MFW Tech Highlight, Sending Glow in the Dark Shoes Down the Runway

As Milan Fashion Week comes to an end, we can’t help but feel horribly disappointed at the lack of innovation on their runway this season. With Dolce and Gabanna leading the way, their most innovative idea, besides the glow in the dark shoes, was inviting a host of Millennial-and-under internet stars to sit on their FROW.

A model wears a creation for Dolce & Gabbana women's Spring-Summer 2017 collection, part of the Milan Fashion Week, unveiled in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A model wears a creation for Dolce & Gabbana women’s Spring-Summer 2017 collection, part of the Milan Fashion Week, unveiled in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

As I ponder on this, I find that Stella McCartney‘s words, ‘I am “creating a society that does not need technology to live,” are still ringing in my ears. Leaving me wondering did I miss the technology? I am starting to believe that might not have been the case. Maybe I was wrong for expecting more, but after NYC and London had shown us their cards I had truly hoped to be wowed by something tech related from Milan.

No.21 Glow in the Dark Shoes debut at MFW 2016 runway
No.21 Glow in the Dark Shoes debut at MFW 2016 runway

Which brings us to the glow in the dark shoes that were sent down the runway by No. 21. A decision made by designer Alessandro Dell ‘Acqua, the VA VA voom shoes grabbed the headlines because of the reflective tape that was applied to the pumps and flat forms. Ok, not quite fashion tech, but three and a half stars for thinking slightly outside the box. We are sure that for No.21, it was the kind of fashion innovation that gave their SS17 sport glam with elements of folkloric, a little something extra.

Vogue Italia Editor Franca Sozzani
Vogue Italia Editor Franca Sozzani

Away from the Milan runway, I am happy to say that there was something with elements of technology that caught our attention. It was the new exhibition that opened on the first day of Milan Fashion Week at Mudec (the Milan Museum of Cultures).  Open to the public from 21 September to 13 October 2016, ‘Crafting the Future’, is an exhibition curated by Franca Sozzani, the editor of Italian Vogue. It brings together crafts excellence and ‘Made in Italy’ companies investing in the development of new technologies applied to fashion, with particular attention paid to the issue of sustainability.

Crafting the future exhibition: stories of craftsmanship and innovation
Crafting the future exhibition: stories of craftsmanship and innovation

Telling stories through videos and multimedia devices, the message that we received loud and clear from the exhibition was that just “because something involves technology doesn’t make it less time-consuming to create”. No truer words have been spoken this season at Milan Fashion Week.

Want more Fashion Week Tech? Be sure to relive New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week.

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