This time, there was no gala opening lunch hosted by the prime minister so all of Italy’s luxury head honchos could rub elbows over pappardelle and listen to powerful state officials sing their praises. Matteo Renzi, briefly the first Italian head of government to ever so overtly embrace the local fashion industry (and now it seems, maybe the last), stepped down in December. That’s usually the issue. Though in point of fact, as Milan Fashion Week got underway, the biggest trend on the runways was inclusion. It started with Gucci, where Alessandro Michele has made something of a signature out of embracing everything and the kitchen sink.

Source: New York Times February 23, 2017 12:00 UTC