How Milan became one of the main fashion capitals

Milan has a long history in the field of fashion, textiles and design in general. Throughout the late 19th century, the city was a large industrial center, enjoying its status as one of the country's outstanding economic and industrial forces. Milan fashion developed its own approach, which by its nature was devoted to moderation, simplicity and quality of fabric.

The first major departmental store in the country was opened in Milan in 1865. The opening of departmental stores modernized the distribution of clothing in the city. It is interesting that, despite the abundance of excellent textiles and craftsmen, until the middle of the twentieth century, Italy was looking for the latest fashion trends abroad. Even Elsa Schiaparelli, the legendary Italian designer, became famous only after she presented the couture collection in Paris. 

In 1935, the Italian Community of Fashion Designers was founded, which obeyed and followed the ideas of Mussolini. One of the main tenets is the use in production of exclusively Italian models and materials. The Second World War changed the rules of the game in the fashion world. At that time, in New York appeared the phenomenon that  today we mark as Fashion Week. 

Immediately after the end of the war, Giorgini decided to hold a fashion show to introduce buyers and Italian designers to each other. This successful event he organized in his own villa. So, 1951 was the starting point of the history of Fashion Week in Italy. The airport in Florence could not cope with the influx of royalties from around the world and the show was decided to move to Milan. Milan Fashion Week was first held in 1958 on Gattamelata Street, after the National Chamber of Italian Fashion was founded. 

In the early 1970s, Walter Albini, Ottavio Missoni, Krizia, Ken Scott and many others began to leave Roman high fashion catwalks to start a kind of revolution - the origin of ready-to-wear. From that moment, Milan Fashion Week has become one of the most important international events, and Milan’s design has become known for its practicality and simple elegance. And the modern representatives of the Milanese fashion landscape (from Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Missoni to Prada, Versace, Armani and Jil Sander) are the main fashion houses around the world.