Prada has announced the successful acquisition of Versace in a $1.38bn deal, marking one of the most significant shifts in the luxury fashion sector in recent years. The purchase brings together two of Italy’s most celebrated fashion houses, strengthening Prada’s position in an increasingly competitive global luxury market dominated by conglomerates such as LVMH. The price tag represents a considerable loss for Versace’s former owner, Capri Holdings, which acquired the brand for approximately $2bn in 2018.
The sale comes at a time when Versace has experienced slowing sales, along with other Capri-owned labels including Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo. During its ownership, Capri oversaw a creative shift at Versace, steering the brand away from its signature ornate aesthetic toward more minimalist styles while simultaneously increasing prices. The transition followed the departure of Donatella Versace, who stepped down as creative chief in March after leading the fashion house for 27 years following her brother Gianni’s death.
She was succeeded by Dario Vitale, formerly a design director at Prada’s youth-oriented label, Miu Miu. Capri Holdings stated that proceeds from the sale will be used to significantly reduce its debt, strengthening its financial position moving forward. Meanwhile, Prada expressed optimism about Versace’s long-term potential, with Prada CEO Andrea Guerra noting earlier this year that the brand represents a major strategic opportunity.
Prada confirmed in a brief statement that all regulatory approvals have been secured, officially closing the acquisition and ushering in a new era for Versace under Prada’s expanding luxury portfolio.
A historic chapter closes and another begins at Fendi as Silvia Venturini Fendi hands over the creative reins to Maria Grazia Chiuri. After more than thirty years defining the aesthetic of the Roman maison, Venturini Fendi steps back while remaining Honorary President, allowing Chiuri to usher in a new era that balances heritage with modernity.
Born in Rome and trained at the Istituto Europeo di Design, Maria Grazia Chiuri has left a distinctive mark on the fashion world, including her pioneering role as the first woman to lead design at Dior. Known for her poetic vision and political awareness, Chiuri champions fashion that is thoughtful, meaningful, and rooted in craftsmanship.
At Fendi, she inherits a house celebrated for its artistry, bold silhouettes, sumptuous materials, and deep ties to Rome. Her mission is to reinterpret this legacy through her own lens, marrying the discipline of tailoring with imaginative fluidity. Chiuri’s debut collection for Fall/Winter 2026–27 is eagerly anticipated as the first expression of this dialogue between tradition and innovation.
Silvia Venturini Fendi, the last active member of Fendi’s founding family, closes her chapter having shaped menswear, accessories, and countless iconic collections, her influence permanently woven into the house. This handover represents more than a leadership change—it is a convergence of two Roman women whose visions intersect in their respect for heritage and drive for reinvention.
As Fendi enters this new era, Maria Grazia Chiuri is poised to craft a narrative where femininity becomes a declaration, and fashion remains a living art form anchored in the present.
Reliance Brands Limited (RBL) has entered into a long-term master franchise agreement to bring MAX&Co., the contemporary Italian fashion brand under the Max Mara Fashion Group, to India. The partnership will introduce MAX&Co.’s modern, quality-driven collections and mix-and-match approach to Indian consumers, expanding its appeal among fashion-forward women.
The first MAX&Co. store is set to open in Mumbai in early 2026, followed by expansion into major Indian metros. The store will feature the full range of the brand’s offerings, including apparel, accessories, and its signature seasonal “&Co.llaboration” capsules — limited-edition creative partnerships that highlight its directional and non-conforming spirit.
“MAX&Co. embodies a bold, modern expression of femininity — dynamic, joyful, and unapologetically individual — a spirit that deeply resonates with the evolving style and confidence of Indian women,” said Isha Ambani, Executive Director, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited. “Through our partnership with Max Mara Fashion Group, we are proud to bring this iconic global brand to India and shape a new chapter in contemporary women’s fashion.”
Maria Giulia Prezioso Maramotti, MAX&Co. Brand Divisional Director and Board Member of Max Mara Fashion Group, added, “We are pleased to join forces with Reliance Brands, whose expertise in building and nurturing global premium brands makes them an ideal partner. India represents a vibrant and forward-thinking market that shares our passion for creativity, style, and self-expression.”
Founded in 1986, MAX&Co. has evolved into a global contemporary fashion brand, distributed online and through over 400 stores worldwide. With this partnership, Reliance Brands continues to expand its portfolio of international luxury names, reinforcing its leadership in India’s fashion and lifestyle retail sector.
For FENDI’s Spring/Summer 2026 show at Milan Fashion Week 2025, acclaimed industrial designer Marc Newson redefined the runway experience by crafting a surreal and visually captivating set—an undulating field of pixelated color blocks inspired by quilt compositions and the organic randomness of flowers.
Held inside the Palazzo Fendi, the show space was transformed into a pixelated terrain, where boxes of varying heights and sizes were meticulously arranged in tonal shifts of white, yellow, turquoise, red, coral, and pink. From above, it resembled a magnified digital image, with each “pixel” acting as part of a larger, changing mosaic. As models walked, the surface moved slightly beneath them, creating an interactive experience that merged motion, color, and spatial awareness.
This set wasn’t just backdrop—it was integral to the narrative of the SS26 collection. The clothing responded to the set, incorporating many of the same hues and geometric principles. From cropped blazers and balloon hems to oversized cotton coats, each piece was designed to interplay with the environment, enhancing the volume and silhouette against the shifting background.
The materials—organza, jacquard, technical fabrics, cotton, and leather—were chosen not just for texture but for the way they interacted with light and motion. The garments explored fullness, void, and contrast, amplified by the moving, polychromatic set.
Musical direction by Frédéric Sanchez added another sensory layer to the experience. The score included excerpts from Italian opera and cinema, combined with electronic music, forming a sonic environment that evolved with the models’ steps. The music mirrored the dynamic shifts in both the set and collection, bringing rhythm and emotion to every look.
Marc Newson’s vision for FENDI’s SS26 show presented a dialogue between fashion, technology, and landscape—a reminder that the runway can be both a canvas and a collaborator. The result was a multi-sensory display of transformation, color, and form, solidifying FENDI’s position at the intersection of craftsmanship and future-forward design.
Giorgio Armani, the Italian fashion designer whose name became synonymous with elegance, precision, and power, has died at the age of 91. Over a career that spanned more than six decades, Armani changed the language of fashion—removing stiffness from men’s tailoring, empowering women with refined suits, and leaving an unmistakable mark on red carpet culture.
Born in 1934 in Piacenza, northern Italy, Armani came from humble beginnings shaped by war and scarcity. He originally pursued medicine and served in the army before beginning his career in fashion as a window dresser. It was there, on the shop floor, that Armani’s acute understanding of fabric, form, and what people wanted to wear was forged. Rising through the ranks, he became a buyer, then a designer, eventually working for Nino Cerruti before founding his own label in 1975 with his partner Sergio Galeotti.
Together, they built an empire that challenged convention. Armani softened menswear—introducing more fluid shapes and luxurious fabrics—and hardened womenswear, with sharply tailored suits that reflected women’s growing presence in the workplace. His designs communicated quiet power and modernity, worn by some of the most influential figures of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Hollywood embraced his vision early on. In 1980, Richard Gere wore Armani in American Gigolo, launching the designer into global stardom. From there, he became a red carpet mainstay, dressing stars like Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Zendaya, and Russell Crowe. He created stage outfits for Lady Gaga and film costumes for The Untouchables and The Wolf of Wall Street. Armani understood better than anyone that image was power—and his garments delivered it.
He was also a man of principle. In 2006, he became the first designer to ban underweight models from his runway shows, following the tragic death of Ana Carolina Reston. His business remained fiercely independent, resisting outside investment while expanding into beauty, fragrance, hotels, music, and sport. With annual revenues exceeding £2bn and a personal fortune estimated at $13bn, Armani was one of the last great independently owned fashion houses in the world.
Tributes poured in from across the globe. Donatella Versace called him “a giant,” Julia Roberts described him as “a true friend,” and British designer Paul Smith praised his “staying power” and “down-to-earth nature.” Actor Russell Crowe recalled Armani being present for many significant moments in his life, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called him “an icon, a tireless worker, a symbol of the best of Italy.”
Even in his final years, Armani remained creatively active, presenting his last collection remotely from Milan in July 2025. His March show earlier that year was a call for global harmony—his design always reflecting the times, always evolving with the world.
Behind the discipline and minimalism was a deeply private man who lived with quiet intensity. He swam daily in a specially designed pool just one yard wide. He worked tirelessly, never satisfied, always in pursuit of perfection. Armani once said, “I never give up until I’ve achieved the results I want.”
He is survived by the brand he built, the style he transformed, and a legacy woven not only into fabric but into the very way people see themselves. Giorgio Armani wasn’t just a designer—he was a revolutionary. And he will be remembered as one of the greatest ever to shape the world of fashion.
