Sergio Rossi x Richard Zinon: Behind the Scenes of an Art-Infused Milan Fashion Week Collaboration
Beauty is at its most compelling when it blurs the line between object and art. This season, that line fades even further as one of Italy’s most storied shoe houses turns its showroom into a living canvas. For those who collect design as thoughtfully as skincare, the latest chapter from Sergio Rossi is a study in texture, architecture, and wearable sculpture. It’s a Milan moment—elegant, modern, and unapologetically bold.
Art Meets Movement at Milan Fashion Week
When creative director Paul Andrew stepped into Sergio Rossi, he vowed to fuse art, craft, and technology. For spring 2026, the pendulum swings decisively toward art.
In Milan, Andrew unveiled a collaboration with British artist Richard Zinon, transforming the showroom into an immersive gallery of oversized canvases and kinetic footwear. The result feels less like a presentation and more like a dialogue between brushstroke and silhouette.
The Spark Behind the Collaboration
Introduced through Cadogan Gallery after Andrew’s move to Milan, the pair quickly found a shared rhythm. Zinon’s vast, gestural canvases—with their rich, layered paint—became the palette and pulse for the season’s designs.
Andrew translated that dimension into shoes with tactile finishes and tonal depth, echoing Zinon’s expressive brushwork across color, material, and form.
Sculptural Shoes, Gallery-Worthy Detail
The collection leans into architecture: wedges carved with cutout arches, flared heels with soft angles, and cone bases that feel engineered yet feminine. Each style balances structure with movement, like a sketch that has leapt off the paper.
Carbon‑Fiber Curves
One standout arrives with an elongated, nipped point and a sleek, aerodynamic profile. Crafted in carbon fiber and finished through a galvanizing process typically reserved for automobiles, it channels abstract, sinuous lines pulled from the paintings—fluid yet precise.
From Fallen Forest to Future Classic
Another highlight blends sustainability with sensuality. Repurposed wood from a fallen forest north of Milan forms the body, paired with a galvanized chrome heel and embossed ostrich. The silhouette subtly mirrors the pull and sweep of a brush across canvas.
The Serpentine: A Statement in Motion
A key style this season, the Serpentine wedge, nods to Zaha Hadid’s “Elastika” with sweeping, sculptural voids that create negative space around the foot. It comes in mirror-like metallic chrome, warm gold, and a suede pavé drenched in Swarovski rhinestones—striking from every angle.
Heritage, Reimagined for Spring ’26
The archives are a constant muse for Andrew, and this season they emerge with renewed ease. Woven uppers are refreshed with interlaced straps, while an archival slingback returns with tailored proportions.
Even the everyday is elevated: loafers and ballerinas arrive softened and sculpted for comfort without sacrificing polish.
Why This Collection Matters Now
- Art and craft collide: bold, gestural inspirations meet meticulous Italian construction for pieces that feel both expressive and enduring.
- Smart innovation: from carbon fiber to galvanized finishes, technology is used to elevate luxury—not overwhelm it.
- Conscious choices: repurposed wood and thoughtful materials signal a refined take on sustainability.
- Everyday elegance: softer shapes in flats and loafers offer all-day wear without compromising on design.
Ready to make your style a canvas? Explore the season’s sculptural heels and refined flats, and choose the pair that tells your story. If a piece made your heart skip, save it for later or share it with a friend—your closet deserves a little artful joy.
