Patrizio Bertelli says Miu Miu return to Milan impossible

By

Dominique Muret

Published
May 27, 2013

The controversy around Milan Fashion Week continues and in the most recent twist, Prada’s Patrizio Bertelli came back at Giorgio Armani’s call for Italian designers to relocate their shows to the Italian fashion capital, with a resounding no. For the group’s second line Miu Miu, a return to the Milanese calendar is out of the question.

According to him, it is logistically impossible to stage two fashion shows in the five short days that are Milan Fashion Week. The Prada boss, husband to Miuccia and recently-named vice president of the Italian chamber of fashion is in the thick of the controversy that is rocking Italian fashion. Several weeks ago the association decided that designers who are not members of the Camera della Moda will no longer feature on the official Milan Fashion Week schedule.

Amongst non-members are Italian heavyweights Dolce & Gabbana and Giorgio Armani. For the next Men’s Fashion Week in Milan, Dolce & Gabbana has chosen to present their collection outside of the normal Milan Fashion Week schedule. Giorgio Armani, however, has decided to take a more flexible approach and its “open to discussions”, according to president of the chamber, Mario Boselli and will feature on the official program.

The designer has said that he is willing to join the chamber if other big Italian names do the same and return to Milan to present their collections.

To take stock on the whereabouts of other labels, Miu Miu and Valentino currently take part in Paris Fashion Week while Diesel Black Gold and Philopshy by Alberta Ferretti feature on the programme in New York. Moschino’s second line Moschino Cheap and Chic shows in London and even himself Giorgio Armani chose Paris and not Rome for the presentation of his haute couture Armani Privé label.