Not a day more and not a day less: autumn has arrived with its decisive force, closing the doors to summer once and for all. But the end of the hot season, in the fashion world, always marks a new beginning: that of the spring/summer collections, the moment when Milan Fashion Week and the Milano Fashion Week events kick off.
But to whom does the fashion week? In recent years, the catwalks and Milan Fashion Week events have increasingly become shows designed for content creators and cameras, rather than for journalists and insiders. What was once the meeting point between aesthetics, market and languages is now in danger of falling flat, just like the official calendar.
The real sap is to be found elsewhere, in independent presentations, where emerging designers keep an authentic identity alive. It is no coincidence that the Milan Fashion Week spring/summer 2026 announced more than ten firsts, like a new season of a cult series: an invitation to those in the industry to be surprised by those who bring new ideas and perspectives, and to the new creative talents to get involved.
Is there room in fashion for up-and-comers?
Among the most anticipated protagonists of this edition are the new creative directors of major fashion housesfigures that inevitably turn the spotlight and turn Fashion Week into an edition destined to remain in the memory.
Never before has there been such a high concentration of "first times": by Louise Trotter for Bottega Veneta and Simone Bellotti for Jil Sander, who chose the catwalk format, to Dario Vitale from Versace and Demna for Gucciboth started with reserved events, designed to gradually reveal their visions already anticipated between red carpets and campaigns.
No wonder, then, that expectations are high: at a time when the industry is looking for direction, there are many open questions.
Will the dominance of minimalism continue or will the push of maximalism return? Will the nostalgia effect and the recovery of archives retain their influence? Or will we witness a real rupture capable of redefining codes and restoring centrality to the art of dressing?
Questions that will only be answered over time. In the meantime, for those who dream of making their way or are taking their first steps in this world, in this article we leave a guide to the events Milan Fashion Weeka useful path for those who want to create their own brand, seek inspiration for their next collection or simply immerse themselves in new experiences.
It is worth reading all the way through: the events are valuable opportunities for emerging designers and creative people who want to grow, discover new perspectives and, above all, meet people who can make a difference.
Do you know the new talent?
Each edition of the Milan Fashion Week brings with it anticipation and curiosity, but that of September 2025 with the collections spring/summer 2026 has a distinctive feature: the significant number of new names and debuts that promise to refresh the landscape with bold ideas and out-of-the-box visions.
For a emerging designer or a young creative, following these news is crucial: it means learning how to decipher hidden trends, understanding the mechanisms of brand communication and discovering how other talents are facing the challenge of turning inspiration into business.
Among the most anticipated debuts is KNWLSa London-based label founded by Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault, already a finalist for the LVMH Prize. The duo proposes fashion that speaks directly to the new generations, fusing graphic aesthetics, sensuality and rebellion. Their collections put in dialogue strength and vulnerabilityconstructing an imagery that goes beyond the garment to become a statement of identity.
For those who want to understand how to communicate a brand with consistency and courage, KNWLS is a valuable case study.
A completely different but equally disruptive approach is that of House of Pezzo, a project created by the creative studio Pezzo and already known for its 3D and VFX productions. Their Milan debut will not just be a presentation of clothes, but atotal visual experiencewith monumental installations and digital narratives capable of generating viral engagement on social networks.
The message for young designers is clear: fashion no longer lives only on the catwalk, but is fed by transversal languages involving art, technology and contemporary visual culture.
From another corner of the world comes Îacarébrand founded by Bolivian designer Sarah Maria Gutierrez. Its leather goods are rooted in the natural heritage of the Pantanal and use traditional leathers in a key sustainable and responsibledemonstrating that contemporary luxury can no longer ignore ethics and transparency.
For those who dream of building a brand today, Îacaré represents a model of how it is possible to reconcile craft heritage and conscious innovation.
Completing the picture are internationally renowned designers, such as Dhruv Kapoor e Pierre-Louis Masciawhich for the first time will enter the official calendar of women's fashion shows.
All these debuts testify to one reality: fashion is undergoing a phase of openness towards new creative geographies, hybrid languages and courageous identities. For young creatives, observing them means getting a live lesson in how to build a brand capable of excite, innovate and stay relevant.
Fashion Week as a creative gymnasium
More than 170 events will populate the city of Milan from 23 to 29 September, including more than 50 live shows accompanied by some presentations in digital format, some seventy showroomseveral meetings by appointment only for insiders and about around 30 side events between exhibitions, talks and installations.
While the big maison occupy the main slots of the official calendar, the real creative revolution takes place in the alternative spaces dotting the city of Milan during the presentation of the spring/summer 2026 collections.
The showrooms of the Quadrilatero are transformed into contemporary art galleries, where young creatives present their visions through immersive installations that go beyond the traditional presentation concept. Brera and Porta Garibaldi become open stages for temporary pop-up stores and static presentations that allow a more intimate contact between creator and audience.
La digitisation has amplified these opportunities: many emerging designers choose hybrid formats combining physical presence and streaming, reaching international buyers who could not be physically present. The capsule collections dedicated to the sustainability find space in side events that attract a new generation of conscious consumers.
Particularly significant is the mentoring programme that Camera Nazionale della Moda has developed, building bridges between industry veterans and new talents. Workshops, masterclasses and networking events multiply in the days preceding and following the official week, transforming Milan into an open-air campus.
Events and initiatives, open to the public and free of charge
La Milan Fashion Week, that's to give them credit, is trying to open its doors to those who want to experience fashion up close. For the emerging designers and young creatives, Milano Fashion Week events are a great opportunity: being able to participate in side events, exhibitions, talks and performances means absorbing cultural stimuli, networking and understanding how the fashion system dialogues with other arts and the public.
An unmissable and very cool event is the Cinemoda Clubdesigned by Vogue Italy together with Kering.
- From 25 to 27 September, three historic cinemas in Milan will host a review of 36 films that interweave cinema and fashion, from the great classics to more contemporary documentaries. For a young designer this is a visual lessonunderstand how the language of film can broaden and strengthen the imagery of a brand.
Another example of openness to the public is Out of fashion by nsswhich transforms a newsstand in Piazza Bruno Buozzi into a hub of meetings, screenings and live performances. Not just an event, but a urban laboratorywhere fashion and street culture mix, creating a space for direct confrontation with other creatives.
- For those who want to launch their own brand, observing how fashion takes to the 'streets' is crucial to understanding how to dialogue with new communities.
An innovative format is also The Lyas Watchparty, which brings fashion shows live in bars and shared spaces, overturning the idea of exclusivity typical of fashion weeks.
- Here fashion becomes a collective momentto be experienced as if it were a concert or a sporting event, demonstrating how powerful the participatory dimension is.
On the visual arts front, Milan will host impressive exhibitions: Francesco Vullo with its provocative installations at Sunnei, the retrospective dedicated to Man Ray at the Royal Palace, the solo exhibition of Glen Luchford at 10 Corso Como and the immersive experience by Alejandro González Iñárritu at the Fondazione Prada. Each of these initiatives helps to understand how fashion is part of a broader cultural system, combining photography, cinema and contemporary art.
Finally, there is no shortage of pop experiences such as the Egg Hunt by Dieselan urban treasure hunt involving the city with prizes linked to the SS26 collection. In short, an all-round fashion week, where every event could be the sign you've been waiting for to take courage and try your hand at being a new face in fashion.
For a emerging designerparticipating in fashion shows, exhibitions, talks and open events means training the eye, nurturing creativity and understanding how fashion is changing. But inspiration alone is not enough: to make the leap, you need to turn it into a concrete project, able to speak to an audience and stand out in a competitive market.
This is precisely where Be a Designernot just a style office, but a creative partner that helps you from your ideas, ambitions and values to build a solid path. Through trend analysis, moodboard development, collection design and the definition of a visual identity, it accompanies you in the process of creation of a unique and recognisable brand.
Whether you dream of launching a streetwear line, a sustainable project or a more experimental capsule, Be a Designer offers you the tools to turn your imagination into a tangible, competitive and growing reality.
In other words, Fashion Week can give you the spark, but it is with the right support that that energy becomes a project. If you feel your time has come to take the plunge, Be a Designer is the space where your inspirations turn into a winning brand.
Book a free call, it is your space where you can talk about your projects and finally give shape to your dreams.
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