My takeaways from MFW: Lessons from Imran Amed, Vanessa Friedman + the future of fashion designers
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What a Milan Fashion Week! We're on day four of seven, and so much has already happened.
I feel so grateful to live in the city and be part of the bustling Milanese fashion scene. MFW always brings excitement, but this year, beyond watching runways and collections, I had the opportunity to attend a few events. So, before diving into the glam and the shows, I want to share my fashion week experience with you.
Last night was a moment.
I found myself in a room filled with professionals from some of the biggest names in fashion—Zalando, Pomellato, Kering. And yet, when it was my turn to introduce myself, I didn’t name a big corporation. I said: I’m the Founder & CEO of Glam Observer.
That title carries so much weight for me. It represents years of building, learning, and evolving. And in that moment—standing there among industry leaders—I felt a profound sense of pride—though not immediately.
My first thought upon entering the room was, "What am I doing here? Diego Della Valle is seated at the table next to me?!". I was probably even the youngest in the room. I guess that little voice of doubt never fully goes away, no matter how much you’ve achieved.
One of the highlights of the night? Speaking with Imran Amed, the Founder & CEO of BOF, someone I’ve looked up to since the beginning. Hearing his journey from blog to business was not only inspiring but deeply relatable.
I also started Glam Observer as a blog on the side while trying to find my way into the fashion industry. I kept it going while working at Alexander McQueen, Kering, and Yoox Net-a-Porter—until the day I decided to take the leap. Back in 2017, I quit my job without having a clear business model in place, just a vision and the belief that I could turn my passion into something bigger. Eight years, countless sacrifices, and hours and hours spent working so hard, later, here I am—doing the job that I love, building a business, and connecting with so many of you navigating this industry.
What I love most about my job is that I’m not just teaching fashion or mentoring aspiring professionals. I’m also an entrepreneur. And I truly believe this makes me a better/different teacher—more practical and more in tune with what the industry needs. Running a company and leading a team has given me firsthand experience of what fashion offices look for: the mindsets, the attitudes, the skills. I’ve never taught just theory—everything I share is grounded in real-world experience that prepares you for what’s next.
Being in that room reminded me of how far I’ve come—but also how much more there is to do. Fashion is an ever-evolving industry, and so is my journey as both an entrepreneur and a mentor. The conversations I have, the people I meet, and the experiences I gain don’t just shape me—they shape how I can better support all of you.
Whether you’re just starting out or making a big career leap, know that your path is built step by step. Every opportunity, every event, and every connection matters. Keep believing in yourself and keep pushing forward because growth never stops, no matter how far you’ve come.
Thank you, Imran Amed, for your time and the BOF team, and I hope our paths cross again soon!
What else happened in the industry this week? 💚
After a compact London Fashion Week, the Milan fashion scene is pretty busy, featuring a total of 153 events, including 56 runways, 70 presentations, and 6 digital shows.
All eyes were on Fendi Wednesday night, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year 🤎 The Roman house skipped its traditional, separate men’s show in January to stage a co-ed show on Feb.26, which aligned with the reopening of Spazio Fendi on Via Solari in Milan, a venue which was historically used for the brand’s runway shows.
The collection was designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, artistic director of accessories and menswear collections, who also took over women’s designs after the exit of Kim Jones last October after four years as Artistic Director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur collections for women. Despite the 85 looks focused on fur and leather—the two biggest categories of the brand since its origins—the designer told the press that she was not revisiting the archives, focusing on presenting “a contemporary and comprehensive vision of the brand,” according to WWD.
“For me, Fendi 100 is more about my personal memories – real or imagined – of what Fendi was and what Fendi means today.” Silvia Venturini Fendi.
Another brand to celebrate its anniversary this year is Dsquared2. The brand closed out the first day of MFW with a show entitled 'Obsessed2'.
There were also several exciting debuts—Lorenzo Serafini’s at Alberta Ferretti and David Koma’s at Blumarine. Later today, Alberto Caliri will present his debut collection for Missoni.
We’ve also learned about the departure of Lucie and Luke Meier from Jil Sander after 8 years with the house, which was announced a few hours after the brand’s show Wednesday morning.
As for Gucci’s fashion show, staged less than a month after the departure of Sabato de Sarno, it was surprisingly designed by the house’s design team.
Finally, a big absentee on the fashion calendar this season is Bottega Veneta, amid Matthieu Blazy’s departure to Chanel and Louise Trotter’s fresh arrival at Bottega in January. Meanwhile, on March 1, the Italian Heritage House will unveil its new Palazzo San Fedele headquarters in central Milan with a cultural event.
Tell us, which fashion show in Milan captivated you the most so far?
Louis Vuitton x Murakami Part 2
Hello spring 🩷 Louis Vuitton dropped the second chapter of the collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, this time focusing on the Cherry Blossom motif. The new campaign is fronted by Zendaya.
Levi’s x Beyoncé Part 2
Levi's and Beyoncé dropped this week the second exciting chapter of their ongoing "Reiimagine" campaign, launched last September, with a new film that echoes the brand’s 1991 “Pool Hall” ad.
Donna Karan introduces a capsule cashmere collection
The iconic American designer just dropped Donna Karan Cashmere, a seven-piece capsule collection for spring 2025—the first since holiday 2013. It was unveiled today in a campaign shot by Mikael Jansson and starring model Imaan Hammam.
Balmain is launching a new fragrance
The French house is launching on March 1 a new fragrance, Blanc Galaxie, the ninth scent in the Les Éternels de Balmain collection. The white striated bottle is inspired by that of Élysées 64-83—the first fragrance launched by Balmain in 1946.
Kemi Alemoru is the new head of editorial content of Glamour U.K
Glamour U.K. has named Kemi Alemoru head of editorial content. Assuming her functions on March 3, she will report to the publication’s global editorial director, Samantha Barry.
Fashion Career Tip
Do your fashion job applications get rejected by companies, and you want to fix that?
Rejections are common in fashion, making it hard not to give up and believe in yourself. However, you must learn to face them, learn from them, and take action to fix and prevent the mistakes in your applications that often lead to rejections. And it's NOT because of you personally, that you lack experience or a fashion degree.
That's exactly what our recent article covers: How to handle rejections in the fashion industry. You will learn about:
The reasons why your applications get rejected
How rejections can help you improve
What actions to take when you get rejected
Read the article here. I believe in your fashion career dream and YOU 🫶🏻
Nice Thing 💖
Fendi’s centenary show was opened by Silvia Venturini’s grandchildren 😊
What to read this week 📚
The Future of Fashion Designers: Lessons from Vanessa Friedman, Renzo Rosso & Sara Sozzani Maino.
On Monday evening, I attended a talk on The Future of Fashion Designers featuring Renzo Rosso, Sara Sozzani Maino, and Vanessa Friedman. They shared many precious lessons for aspiring or young fashion designers that I thought you may want to hear.
These are my key takeaways:
✔️ Contests open doors – For those dreaming of becoming Creative Directors, participating in competitions can be a powerful launchpad.
✔️ Creativity is key – Without creativity, you are just running a competition of price. Renzo Rosso highlighted that creativity isn’t just about design; it’s the foundation of running a successful brand. To stand out, designers must bring something new to the industry.
Read more in this article on glamobserver.com
On the occasion of Fendi’s centenary, I also invite you to read about the origins of Fendi and iconic moments in the brand’s history in this article.
Fashion Profiles to follow this week
Kemi-Olivia Alemoru Head of Editorial Content of Glamour UK
Tagwalk a useful search engine to do fashion week analysis
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