Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Prada and Versace are all returning to the runway in September, according to the Milan Fashion Week calendar published Wednesday.
After the coronavirus pushed many fashion houses to make online-only presentations in July, more than half of participating Milan fashion houses are making plans to present in-person previews for Spring-Summer 2021.
Due to ongoing virus precautions, including social distancing and mask requirements, as well as some travel restrictions, fashion houses have indicated that seating will be more limited than usual at next month's shows.
FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019 file photo, models wear creations as part of the Fendi Spring-Summer 2020 collection, unveiled during the fashion week, in Milan, Italy. Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Prada and Versace are all returning to the runway in September, according to the Milan Fashion Week calendar published on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. After the coronavirus pushed many fashion houses to make on-line only presentations during the last fashion week in July, more than half of participating Milan fashion houses will hold physical shows to present previews for Spring-Summer 2021 in September. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno, File)
Italy was the first country outside of Asia to report locally transmitted coronavirus cases, which appeared during the February runway shows in the Lombardy region that includes Milan. Closing the week that saw the fashion crowd packed as usual into to tight venues, Giorgio Armani took his collection online, with models parading the collection in an empty theater as the show streamed around the globe.
Many followed suit for this summer's menswear presentations. Dolce&Gabbana and Etro were the only Milan designers to invite guests to physical shows. But fashion industry officials acknowledged that digital proved a poor substitute.
In all, 28 fashion houses plan to stage live shows and another 24 will participate in the Sept. 23-28 Milan Fashion Week through digital shows.
FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020 file photo, Miuccia Prada acknowledges the applauses at the end of her Prada women's Fall-Winter 2020-2021 fashion show, that was presented in Milan, Italy. Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Prada and Versace are all returning to the runway in September, according to the Milan Fashion Week calendar published on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. After the coronavirus pushed many fashion houses to make on-line only presentations during the last fashion week in July, more than half of participating Milan fashion houses will hold physical shows to present previews for Spring-Summer 2021 in September. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno, File)
Dolce&Gabbana, Salvatore Ferragamo, Max Mara and Marni will also be present physically, along with younger brands like No. 21, Sunnei, Drome and MSGM. Missoni, DSquared2 and GCDS are among those opting for a digital presence.
Notables missing from the calendar will be Gucci, which announced that it would seek its own fashion rhythms outside of established calendars, and such Milan stalwarts as Jil Sander and Bottega Veneta.
FILE - In this Saturday, Jan.11, 2019 file photo, designer Giorgio Armani, center, accepts applause at the conclusion of the Emporio Armani men's Fall-Winter 202021 collection, that was presented in Milan, Italy. Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Prada and Versace are all returning to the runway in September, according to the Milan Fashion Week calendar published on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. After the coronavirus pushed many fashion houses to make on-line only presentations during the last fashion week in July, more than half of participating Milan fashion houses will hold physical shows to present previews for Spring-Summer 2021 in September. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno, File)