From the British to the Italian fashion capital, we are geared up for a pretty interesting week. Over the past year, we saw major fashion houses switch up their creative directors, and now, we are geared to see their respective debut collections, starting with Demna’s Gucci. Beyond that, we had Dhruv Kapoor blending heritage with experimentation and the disruptive Diesel shaking things up with their interactive runway. If you missed it all, don’t worry, as we recap the runways from Milan Fashion Week SS26: Day 1
Diesel
Creative Director Glenn Martens decided to push Diesel’s ethos of disruption by going off the runway. Designed as an egg hunt, models were placed in a transparent egg all over Milan, from parks to piazzas. Reportedly, approximately 5,000 people signed up to find all 34 looks. The looks themselves were just as disruptive. The collection featured a range of deconstructed pieces, cut-outs and raw hems, and plenty of denim on denim looks.
Dhruv Kapoor
Indian designer Dhruv Kapoor has been widely recognised as fashion’s one to watch as he channels his Indian roots through creative experimentation. In his SS26 collection, ‘Foundations & Futures’, we got precisely the foundation of Indian garments reimagined. Petticoats, vests, and other underwear were refashioned into outerwear, turning garments hidden beneath as the centre of attention. Intricate embroidery, floral motifs, and beadwork were all over this collection, adding to the glamour, while exaggerated drawstrings added to the cheekiness.
Alberta Ferretti
Another show that was inspired by intimacy was Alberta Ferretti. But instead of undergarments, we got the freedom of privacy. Titled ‘In Confidence’, the collection lived and breathed sheer comfort. Fluid fabrics, relaxed silhouettes, and drapery that frames the body. The palette was fairly neutral with a hint of leopard print that aimed to add a sense of sophisticated eccentricity, according to the show notes. Overall, Alberta Ferretti’s woman is a no-nonsense woman pulsing with quiet confidence.
Gucci
The moment we were all waiting for, Gucci’s new vision under Demna. Two days ago, we got a taste of what to expect with Gucci: La Famiglia, where Demna merged fashion with characters. Now we see fashion merged with film. A spectacle on the inner workings of fashion, The Tiger was our runway, with models and celebrities sporting the collection at the film’s “premiere”. The collection itself was a dialogue between the past and present. A bit more sculptural but with plenty of familiar references, Demna’s Gucci has reshaped the past to tell the story of the future.
