentials of two macro trends presented during the last edition of Milano Fashion&Jewels: Beautypure, a trend that connects with the core value, and Adorabold, which blends strength with lightness.
Among all these pieces, we were particularly impressed by a necklace in silver and semiprecious stones designed by Marco Gurrieri for Gurrieri Gioielli, as well as a necklace created by Elisabetta Carozzi in borosilicate glass and PVC, dedicated to Louise Bourgeois. Special mention should also be made of the brooch in silver and semiprecious stones by Pegbijoux, and another by Laura Visentin Contemporary Jewellery, a brooch in silver, with a picture on canvas and watercolours. The work of Davide Golzio for wayfordesign also caught our attention, especially a bracelet incorporating a miniature high-heeled shoe, made from painted nylon PA12 – a distinctive addition to the current scene.
Milano Fashion&Jewels fosters conversations that are beneficial both for the most established projects and for creatives who are just starting their brands. It generates a dialogue in which past, present, and future coexist, crystallised through presentations and fashion shows that are well worth attending. If you'd like to learn more, the fair has just announced the dates for its next edition: 20–23 September. We, of course, will be there.
