Welcome to Fashion Week, BazaarHere’s a quick guide to what the industry is talking about.
This week, we’re focusing on Salone del Mobile Milano (aka Milan Design Week), which will take place from April 16th to April 21st.
Bottega Won’t Put It In The Box
At the Bottega Veneta Winter ’24 show, creative director Matthieu Blazy explained the set design of the catwalk in the show notes: “I visited and thought about the south of Italy, Calabria and cacti. This is an idea of resilience; Cactus grows where nothing else can grow. I would like the floor to be seen as this landscape; “There may be a sense of introspection in the show, but there is also a sense of resilience and hope.”
In an effort to convey durability, Blazy filled the space with LC14 Cabanon stools by Le Corbusier; This was a legendary piece of furniture that first appeared when Le Corbusier found a whiskey box and decided to reuse it.
Now, months after attendees sat on special editions of these stools, a collaboration between Bottega Veneta and Cassina (a retailer of tabourets), they became a hot item when several of the pieces were showcased at Milan Design Week. It was also possible to buy it.
Moncler Switches to Mobile
For the Salone del Mobile Milano, the Italian fashion house transformed the Milano Centrale train station into one of the largest public galleries in the world, hosting an immersive exhibition titled “Invitation to Dreams”.
“Dreams are what has driven me and Moncler forward since day one, because we never stop dreaming about what is possible and how we can inspire and be inspired by others around the world,” said Remo Ruffini, CEO and Chairman of the Board. “We always aim
“Not just to do new, but to do better.”
Curated by Jefferson Hack and filmed and photographed by Jack Davison, the exhibition brought together Daniel Arsham, Laila Gohar, Jeremy O. Harris, Francesca Hayward, Rina Sawayama and many more creative forces for an event that took over one of the world’s most vibrant hubs . city.
As part of the exhibition, all the displays in the station were rearranged to create a “dreamscape” and visitors were also able to admire Davison’s hand-printed lithographic prints on display.
Loewe Enlightens Milan
Besides being known for its artistic fashion, Loewe is slowly branching out into design, offering everything from dazzling pillows to deliciously crafted candles that adorn any space. So it came as no surprise that the Spanish fashion house unveiled an astonishing collection at Milan Design Week that explores a new facet of the home design world: lamps.
The brand commissioned 24 different artists to design lighting for the presentation, including creators Anne Low, Kazunori Hamana and Alvaro Barrington. The collection ranged from sparkling minimalist walnut boxes to hanging leather and paper designs.
“Light is the central medium in all the works on display, and its properties have been adopted and manipulated by each of the 24 commissioned artists, guided by their individual practices,” explained a press release.
Gucci Honors Design Icons
At the Gucci flagship store in Via Monte Napoleon, creative director Sabato De Sarno decided to honor “five icons of Italian design” with a special exhibition called “Gucci Design Ancora” for Milan Design Week.
Michela Pelizzari, co-founder of creative agency P:S, who co-curated the project, said: “Through Design Ancora, Gucci not only celebrates old icons, but also creates new ones. “The aura emanating from the brand highlights five works of Italian masters that are excellent in design but are less known to the public.”
The through line that tied all these redesigns together was the color: Rosso Ancora. To mark Gucci’s next phase as a brand, De Sarno had all the pieces made in this colour, adding a rich, harmonious element to the entire exhibition.
Alaïa Wants to Open “Dialogue”
At Maison Alaïa, creative director Pieter Mulier introduces a new series of cultural projects he calls “Dialogues”.
“I always wanted Alaïa to represent more than clothes,” says Mulier. “That’s how Azzedine looked at Alaïa. He was so forward-thinking that from the very beginning he imagined Alaïa as a whole. As an area where fashion opens up to art and beauty. And this vision continues today. Because I believe that fashion only gains meaning if it connects with its time. “With the world.”
Dialogue 1 took place at Crazy Horse Paris, a cabaret where Azzedine Alaïa created stage costumes for dancers in the late 70s. On the venue’s stage, Sam Rock photographed eleven dancers wearing a rainbow-colored outfit of the iconic Alaïa dress and matching Teckel bags to complete the look. With this photography project, Mulier wanted to celebrate the combination of fashion and dance in this area that is important for the history of the brand.
JW Anderson Found Meaning in Materials
As part of his new collection titled “DAYS,” JW Anderson explored “how one makes meaning from materials” using his eponymous brand. Through this presentation, Anderson aimed to “thematize the labor of art and work” by exploring what it means when we learn from those who made art before us.
For the exhibition, Anderson collaborated with artist Patrick Carroll, who specializes in stretched fabrics and uses yarn from remaining stores to liquidate the industry’s scraps. Carroll’s works were framed and hung throughout the venue, with words like “shame”, “defeat” and “minimalism” on display; invited viewers to investigate their emotions and understand what makes art come to life.
Louis Vuitton transforms a townhouse
At the 7-story mansion off Park Avenue, the Louis Vuitton team transformed the space into an “immersive immersive experience” where visitors can make private appointments and celebrate the brand’s most extraordinary offerings.
Titled “Crafting Dreams,” the exhibition, which runs through May 5, explores the best the brand has to offer and marks the most comprehensive display of know-how Louis Vuitton has ever presented in New York City.
At the event, where everything from chests to fine jewelry and watches will be exhibited, visitors will also have the opportunity to create personalized pieces with on-site craftsmen. Meanwhile, guests will be treated to the premiere of several brand-new tracks, including the Millionaires Speedy 40 from men’s creative director Pharrell Williams.
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