Italy-China Fashion Summit: Celebrating 50 Years of Style and Innovation
To mark five decades of diplomatic and creative collaboration between Italy and China, Milan Fashion Week hosted a series of high-profile events that spotlighted Chinese fashion innovation and cross-cultural exchange.
Summit at the National Museum of Science and Technology
On September 27, the sixth edition of the Italy–China Fashion Summit took place at Milan’s National Museum of Science and Technology. Organized with the support of Class Editori, the event was themed “Forging a New Era of Fashion Collaboration” and focused on pivotal topics shaping the future of fashion: digitalized supply chains, sustainability, and professional training.
The summit brought together leading voices from both nations. Italian industry icons such as Diego Della Valle (Tod’s), Luca Lisandroni (Cucinelli S.p.A.), Antonio De Matteis (Kiton and Pitti Uomo), and Paolo Panerai (Class Editori) shared insights on innovation and global partnerships. Representing China was a top-tier delegation led by Sun Ruizhe, President of the China National Textile & Apparel Council, alongside key figures from major industry associations.
CHEN.1988 Fashion Show: A Cultural Fusion
The day culminated in a fashion show by CHEN.1988, the brand helmed by celebrated designer Chen Long. Held in the evocative setting of the Chiostri del Museo, the show previewed The Ideal Autumn collection, which blended Eastern heritage with a contemporary aesthetic.
Chen Long, recognized as Best Womenswear Designer 2024 and listed among China’s Top 10 Designers 2025, is also a professor at Jiangxi University Fashion Institute and a permanent member of the China Fashion Association. Just days before the summit, he received the 29th China Fashion Designer Top Award 2025, the highest honor in the Chinese fashion system.
His collection featured bold yet fluid silhouettes, a fusion of masculine and feminine codes, and tailored details that conveyed confident, modern femininity—an embodiment of the summit’s spirit of cultural synergy.
Showroom Launch: Spotlight on Emerging Chinese Designers
Complementing the summit, a new showroom dedicated to Chinese creativity was inaugurated on Corso Magenta during Fashion Week. Designed to give emerging designers visibility in the Italian and European markets, the space aims to foster tangible business opportunities and cultural exchange between designers, retailers, and buyers.
