Italian designer Francesca Liberatore used her Milan Fashion Week show on Sept. 28, 2025, to protest global crises with a symbolic escape staircase and black roses.

Italian designer Francesca Liberatore used her Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 show on September 28, 2025, to spotlight global turmoil, with models descending an emergency escape staircase as a symbol of urgency. Rejecting typical seasonal themes, her collection featured precise, youthful designs like textured jackets, protective bodices, and brocade tunics, paired with a soundtrack of Tears for Fears songs. The show ended with models placing black roses at the podium, representing mourning and a call for reflection amid ongoing crises. The presentation, coinciding with a gala honoring Giorgio Armani’s legacy, served as a powerful artistic commentary on world instability and the need for awareness.