Beyond Heritage: How the Digital Couture Summit is Pushing Fashion Forward

Fashion month has come and gone, and as we reflect on the shows, events, and collections that graced the runways, one thing stands clear: while heritage and archival pieces hold their rightful place in celebrating the past, we feel there is an increasing need for innovation and creative evolution. Many brands continue to recycle their archives, offering little in terms of new aesthetic directions. While this homage to history can be appreciated, it can also start to feel repetitive, signaling a need for fresh perspectives.

In this spirit, RED-EYE is pleased to have partnered with the Digital Couture Summit during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025. We believe there is a growing demand for more forward-thinking ideas in fashion, and the Digital Couture Summit provided exactly that—an essential platform where leaders in fashion and technology could come together to push the boundaries of innovation. By focusing on the future of digital fashion, AI, and sustainability, the Summit introduced discussions and showcases that highlight the exciting new directions the industry is capable of moving toward.

The Digital Couture Summit, co-founded by Nikki Cikaluk and Olska Green, returned for its third edition, offering a reflective space where luxury houses, tech innovators, and creatives could share insights on the digital transformation of the fashion industry. The event, held in front of the Dolce & Gabbana Martini Club, welcomed an invite-only audience of fashion leaders from Lacoste, Lanvin Group, Vogue Business, Moncler, Calvin Klein, Emporio Armani, Condé Nast Italia, and Dolce & Gabbana.

In his opening remarks, Nikki Cikaluk set the tone by acknowledging the unique role the Summit plays in providing a secure, collaborative environment. Here, industry professionals could explore how digitalization is influencing runway shows, consumer engagement, and product creation—a much-needed space for fresh ideas at a time when many are calling for more creative evolution in fashion.

The conversation surrounding fashion's digital future took center stage in a fireside chat between Nikki Cikaluk and Marta Pettenuzzo, Head of Creative Strategy at Condé Nast Italia. Pettenuzzo shared insights into how luxury fashion brands are slowly integrating digital strategies to keep pace with evolving consumer habits while balancing their rich heritage. Her insights provided a clear example of how the future of fashion can maintain a connection to the past while also embracing innovation, giving way to new aesthetic possibilities.

The keynote from Kirsty McGregor, Senior European Editor at Vogue Business, provided further insight into how AI and technology are reshaping not just fashion, but the way consumers engage with it. McGregor’s discussion centered on AI’s role in content creation and brand-consumer relationships, pointing out that brands need to do more than simply look back. Storytelling, gamification, and digital experiences are key tools in fostering a new wave of engagement that doesn’t rely on archives alone.

One of the highlights of the evening was the panel on digital product passports (DPPs), a subject at the forefront of conversations around sustainability and transparency in luxury fashion. Panelists Erin Surprenant of Lacoste, Felipe Fiallo of Fiallo, Alexandra Maslova of SMART DPP, and Mihailo Bjelic of Polygon discussed how these tools offer a practical solution to the increasing consumer demand for traceability in fashion. Maslova’s introduction of SMART DPP, a multi-chain digital product passport SaaS, showed how DPPs are not just theoretical concepts but real-world tools for sustainable innovation.

The Summit also showcased emerging innovations, with Fiallo unveiling a collection of sneakers designed entirely in 3D, while Hermetik presented a Web3-enhanced collection that signaled a shift toward digital-first fashion. Genera’s AI Mirror try-on technology and Metagate’s mixed-reality runway added an interactive dimension to the evening, providing guests with a hands-on glimpse into the future of retail and fashion experiences.

The Digital Couture Summit provided an important counterpoint to the recurring aesthetic trends seen across many fashion shows this season. While it’s essential to celebrate heritage, there is also a real need for something new—new ideas, new designs, and new ways of thinking about the role fashion plays in an increasingly digital world. The Summit, while not claiming to completely revolutionize the industry, introduced essential conversations and technology demonstrations that are actively shaping how the fashion world can evolve.

As the event concluded, both Nikki Cikaluk and Olska Green expressed their gratitude for the collaboration and support from industry leaders. The Digital Couture Summit may not be the only solution to fashion’s growing need for innovation, but it is certainly a key player in driving these discussions forward.

At RED-EYE, we remain committed to being part of these evolving conversations, looking ahead to February 2025 for the next edition of the Summit. As fashion continues to reflect on its past, we’ll be keeping our focus on the future—where creativity, innovation, and digital transformation can coexist to push the industry toward new heights.

Article by Gloria Maria Cappelletti

Images Courtesy of Vasyl Kalynchuk for Digital Couture Summit

Special Thanks to Nikki Cikaluk and Olska Green

RED•EYE WORLD