Robots close Vogue's Milan show

Vogue World ended its Milan edition with humanoid robots made by Chinese firm Unitree dancing to L'Amour Toujours. They waved and did lasso moves, unclothed.

The show's theme was ironic

Vogue World Milan was marketed as a tribute to Italian craftsmanship and the human touch in an age of technology. The robot finale contradicted that message.

Fashion world reacted with dismay

Alessandro Michele, Valentino's creative director, showed visible distress. His pained expression went viral on social media.

Robots overshadowed the fashion

Coverage focused entirely on the robots, not the actual clothing shown. These same robots have made headlines worldwide for their dance moves and for falling and breaking.

Vogue is courting tech money

Vogue World Milan was sponsored by Meta Glasses and OpenAI. Editor Anna Wintour has aligned herself closely with tech billionaires. Next year's event moves to San Francisco.

Critics saw tone-deaf excess

The robot performance revealed tech's bubble. Critics noted it came during a cost-of-living crisis, amid concerns about AI, mass surveillance, labor displacement, and energy use.

Tech founder's blunt take

One tech founder told the reporter: "People are literally losing jobs and livelihoods because of these things. They need to stop encouraging it."

“People are literally losing jobs and livelihoods because of these things. They need to stop encouraging it.”

This partnership was always coming

Jason Johnson, founder of Culture Impact Agency, said Vogue has pursued Silicon Valley ties for a decade. Both sides win: tech gets cultural influence, Vogue gets revenue.

The robots missed real innovation

Muna Ikedionwu, founder of strategy firm MKEDI, said the robots don't represent actual fashion-tech breakthroughs. Real innovation includes ephemeral technology and AI-enhanced design.

Better examples exist

Artist duo AA Murakami created Olympian Eileen Gu's bubble dress at the Met Gala. Schiaparelli's Spring twenty twenty-four collection used Swarovski crystals and vintage PC microchips.

The strategy may have backfired

Ikedionwu wonders if the robots were meant to make the public comfortable with tech and fashion merging. If so, it didn't work.

San Francisco awaits next year

Vogue World moves to San Francisco in twenty twenty-seven. Whether the event will feature better tech-fashion integration or repeat the Milan misstep remains to be seen.