MONTRÉAL – From August 17th to 23rd, Montreal will host the second edition of Italian Fashion Days in the World. This initiative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) is organized with the support of the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa, the Consulate General of Italy in Montreal, the Italian Cultural Institute in Montreal, and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA/ICE) – Montreal Office, as part of the 26th edition of the M.A.D. (Fashion, Arts and Entertainment) Festival.
As the first stop on this international initiative, Montreal will launch a global journey showcasing the excellence, creativity, and craftsmanship of Made in Italy.
The exhibition “Italia è Moda” will officially open on August 17th at 4:30 p.m., at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel (invitation only), and will be open to the public until August 23rd. Curated by Clara Tosi Pamphili and conceived as a theatrical stage, the exhibition presents clothing and accessories through the rhythms of everyday life: daywear, eveningwear, and sportswear. From tuxedos to tracksuits, evening gowns to contemporary creations by emerging designers, alongside leather goods, footwear, eyewear, and cosmetics, the exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of Italian fashion and design.
At the heart of the exhibition are two exceptional pieces from the history of cinema and fashion: authentic costumes from Federico Fellini’s Casanova, designed by Danilo Donati, crafted by Sartoria Farani, and part of the Academy Award-winning costume design recognized with the 1977 Oscar. The exhibition is further enhanced by video installations highlighting the work of Italy’s leading fashion associations, as well as two interactive Nova Arca installations that function as chatbots, allowing visitors to explore the complete catalogue of exhibited works.
The opening ceremony will be followed at 6:00 p.m., by a talk between Clara Tosi Pamphili and Stéphane Leduc, presented as part of the M.A.D. Festival’s Encounters series.
On Tuesday, August 18th at 6:00 p.m., the Italian Cultural Institute in Montreal will present a screening of the documentary Grand Tour: A Journey Through the Academies of Arts and Crafts. Directed by Alessandro Manieri, the documentary takes the spectator around the academies of Italian fashion houses. Through the voices of people who create, teach and learn in these academies, the film presents an authentic, fact-based and emotional vision of Made in Italy as an integrated system of creativity, manufacturing, innovation and training organized on a local basis throughout the country.
On Thursday, August 20th at 6:00 p.m., the Italian Cultural Institute in Montreal will also present Costumitaly, a documentary which explores the central role of costume in film and theatre, examining the creative relationship between costume designers, directors, and actors. Through authoritative interviews, archival materials, and original sketches, the documentary pays tribute to the great masters of Italian costume design, such as Piero Tosi and Danilo Donati, and to their artistic legacy. It also explores the dialogue between fashion and costume, highlighting the value of Made in Italy, Italian craftsmanship, and artisanal expertise, before taking viewers inside the historic costume ateliers—centers of excellence and guardians of a unique cultural heritage.
The event brings together companies and designers representing Italy’s leading professional associations across the entire fashion supply chain, including haute couture, textiles, leather goods, footwear, eyewear, jewelry, goldsmithing, and cosmetics. Together, these industries represent one of Italy’s most significant economic sectors, comprising more than 62,000 companies and 500,000 jobs.
The participating professional associations are: Altagamma, ANFAO (Italian Optical Manufacturers Association), CAM Confindustria Accessori Moda, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, CNA Federmoda, CNA Orafi, Confartigianato Imprese (Confartigianato Moda e Confartigianato Orafi), Confindustria Moda, Cosmetica Italia, Federorafi.
Launched in 2025, “Italia è Moda” is part of a broader strategy of cultural and economic diplomacy designed to promote Italian creativity through Italy’s international diplomatic and cultural network. By inaugurating this global tour, Montreal reaffirms its status as a creative capital while strengthening the exceptional cultural and economic ties between Canada and Italy.
