Armani's Final Collection to Close Milan Fashion Shows

 Giorgio Armani's creations are displayed during the exhibition "Giorgio Armani - 50 Years" opened to the public at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 24 2025. (AP)
Giorgio Armani's creations are displayed during the exhibition "Giorgio Armani - 50 Years" opened to the public at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 24 2025. (AP)
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Armani's Final Collection to Close Milan Fashion Shows

 Giorgio Armani's creations are displayed during the exhibition "Giorgio Armani - 50 Years" opened to the public at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 24 2025. (AP)
Giorgio Armani's creations are displayed during the exhibition "Giorgio Armani - 50 Years" opened to the public at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 24 2025. (AP)

Giorgio Armani's final collection goes on show Sunday at Milan Fashion Week, originally intended as a 50th anniversary celebration for the Italian house, but now serving as a final tribute.

The legendary designer, who was head of a billion-dollar fashion empire, died this month aged 91.

Sunday evening's catwalk show had been planned as the crowning event of a year of celebrations of Armani's group.

It was organized in the Pinacoteca di Brera, the art gallery where more than 120 of his creations have been displayed as part of an anniversary exhibition that opened this week.

The company decided both the exhibition and catwalk show would go ahead despite Armani's death, but Sunday's event is expected to be a somber affair.

It is black tie, and will be followed by a visit around the exhibition, in which iconic outfits -- from red carpet gowns to Richard Gere's suit in "American Gigolo", a film which helped make Armani famous -- have been placed in and around masterpieces of Italian Renaissance art.

As a memory, guests were given with their invitations a white t-shirt with Armani's image printed on the front.

The designer's last collection for the more accessible Emporio Armani line was shown earlier this week in Milan, a fashion week he helped found.

The show was based on the idea of the return to the city after a journey, with raffia caps, wide trousers and nomadic bags reminiscent of distant place, gradually changing into a city wardrobe.

There were jackets, parkas, jumpsuits and skirts, waistcoats and evening wear in ultra-light nylon, in a typically muted palette of beige, black and mineral grey.

Sunday's Giorgio Armani show brings an effective end to Milan Fashion Week, although the program continues until Monday.

Some of the top names in Italian fashion have shown their spring/summer 2026 collections this week, from Prada to Gucci, Fendi and Dolce & Gabbana.



Kering Shares Slide After Gucci Sales Disappoint

A logo of fashion house Gucci is seen outside a shop in Paris, France, April 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A logo of fashion house Gucci is seen outside a shop in Paris, France, April 15, 2024. (Reuters)
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Kering Shares Slide After Gucci Sales Disappoint

A logo of fashion house Gucci is seen outside a shop in Paris, France, April 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A logo of fashion house Gucci is seen outside a shop in Paris, France, April 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Kering shares plunged as much as 10% on Wednesday after first-quarter sales at its Italian flagship brand Gucci dropped more than expected, underlining the challenges in reviving the brand's appeal.

Gucci sales fell 8%, the 11th straight quarterly decline, as the Iran war weighed on spending by Middle Eastern shoppers and curtailed international travel.

Shares ‌were down ‌8.5% to 255 euros at ‌0827 ⁠GMT and on ⁠track for their steepest daily decline in more than a year.

The result came days before Kering CEO Luca de Meo is due to unveil his strategic plan to turn around the 33-billion-euro ($39 ⁠billion) group's fortunes.

"While guidance was ‌confirmed, the timeline ‌for a Gucci turnaround remains uncertain and likely ‌gradual, against a challenging macro backdrop and ‌ongoing geopolitical tensions," Citi analysts wrote.

Like larger peers LVMH and Hermes, Kering is facing deteriorating demand from customers impacted by the conflict in the ‌Middle East.

Kering said it had seen strong demand for Gucci ⁠products ⁠in North America, but JPMorgan analysts said this was likely a trend for all luxury brands, rather than just Gucci, and pointed to double-digit declines in all other regions.

"This suggests, in our view, that the turnaround will take a lot longer, and much more work, than the bulls would hope for," they said.

Kering shares are down around 7% so far in 2026.


Texas Attorney General Probes Lululemon over Potential 'Forever Chemicals'

FILE PHOTO: A Lululemon sign is seen at a shopping mall in San Diego, California, US, November, 23, 2022.  REUTERS/Mike Blake//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Lululemon sign is seen at a shopping mall in San Diego, California, US, November, 23, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake//File Photo
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Texas Attorney General Probes Lululemon over Potential 'Forever Chemicals'

FILE PHOTO: A Lululemon sign is seen at a shopping mall in San Diego, California, US, November, 23, 2022.  REUTERS/Mike Blake//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Lululemon sign is seen at a shopping mall in San Diego, California, US, November, 23, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake//File Photo

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into athleisure brand Lululemon over the potential presence of "forever chemicals" in its activewear, he said on Monday in a post on social-media platform X.

The probe will examine whether Lululemon's athletic apparel contains PFAS, which the brand's health-conscious customers would not expect based on its marketing, Paxton said. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of widely used materials called "forever chemicals" because they do ⁠not break down easily ⁠in nature.

"Lululemon does not use PFAS in its products," a company spokesperson said, adding it phased out the substance in fiscal 2023, after limited use in durable water repellent products.

According to Reuters, Attorney General Paxton said emerging research and consumer concerns have raised ⁠questions about whether certain synthetic materials in the apparel could be linked to endocrine disruption, infertility, cancer and other health risks.

PFAS are associated with harmful health effects in humans and animals, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The Office of the Attorney General will examine Lululemon's testing protocols, restricted substances list and supply chain practices against state safety standards.

"If Lululemon has violated Texas law, it will be ⁠held accountable," Paxton ⁠said in his post.

The company spokesperson said they are aware of the inquiry and are cooperating.

Earlier this year, the company had to pull its "Get Low" workout collection from its website following user complaints, only resuming online sales after addressing the issues.

Lululemon, which appointed a former chief of jeans maker Levi Strauss to the board last month, has forecast weak annual results amid tepid demand and an ongoing proxy fight with its founder.


Dolce & Gabbana Appoints Ex-Gucci Boss Stefano Cantino as Co-CEO

17 January 2026, Italy, Milan: Stefano Gabbana (L) and Domenico Dolce wave and smile at Milan Fashion Week. Photo: Cinzia Camela/Alamy/Pa/PA Wire/dpa
17 January 2026, Italy, Milan: Stefano Gabbana (L) and Domenico Dolce wave and smile at Milan Fashion Week. Photo: Cinzia Camela/Alamy/Pa/PA Wire/dpa
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Dolce & Gabbana Appoints Ex-Gucci Boss Stefano Cantino as Co-CEO

17 January 2026, Italy, Milan: Stefano Gabbana (L) and Domenico Dolce wave and smile at Milan Fashion Week. Photo: Cinzia Camela/Alamy/Pa/PA Wire/dpa
17 January 2026, Italy, Milan: Stefano Gabbana (L) and Domenico Dolce wave and smile at Milan Fashion Week. Photo: Cinzia Camela/Alamy/Pa/PA Wire/dpa

Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana on Monday named former Gucci CEO Stefano Cantino as its Co-CEO, working alongside Chair and Chief Executive Officer Alfonso Dolce.

Dolce took on the additional role of ⁠chair this year following ⁠the resignation from the position of company co-founder Stefano Gabbana, who retained his creative role.

Cantino's appointment "follows Dolce & Gabbana's ⁠growth path, oriented towards the evolution of its organizational model from a Fashion Brand to a Lifestyle Company," Reuters quoted a statement as saying.

"I am delighted to have Stefano Cantino by my side in this new phase of ⁠growth ⁠and development of Dolce & Gabbana," Dolce said.

Alfonso Dolce is the brother of Domenico Dolce, who co-founded the fashion house with Gabbana in 1985. The pair are still in charge of creative direction.