Milan Fashion Week 2017: Inclusion, Gucci's Expansion, and Political Shifts

Milan Fashion Week opened without a gala from the Prime Minister, as Matteo Renzi resigned and Paolo Gentiloni stayed in Rome. The New York Times noted inclusion as the biggest runway trend, though the article questions whether fashion, inherently elitist, can truly embrace inclusivity. Gucci presented 120 looks in its new 337,000-square-meter headquarters, with Alessandro Michele's rococo style blending punk, Oriental, Elizabethan, and gypsy influences, driving positive sales. Prada, however, reported declining numbers; Miuccia Prada and Fabrizio Bertelli have contributed significantly to Milan, but the brand's foreign expansion faltered, and the latest collection seemed derivative of Michele's hyper-decorated aesthetic. Fendi, owned by the French conglomerate that also controls Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Yves Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga, continues to focus on fur as core business, a challenging niche. Donatella Versace's show featured bold slogans like LOYALITY, COURAGE, EQUALITY, STRENGTH, UNITY, and LOVE, promoting unity and hope. The article also references Italy's 40% youth unemployment and global precarity among Millennials, contrasting with fashion's high prices.