THE STORYTELLING OF THE PERFORMING MU EVENT

On March 26, Milano Unica presented Performing MU, the new creative research inspiration for the Fall/Winter 2026/27 Tendenze.

 

Watch the video:

 

The Performing MU creative concept explores the interaction between body, space, and art. The body, reflecting the harmony of volumes and surfaces, takes shape through movement. The core concept is performance, understood as physical performance, artistic expression, and the technical and functional dimension of fabrics. Performing MU responds to the new needs of the textile industry, which overcomes aesthetics to privilege comfort, dynamism, and practicality through the use of innovative materials enhanced by artistic cross-pollination.

 

The talk titled “Performing MU: Feeling the Present” opened with a speech by Milano Unica’s President Simone Canclini, who recalled that Milano Unica continues to be the industry's benchmark trade show thanks to the quality of its exhibitors, clients, and the constant work on service provision and sustainability. He also highlighted the importance of attracting young talent, which is essential to ensure creativity and vision in the future of the industry. In this perspective, he announced that Mittelmoda will be present at the next Tendenze appointment - scheduled for October 16.

 

Antonella Martinetto, Vice President of S.I.Tex S.p.A. and director of the Tendenze event, explained that the prototypes on display were made by highly specialized laboratories engaged in presenting their targeted proposals in line with the Tendenze. An invitation to use their imagination to conceive creative insights to be used for the upcoming sample collections.

 

Stefano Fadda, Artistic Director of Milano Unica, took the floor to present the Performing MU concept as a multifaceted theme, involving the dynamic expression of the body, the artistic language, and the technical function of the fabric. This concept marks an evolution in textile research and fully represents the identity of Made-in-Italy products that reflect vision, practicality, experimentation, and attention to sustainability.

 

Watch the full video of the talk:

 

Francesco Morace, sociologist and president of Future Concept Lab, shared insights on the relevance and value of performance as a form of resistance and construction of the present time. In a period of uncertainty like the one we are facing, Gen Z individuals consider the present time as a space for action bringing out new expressive and identity needs. Examples span from the design world to contemporary art - including Giulio Cappellini and artist Jiang Miao - to illustrate how the body and space have returned to the center of the creative scene. 

 

Laccio, Creative Director and Founder of Laccioland Studio, offered a glimpse of the world of entertainment, underscoring the deep connection between performance and fashion. He mentioned his experience in TV programs such as X Factor to demonstrate how fabrics are fundamental to reinforce the expressive power of the body and how relevant it is to create costumes that respond to the needs of the performers’ bodies moving on the stage. 

 

Fadda together with Antonio Matozzo of Milano Unica's Design Committee, illustrated how the concept of performance oriented the selection of the materials for the development of the three Tendenze themes: Performing Space, Performing Bodies, and Performing Arts.

 

To learn more about the Fall/Winter 2026-27 Tendenze, visit the dedicated website.

 

Finally, Massimo Monteforte, member of the Milano Unica’s Design Committee, drew the conclusions of the event by emphasizing the value of creativity in overcoming boundaries and recalling the undiscussed strength of Made-in-Italy production expressed through artisanal precision and visionary imagination. 

 

Browse the gallery:

 

Thank you for participating.

We look forward to meeting you on July 8, 9, and 10 at Fiera Milano (Rho) for the 41st edition of Milano Unica.