Milan's design ethos is infused with an innate sense of elegance and sophistication, derived from its rich history as a global centre of fashion. Its fashion sector is closely linked to its design scene, which takes cues from its materials, trends, and aesthetics. This effect is amplified during Milan Design Week when fashion brands use the occasion to highlight their abilities in design beyond garments. The distinction between fashion and design is blurred as renowned fashion houses transfer their distinctive designs and philosophies into tangible, three-dimensional forms. From architectural installations to product designs and furniture collections, fashion houses seamlessly integrate their distinctive style into diverse design disciplines, leaving an indelible mark on the creative landscape of the city during the design week.

Amidst the stirring of the fashion world's most captivating, challenging, and eccentric ideas on creativity during Milan Design Week 2024, fashion houses showcased their prowess. STIR at Milan Design Week 2024 delves into the realm of presentations and design installations by the fashion houses this year.

LOEWE

LOEWE unveiled its ambitious collection of lighting designs at the design exhibition, featuring lamps crafted by 24 renowned artists, marking the brand's eighth showcase at the design event. Each artist explored the properties of light, manipulating materials like bamboo, paper, and glass to create innovative designs inspired by natural and man-made objects. The lamp designs pushed boundaries, introducing new techniques and materials while expanding on generations of design and crafts knowledge. Standout pieces included Genta Ishizuka's lacquer lamp, Dame Magdalene Odundo's leather creation, and Enrico David's human-form-inspired design. Other artists, such as Hafu Matsumoto and Zizipho Poswa, drew from personal experiences to shape their creations. The collection also included homewares and bespoke designs, showcasing collaborations with featured artists. LOEWE's commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability was evident in its innovative offerings, reflecting the brand's ongoing dedication to artistic exploration and collaboration.

Hermès

At Milan Design Week 2024, Hermès presented The Topography of Material at La Pelota, focusing on earth's materiality and showcasing new and archival objects. Traditional Italian flooring patterns, sourced nationwide, reflected ancestral craftsmanship. Visitors experienced a meditative journey across bridges amidst the bustling event. Hermès creations were discreetly displayed behind an illuminated slit, juxtaposing contemporary and historical pieces. The showcase aimed to bridge Hermès' modern language with its history, demonstrating consistent influences and techniques across collections since the 1930s.

Gucci

Gucci presented Design Ancora, a special project that was unveiled at the Via Monte Napoleone flagship store during the design fair. Creative Director Sabato De Sarno aimed to redefine iconicity by showcasing a special edition of five objects symbolising Italianity, interpreted for contemporaneity as a homage to the golden age of Italian design. Architect Guillermo Santomà designed the space for the presentation, with the products available for purchase on Gucci's website afterwards.

Armani/Casa

Giorgio Armani's new Armani/Casa collection, Echoes from the World, was unveiled at the historic Palazzo Orsini during Milan Design Week 2024. The exhibition featured rooms inspired by regions dear to Armani, showcasing a fusion of interior and fashion design. Visitors followed a golden ribbon through the palazzo, encountering iconic chairs and table designs like the Trocadero table and Sofia chairs representing Europe, and the Vivace table and Venus console reflecting China. Arabian influences were seen in the Club bar cabinet, while Berber culture inspired the Morfeo bed and Esagono coffee tables. Each room merged furniture design with clothing and personal artefacts, highlighting Armani's global inspirations and Italian craftsmanship.

Other renowned brands showcased at the design festival were Bottega Veneta partnered with the Le Corbusier Foundation to reimagine its LC14 Tabouret Cabanon stool, while Yves Saint Laurent worked alongside the Gio Ponti archive to develop a special porcelain collection. Prada, in collaboration with FormaFantasma, hosted its Prada Frames seminar talks, focusing on the theme of Being Home. Issey Miyake partnered with the Dutch collective We Make Carpets to create a distinctive carpet using 60,000 bamboo skewers, lauded for its combination of strength and intricacy, and displayed on tulip tree wooden beams at the Via Bagutta flagship in Milan. Fendi Casa's presentation at Via Manzoni highlighted intimate settings focused on the iconic 'double F' logo. It introduced new collaborations such as the Fendi F-Affair sofa by Controvento, while also expanding existing collections with pieces like Thierry Lemaire's Mrs Parsifal armchair and Cristina Celestino's Ottavia armchair.

Milan Design Week 2024 saw fashion houses merging fashion and design, expanding beyond clothing to redefine the city's design scene. From LOEWE's light exploration to Hermès' introspective journey through materials and from Gucci's tribute to Italian design to Armani/Casa's global influences, each brand made a memorable impact with its unique presentations. This collaboration between fashion and design extended to Bottega Veneta, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Issey Miyake, and Fendi Casa, showcasing Milan's diverse creative landscape. As the curtains close on another design week, the city remains a hub of creativity and possibilities, where fashion and design seamlessly blend to inspire global audiences.

Stay tuned to STIR's coverage of Milan Design Week 2024 which showcases the best of exhibitions, studios, designers, installations, brands and events to look out for. Explore EuroCucina and all the design districts—Fuorisalone, 5vie Design Week, Isola Design Week, Brera Design District and Porta Venezia Design District.