Milan hosts events on social innovation and sustainable fashion

Milan is hosting several key events focused on social innovation and sustainability. The CSR and Social Innovation Salon will take place from October 6 to 8 at Bocconi University. The 2026 edition, themed ‘Going Beyond,’ features six thematic areas: community living, organizational management, redesigning relationships, regenerating the planet, rethinking finance, and renewing the world of sport. The event will include an artificial intelligence installation titled ‘Vox Pop IA’ and an artistic work by the Orticanoodles collective.

Additionally, the ‘Stati Generali of Repair and Upcycling’ was convened in Milan to address the environmental impact of the fashion industry. With approximately 100 billion garments produced annually and up to 9% of unsold stock destroyed, organizers aim to transform upcycling from a marketing concept into a formal industrial system. The meeting brings together brands, institutions, and retailers to discuss solutions for overproduction and waste, noting that the European Environment Agency estimates significant tonnage of clothing is lost to destruction or unsold inventory each year.