Repeat the Action: Italian Fashion Innovation Opens Lisbon Catwalk

The Italian Embassy in Lisbon recently became the stage for a remarkable fusion of fashion, art, and diplomacy as it hosted 'Repeat the Action,' a groundbreaking catwalk show organized by IED Milan in partnership with ModaLisboa. This innovative event opened Lisbon Fashion Week, showcasing selected creations by 13 promising young designers from the prestigious Istituto Europeo di Design, marking a significant moment in international fashion collaboration.

The Creative Vision Behind 'Repeat the Action'

The fashion show's title, 'Repeat the Action,' directly references its core conceptual framework exploring repetition as a transformative practice. According to the event organizers, the concept drew inspiration from a conversation between choreographer Lenio Kaklea and curator Caroline Bourgeois about the work of visionary American artist Bruce Nauman. The show particularly focused on Nauman's idea that "freedom is a form of discipline" and that repetition serves as a necessary mechanism for progress and innovation in creative practice.

Breaking Traditional Fashion Boundaries

'Repeat the Action' challenged conventional fashion show formats by embracing a more performative and interdisciplinary approach. The event presented fashion as "a virtuous system that challenges the conformity of traditional staging," creating an open and permeable dialogue where individual creative proposals coexisted with hybrid forms including music, dance, and performance. This innovative format allowed all elements to converge around common themes: the body, sociability, collectivity, and exchange, transforming the typical runway experience into a multidimensional artistic expression.

Diplomatic Venue as Creative Bridge

The choice of the Italian Embassy as the event venue carried significant symbolic weight. The embassy space was described as "a threshold, an enclave, a border, but also a bridge, a door, a refuge" that simultaneously represented diplomatic institutionality through its functions of "representation and protection, organisation and prestige." This unique setting effectively linked distinct universes—diplomacy and fashion—while bearing the distinctive Made in Italy signature that has become synonymous with quality and innovation in global fashion.

International Educational Collaboration

The event formed part of the broader Grand Tour for Higher Education in Art and Music (AFAM) programme, an international project funded by the European Union through NextGenerationEU. As explained by the Italian Embassy's social media channels, this initiative promotes educational experiences in Italy and abroad for art students, with partners including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The project reflects the embassy's commitment to supporting Italian creativity while fostering dialogue with Portuguese creative communities, with particular attention to ethical dimensions and sustainability in fashion projects.

Emerging Designers and Cultural Exchange

The showcase featured works by 13 talented IED designers: Ainhize Ganzabal Santiago, Anna Serra, Arianna Pejrani, Carlotta Gadda, Daniele Dargenio, Denise Vecchi, Eloi Sacristan, Haiqi Zhou, Michel Mahfoud, Miguel Conde Garcia-Mochales, Natalia Arroyas, Roberto Niutta, and Simone Smeriglio. By involving local Lisbon talent in the performative aspects, 'Repeat the Action' promoted new encounters and exchanges that enriched the dialogue between different cultural and artistic contexts, demonstrating how fashion can serve as a powerful medium for international cultural diplomacy and creative collaboration.

The 'Repeat the Action' fashion show represents a significant step in redefining how fashion events can function as platforms for cultural exchange and artistic innovation. By blending traditional Italian design excellence with contemporary performative elements and international collaboration, the event successfully demonstrated how fashion can transcend commercial boundaries to become a meaningful vehicle for cultural dialogue and creative exploration between nations.