The 2026 Secoli Fashion Show brings volume to mental spaces

On June 5th, 2026, 47 young designers, applauded by 500 guests, showcased their creations on the catwalk at Talent Garden in Milan. This annual event, known as the Secoli Fashion Show, celebrated the completion of their studies and the beginning of their professional journeys in the fashion industry, transforming their personal thoughts, visions, and imaginations into garments.

The Secoli Fashion Show 2026 focuses on “Spazi Mentali”

The Secoli Fashion Show is a collective event dedicated to students completing their three-year degree courses in fashion design. Each year, the show features a different theme that the students, organized into groups, reinterpret to create cohesive collections.

The theme for the 2026 Secoli Fashion Show was “Spazi Mentali,” which means “Mental Spaces.” This theme aimed to guide students through a creative process that transitioned from the concrete to the abstract and back to reality, offering a fresh perspective shaped by their experiences.

This creative journey was expressed through volume construction, material research, design, treatments, and the development of a personal aesthetic language. The process emphasized creation as a journey rather than a destination, resulting in six distinct collections focused on specific research areas: Sperimentazione_Materica (Material Experimentation), Sperimentazione_Sociale (Social Experimentation), Sperimentazione_Etica (Ethical Experimentation), Sperimentazione_Performativa (Performative Experimentation), Sperimentazione_Concettuale (Conceptual Experimentation), and Sperimentazione_Visiva (Visual Experimentation).

Before the main event, students participating in the Designer to Watch project had an opportunity to present previews of their collections. This initiative recognizes students who graduated from Istituto Secoli in the previous academic year and excelled in their thesis projects.

Collaborating with the industry’s companies

The “Spazi Mentali” collections were created in collaboration with several leading companies in the textile, technology, and manufacturing sectors, including ALBINI GROUP, ASAHI KASEI FIBERS ITALIA – Bemberg™, BRUNELLO, CANDIANI, CORIUM PRODOTTI ALPHA, EUROJERSEY, MACPI, LECTRA, LUXURY JERSEY, STRATASYS, and ZEROW.

This collaboration provided students with the opportunity to experiment with various materials, processes, and technologies, enhancing the connection between education and industry. This dialogue is essential for the future of fashion.

As is customary, there were awards given to outstanding future designers for their exceptional work. The Candiani award, which includes a supply of denim fabric, was awarded to Diego Barretta.

Finally, the 2026 edition of the Secoli Fashion Show was supported by Regione Lombardia, Comune di Milano, ANTIA ETS, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, IACDE, and Piattaforma Sistema Formativo Moda ETS.

Sperimentazione_Performativa

We are delighted to have collaborated once again with the students of Istituto Secoli in 2026. This partnership supported the creation of the Sperimentazione_Performativa collection, which involved providing denim materials and garment-finishing treatments to help students explore their insights on fabrics. Every year, we take pride in witnessing the dedication and commitment of these young individuals as they bring their ideas to life and deepen their understanding of our industry’s dynamics. Below is a gallery showcasing their stunning outfits.