A transition is underway in the Milan fashion scene, with new designers taking over traditional brands and younger creatives breaking out with their own labels. Stella Jean included sweaters, some with rural scenes or Russian iconography, knitted by women in quake-struck central Italy. The collection included handbags created from inlaid wood backgammon boards made in Damascus and shipped by taxi to Beirut for the journey to Milan and onto the fashion runway. Khalaf, 29, left Syria four years ago to study fashion, first in Milan and then Rome, where he completed a master's degree in haute couture. More conventional silhouettes, like nubby sweaters with straight skirts, were dressed up with colorful furry wraps and shiny black caps with matching fur accents.

Source: ABC News February 26, 2017 20:50 UTC