Sustainability was not just a buzzword but the beating heart of this season’s Designers for the Planet showcase, presented at the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana’s Fashion Hub during Milan Fashion Week. Curated by Sara Sozzani Maino, International New Talent and Brands Ambassador at CNMI and Creative Director of Fondazione Sozzani, this thoughtful initiative brought together eight rising fashion voices who are redefining what it means to create consciously in today’s fashion landscape.
The lineup reads like a who’s who of forward-thinking design. Each brand brings a unique interpretation of sustainability, proving that ethics and aesthetics don’t just coexist—they thrive together.
CASCINELLI, founded by the visionary creative behind the label, stands out with its commitment to nature-inspired innovation. Fusing technical mastery with eco-conscious principles, the brand imagines a future where design not only respects the environment but actively contributes to it. Its garments feel like pieces of tomorrow, anchored in today’s urgent climate needs.
Menswear label GROSSI brings new depth to denim. Launched in 2025, the brand crafts Italian-made denim with advanced treatments and textures that add heritage appeal to bold, streetwise silhouettes. Think of it as the evolution of classic workwear into a sustainable style code for modern urbanites.
From Catania, LIZZIO offers a celebration of artisanal knitwear. Established in 2024, the brand revives hand knitting and crocheting techniques with a contemporary eye, using only premium Italian yarns. Every piece tells a story, stitched with heritage, care, and innovation—slow fashion at its most poetic.
Based in Piemonte, LUCIA CHAIN brings an Italian-Argentinian sensibility to sustainable fashion. Their atelier creates plant-based garments using reclaimed fabrics, natural dyes, and low-impact materials. The result is a body of work that is as earthy as it is elegant, reflecting a deep commitment to both craft and the planet.
MAREA dazzles with a wardrobe that moves from boardroom to dance floor, all made from vintage and deadstock materials. The label elevates upcycling into a new form of luxury, showing that old can be not only new again, but also glamorous, sleek, and completely one-of-a-kind.
Then there’s NOIR DECHIRE, a brand that revels in the art of breaking norms. Founded in 2024, this brand introduces a refined yet rebellious aesthetic, playing with distressed details, raw edges, and purposefully imperfect finishes. The result is a striking blend of sophistication and anti-conformist attitude, where every garment feels like a quiet revolution.
SERVATI is built on bold innovation. Launched in 2023 by friends Marco and Molteo, this visionary startup seeks to transform the footwear industry from the ground up. Their 100% recyclable 3D-printed sneakers aren’t just eco-conscious—they’re cutting-edge in both design and performance. With sleek silhouettes and futuristic textures, SERVATI has already earned international recognition for its pioneering approach.
TOLO offers a poetic take on rural life and emotional memory. Inspired by nature’s quiet rhythms, handmade textures, and familiar comforts, the brand’s collection, titled “Beautiful Nostalgia,” evokes the essence of everyday rituals. From natural dyes to tactile fabrics, TOLO celebrates slowness and sentimentality with grace.
Editor Elena Sendona at the Fashion Hub in Milan
These designers don’t just participate in fashion—they push it forward. At the Fashion Hub, their collections weren’t tucked into a corner or treated as a token gesture. Instead, they were given center stage, showing how a powerful blend of creativity and conscience can captivate the industry’s attention. Each piece on display was a physical representation of care—for the environment, for heritage techniques, and for the future of design itself.
