French craftsmanship took center stage at Salone del Mobile 2025, with two of the most renowned luxury labels spotlighting glass at the heart of their home collections. While Hermès embraced a bold scenographic installation filled with light and color, Dior opted for a refined, in-store reveal of artisanal works by French designer Sam Baron. Though the events unfolded last week, their impact still resonates.
Hermès illuminates Milan with a celebration of glass
Hermès puts glass center stage this year. – ph DM
Returning to La Pelota in the vibrant Brera district, Hermès transformed the 2,000-square-meter venue into a radiant all-white space, departing from the darker atmospheres of previous years. The immersive installation was designed by Charlotte Macaux Perelman, who co-leads the Hermès home collections with Alexis Fabry.
Suspended geometric volumes—cylinders, cubes, and other forms—hovered throughout the space, casting vibrant halos of color on the floor. Each structure contained carefully curated items from the new home collection, subtly revealed through slits and cutouts. The display was designed to spark emotion and curiosity, enhanced by an interplay of light and shadow and, most notably, glass—the highlight material of the year.
Although Hermès has long been associated with crystal, this marked the brand’s most in-depth exploration of glassmaking. The material appeared in a side table designed by Tomàs Alonso, whose colorful base was composed of lacquered glass slabs, as well as in the multicolored, fused-glass lid of a wooden box.
The space designed by Hermès for Milan Design Week 2025. – ph DM
Glass vessels and vases took center stage. A standout piece included a mouth-blown orange glass vase accented with a two-tone leather cuff in rust and blue. Pitchers, crafted by layering molten colored glass over clear glass, appeared half-filled with vibrant hues that shifted once water was added. Another highlight was a series of checkerboard tumblers, their design inspired by jockey silks and formed from cold-cut strips of colored double glass.
Color coursed through the space beyond the glassware—from geometric-patterned cashmere throws to hand-painted watercolor borders by Nigel Peake on porcelain tableware and tartan leather baskets.
Dior Maison unveils limited-edition glass sculptures
In contrast to Hermès’ bold installation, Dior Maison embraced intimacy. At its boutique on Corso Venezia, Dior introduced a poetic collection centered on three glass vases designed by Sam Baron, a longtime collaborator with the brand.
Each vase—nearly one meter tall and limited to eight pieces—was mouth-blown by Italian master glassmaker Massimo Lunardon in Bassano del Grappa, Veneto, and features delicate arabesque branches in transparent glass. The vases, priced at €15,000 each, exemplify Dior’s dedication to artisanal excellence.
One of the three vases designed by Sam Baron for the line. – Dior Maison
“I began with designs I originally created for Maria Grazia Chiuri‘s 2020 cruise collection, which had a wheat theme,” Baron explained during the Milan presentation. “That led to a wider dialogue about nature—an eternal muse for Christian Dior, who adored flowers.”
Baron, who splits his time between Lisbon and Paris, also sought to underscore Dior’s pioneering role in decorative arts. “Dior was the first fashion house to introduce a line of objects. The first boutique opened in 1947 and was named Colifichets, where accessories and home items were sold,” he noted. Researching the archives, he discovered parallels between Dior’s creative process and his own. A key inspiration was the original Miss Dior perfume bottle—an amphora-shaped, ribbed glass flacon—that informed the vases’ smooth, rounded silhouettes.
Alongside the three statement vases, Dior presented a wider collection titled “Ode to Nature,” featuring mouth-blown glassware embellished with botanical motifs. The line includes vases, candlesticks, bowls, trays, and a carafe, with prices ranging from €200 to €800.
Though showcased during Design Week, these artistic expressions from Hermès and Dior continue to spark conversation well beyond Milan—affirming their status as torchbearers of French design excellence.
Colombian swimwear and beachwear label Agua Bendita continues its international growth with the launch of four exclusive summer pop-ups at Bloomingdale’s locations across the United States.
Agua Bendita x Bloomingdale’s – Agua Bendita
“We’re excited to share that our pool—the very same one from our concept store—has crossed borders to become the centerpiece of our pop-up at Bloomingdale’s,” the brand stated.
Agua Bendita’s pop-ups are now open at Bloomingdale’s in Soho (New York), Aventura (Florida), White Plains (New York), and Sherman Oaks (California). The brand added, “This pop-up is more than just a display; it’s a full immersion into our AB universe. “
“Our pool celebrates the sensuality, the summer, the color, and the spirit of Agua Bendita. Every detail has been carefully considered from the floor to the furnishings to immerse visitors in the Agua Bendita universe. For us, every store visit is a sensory experience, a ritual, a journey,” the brand said.
Founded by Catalina Álvarez and Mariana Hinestroza, Agua Bendita has gained international attention for its bold, maximalist collections. The label blends ancestral handcraft techniques with a celebration of summer’s vibrant energy, bringing Latin flair and artisanal beauty to the global stage.
From April 1 to 4, the Recinto Modernista de Sant Pau hosted the 35th edition of the biannual fashion event. This latest spring edition of the runway shows, organized by the 080 Barcelona Fashion platform, was defined by a diverse roster of brands—featuring both established names from the local scene and emerging national talents—as well as the announcement of Barcelona City Council’s forthcoming investment in the event.
One of the looks from Acromatyx’s “007 Esencia” collection, showcased during the final day of the event. – 080 Barcelona Fashion
Over four days, more than 3,000 attendees gathered at the iconic Barcelona venue to experience the collections of 24 brands and designers, carefully selected based on their creative vision and commercial potential. The event’s goal, as outlined by 080’s director Marta Coca in an interview with FashionNetwork.com, was clear: to strengthen the platform’s international projection and foster an organically built fashion community.
This latest spring edition signals a continued effort to position Barcelona as a global hub for cutting-edge, contemporary design—a mission that has guided the organisation over the past few seasons. “There was a time when many brands left Barcelona to show elsewhere, which meant the city had lost relevance for them,” Coca admitted. “Now, many have returned, and we hope they stay for the long haul.”
The week kicked off with a lineup of more classic, refined proposals, including Simorra’s Japanese-inspired silhouettes, The Label Edition’s timeless rock attitude, Eikō ai’s effortless chic, Escorpion’s Scottish-influenced looks, and Lola Casademunt by Maite’s nostalgic journey to the beaches of Normandy.
Look from Dominnico’s “Lucky Fall 2025” collection – 080 Barcelona Fashion
Day two focused on bold, creative voices, led by Guillermo Justicia, winner of the top prize at the Rec.0 festival in collaboration with 080. The day continued with Compte Spain’s reinterpretations of everyday objects, 404 Studio’s capsule inspired by the film Hackers, Custo Barcelona’s free-spirited aesthetic, Txell Miras’s sculptural fabric play, and Ernesto Naranjo’s take on Ziegfeld Follies through a modern lens.
On day three, emerging talent and innovation took center stage. AAA Studio opened with a raw exploration of Gen Z’s exhaustion in the face of adulthood, followed by Alvar Merino’s functional urbanwear, Doblas’s artistic tailoring, Juan Vidal’s exploration of vulnerability and duality, and Eñaut’s reflection on beauty standards and personal perception. The day culminated with two high-impact shows: María Escoté’s capsule in collaboration with Warner Bros., Discovery Global Consumer Products, featuring playful nods to Superman, and Dominnico’s mash-up of Western references and after-dark glamour.
A pivotal investment from the city of Barcelona
A major announcement came on the third day when Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni and Minister of Business and Employment Miquel Sàmper confirmed the City Council’s new financial involvement. Until now, 080 had operated on a €2 million budget supported by the Catalan government and private sponsors. This fresh investment coincides with both institutions—local and regional—being led by the same political party (PSC) for the first time in years. According to Coca, the funding will be “vital,” particularly for securing a new venue from 2026 onward.
Look from Eñaut’s “Ecdisis” collection – 080 Barcelona Fashion
The 35th edition concluded with a showcase of more experimental and emotionally charged collections. Kicking off the final day was Anel Yaos, who presented a poignant collection inspired by his sister, followed by Maison Moonsieur’s futuristic reinterpretation of 1920s femininity. Rubearth brought a vibrant menswear collection that blended design, art, and technology with an imaginative spirit. The day wrapped with standout presentations from ManéMané, whose defiant collection explored themes of freedom; Habey Club, offering a poetic narrative inspired by the life and work of photographer Vivian Maier; and Acromatyx, which delivered a timeless black capsule evoking the cultural heritage of Extremadura.
While the upcoming autumn edition will remain at the UNESCO-listed modernist former hospital, 080 Barcelona Fashion plans to relocate to a new venue starting in 2026. The move responds to the growing space demands brought on by the event’s steady expansion in recent seasons and will be made possible thanks to the newly announced investment from the Barcelona City Council. Although the exact location has yet to be revealed, Marta Coca noted that the team is searching for a strategic, iconic space in the city—whether modernist or brutalist in style, with neutral interior spaces—where the event could be held for at least three to four consecutive years.
Carolina Herrera, owned by Spanish group Puig, will present its main collection outside New York Fashion Week for the first time in its history. On Sept. 18, the fashion house will unveil its Spring/Summer 2026 line in Madrid. Founded by designer Carolina Herrera, the brand described the move as a “unique celebration of the city.”
Carolina Herrera will stage a runway show in Madrid on Sept. 18.
Over the past few years, Carolina Herrera has hosted two international runway shows: one in Rio de Janeiro for its Resort 2024 collection, and another in Mexico City for Resort 2025. The upcoming Madrid show will mark a milestone for the brand, as it experiments with staging a main collection abroad while still planning to return to New York Fashion Week in 2026.
“This will be our third destination show, and it felt like the right time to experiment further and take a main collection abroad, even though we remain deeply committed to New York Fashion Week,” said Wes Gordon, creative director of Carolina Herrera. As a tribute to its American roots, the brand will also organize a private client event in the U.S. ahead of the Madrid presentation.
While the venue for the Madrid show has not yet been disclosed, Gordon hinted that it will take place in an “iconically Madrilenian” setting. “Madrid has always been one of my favorite cities in the world—rich in history, art, and culture. It’s home to incredible creatives with a unique approach to beauty and joy,” said Gordon. “Every time I visit, I leave fully recharged with inspiration. Here, the joy of life becomes reality.”
Gordon’s connection to Madrid runs deep. In 2024, he served as a judge for the Spanish edition of the Vogue Fashion Fund, which supports emerging designers. The year before, through its “Celebrating Women in the Arts” initiative, Carolina Herrera partnered with Madrid’s Thyssen Museum to sponsor the “Maestras” exhibition—featuring over 100 works by artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi, Angelica Kauffmann, and Sonia Delaunay.
As with its Resort 2025 presentation in Mexico City, the fashion house will collaborate with local Spanish artisans and creatives for the Spring/Summer 2026 collection. “At its core, this is a celebration of the people who make the city what it is,” Gordon said. “The starting point has always been to tell their stories and use this platform to highlight their talent and creativity, from the most traditional and folkloric to the modern and contemporary. It is an honor to work with them as part of our story with Madrid.”