Giorgio Armani finally joins Italian Chamber of Fashion

By

Dominique Muret

Published
Nov 21, 2013

In a period of crisis and incertitude in Italian fashion, fashion designer Giorgio Armani has joined the Italian Chamber of Fashion (CNMI), an association created in 1990, uniting 140 labels and fashion houses in the country.

In May of this year, vice-president of the CNMI and Prada boss Patrizio Bertelli caused a stir when labels Dolce & Gabbana and Giorgio Armani were struck from the official Milan Fashion Week calendar after declining invitations to become members of the association.

The Milan-based designer has in the past criticized other Italian fashion houses - namely Valentino and Prada’s second line, Miu Miu – for choosing to present their collections in other cities. Armani had previously said that he would only join the association on the condition that other Italian brands decide to also show in Milan.

Showing a sense of team spirit for the Italian fashion industry, during the past two Milan Fashion Weeks (menswear in June and womenswear in September), Giorgio Armani allowed emerging designers to use his famed theatre as the backdrop for their runway shows, a location which until then exclusively hosted the brand’s own presentations.

In September, Costume National – designed by Ennio Capasa – decided to bring its show back to Milan after a 20-year stint in Paris.

"While I still believe that all Italian brands should hold their fashion shows in Italy to give due prominence to our country, as an entrepreneur I understand that certain situations, created over the years, need time to be reorganised," Armani told WWD. "I appreciate the move made by Ennio Capasa, which constitutes an important first step in this direction.

“In the hope that other Italian companies follow this example, in the meantime it seems only right, and indeed necessary, for me to send a further strong signal of commitment and confidence aimed at boosting an upswing in the vitality of Italian fashion and, at the same time, to show a sign of support for the actions undertaken by the other brand members of the Italian Chamber of Italian Fashion," he continued.