Milan Fashion Week Kickoff
MILAN — The Milan creative scene gathered to celebrate the start of Milan Fashion Week at the WWD Culture Club Milan event on Monday. Prominent figures from various sectors including fashion, beauty, design, hospitality, retail came together for an evening of Franciacorta, canapés, and cocktails in the courtyard of the Portrait Milano hotel, taking advantage of a lovely last day of summer.
Notable Guests
Attendees included Alessandro Michele, the creative director of Valentino, alongside CEO Riccardo Bellini, footwear designer Giuseppe Zanotti, and Moncler’s executive chairman Remo Ruffini. Other notable personalities included Diego Della Valle of Tod’s, Luigi Maramotti of Max Mara, and Marco Credendino of Artemest.
WWD Culture Club seeks to honor those shaping Italian and global culture. The first edition was held in London in 2025.
Highlights of the Evening
In her opening remarks, Amanda Smith, CEO of Fairchild Media Group, expressed, “Italy has always been the heartbeat of global luxury and design.” Conversations flowed freely about summer vacations and the exciting week ahead, which featured roughly 218 events across both physical and digital platforms.
Culinary Delights
Guests enjoyed a dinner featuring a traditional Italian menu of risotto, beef filet, and tiramisù. The event was presented by Aily Labs, an AI-driven decision-making tool, and guests also had the opportunity to take Polaroid souvenirs at a photo booth sponsored by Milan’s FastenSeatBelt and PilotRoom.
Explore More: View the WWD Culture Club 2026 Cocktail and Dinner in Milan.
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