MU LAND STORYTELLING

On October 10, Milano Unica presented MU Land, a journey to discover the Spring/Summer 2026 Tendenze.

 

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The concept behind the Spring/Summer 2026 Tendenze is the Territory in its dual meaning of physical place and inner space. On the one hand, it recalls the idea of exploration and innovation; on the other, it symbolizes a personal journey toward creating balance and harmony with nature. MU Land reflects an invitation to connect environmental sustainability and individual well-being by offering natural and technologically advanced materials that combine tradition and innovation.

 

The "Land of Fashion: Natural Resonances and Biomimetics" talk opened with a welcome message from Milano Unica’s President Simone Canclini, who proudly highlighted the event's success. Despite the complex economic scenario, Canclini reiterated that creativity and sustainability remain two key market drivers. Industrial tradition and Made-in-Italy excellence enable Milano Unica to concentrate on the proposition of new ideas to inspire the collections of its exhibitors and at the end of his welcome message, Simone Canclini thanked all participants for their trust inviting them to the next edition scheduled in February.

 

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Antonella Martinetto, Vice-President of Sitex and Milano Unica Tendenze highlighted the importance of optimism despite the difficulties of the current economic situation the textile supply chain is experiencing. She also extended a message of profound appreciation to all industry operators for their resilience in pursuing excellence in their creations.

 

Stefano Fadda, Artistic Director of Milano Unica, introduced the concept of MU Land, a land of opportunity that will inspire the Spring/Summer 2026 collections. This upcoming edition will focus on creating balance with nature and rediscovering the simple joys of life. The cultural roots of Made-in-Italy production, masterly represented by the attending textile districts, are an integral part of the Tendenze, as are the principles of sustainability, a fundamental pillar for Milano Unica.

 

Watch the entire video of the talk

 

Francesco Morace, sociologist and President of Future Concept Lab, explored the concept of "natural resonances" in a period that he defined as "gaseous modernity," where everything seems to be volatile and intangible. A collective demand for tangible items emerges as a response, perfectly represented by the concept of "Land" along with the idea of “renaturalization” of the planet, a concept better known as rewilding. Francesco Morace quoted Karen Bakker, a Canadian scholar, and neurobiologist Stefano Mancuso, showing how their research on plant intelligence and interspecies communication can offer new tools for understanding and learning from nature. Morace also underlined the influence of this trend on the fashion system, creating a sort of "shamanic" connection between fashion and the natural landscape, where nature serves as a source of inspiration and a mover to trigger deep emotions.

 

Alessandra Taiana, Technical Support for Fabric Research Processes, explained how the MU Land concept inspired the Tendenze, outlining the characteristics of the materials for the three themes. Land of Rurality features fabrics and accessories that celebrate the simplicity of the countryside with natural materials such as linen, cotton, and bamboo, creating raw surfaces with earthy color hues and three-dimensional textures. Land of Spirituality privileges lightness and harmony with materials that wrap the body with softness, such as organza, satin, and shiny jersey, with a color-faded color palette. Last but not least, Land of Urbanity is inspired by urban life with technical and innovative fabrics, transparent surfaces, and embossing, combined with metallic details for a rebellious and avant-garde aesthetic.

 

To learn more about the Spring/Summer 2026 Tendenze, visit the dedicated website.

 

Antonio Mancinelli, Fashion and Costume Journalist and Author, expanded on the homologation effect that is spreading in the fashion industry and illustrated how even big brands are currently running the risk of presenting all too similar collections, thus reducing the corresponding content in terms of originality and creativity. This phenomenon requires textile manufacturers to leverage innovation and sustainability in order to remain competitive and offer fresh and valuable solutions. Mancinelli’s proposed solution relies on nature, i.e. biomimicry, which does not mean only mimicking nature but involves functional aspects of design. For example, the strength of bones and horns has led to the creation of lightweight and robust materials for accessories while the study of animal thermoregulation has inspired breathable and insulating fabrics capable of adapting to varying climatic conditions. Finally, Mancinelli confirmed that only through a closer dialogue with nature it is possible to find new sources of inspiration for future fashion.

 

Massimo Monteforte, Director of the Milano Unica Style Commission, underlined the importance of understanding consumer needs and encouraged fashion operators to go beyond aesthetics and connect with the emotional and spiritual sphere of the individuals. Monteforte concluded with a message of optimism, urging people to look to the future with confidence despite the worries of the present time. As a matter of fact, fashion has always evolved by finding new ways to surprise and inspire.

 

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Thank you! 

We look forward to meeting you on February 4, 5 and 6 at Fiera Milano (Rho) for the 40th edition of Milano Unica.