Milan Fashion Week's black vans invade public space, sparking sustainability hypocrisy

Milan Fashion Week, organized by the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, has been criticized for its massive invasion of public space by black vans and Mercedes limousines that shuttle guests between shows and parties. The vehicles, often with NCC licenses from remote Lombard municipalities, park illegally on sidewalks, bike lanes, and pedestrian islands, creating hazards for cyclists and pedestrians. The area around Fondazione Prada during the Prada show was particularly congested. Critics note that while the fashion industry loudly promotes sustainability, the event's mobility practices are outdated and disrespectful. Unlike other major Milan events like Design Week or concerts, Fashion Week causes disproportionate disruption. Some journalists anonymously call it 'disgusting' and a '90s relic.' Milan, recently named the world's most walkable city by Nature Cities, could instead encourage walking, public transport, or cycling. The article questions why guests cannot move independently and highlights the contradiction between eco-friendly rhetoric and diesel-powered shuttle fleets.