High Fashion in Milan Audio Guide

See where art, design and history meet in the fashion capital that birthed Prada
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Audio Guide Details
Duration
1 hour 30 minutes
Product Type
Audio Guide
Venues
  • Fashion District
  • Historic City Center
  • Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
  • La Scala Theater
Preview High Fashion in Milan Audio Guide
Portrait Milano-Piazza del quadrilatero
Prada first store
History of fabric and fabric production in Italy
Photos & Highlights
Audio Guide Description
Milan has long been regarded as the world's fashion capital, with its close links to high-end brands like Gucci, Prada, Versace, and Valentino. On this walking tour with fashion designer and Context Travel expert, Thea Cozzi, you'll discover how the city's fashion scene and famous Italian brands have evolved over time. 

The tour starts in Quadrilatero della Moda (the Fashion Quadrangle), in front of the Emporio Armani Caffe and Ristorante. Here, you'll learn about the relationship between art and design when it comes to creating fabulous garments, and hear about the industry's subsets like ‘High Fashion’, ‘Ready to Wear’, and ‘Fast Fashion’. On this self-paced journey of Milan's fashion district, you'll uncover the visceral connection between this city and how art, fashion, and design are all deeply connected within Milan. Home to a variety of Italian historically significant fashion brands from Gucci, Prada, Versace, Valentino and Miu Miu, you'll learn about history of fashion in Italy, the close relationship between fashion and art and the different sectors of fashion. You'll learn about concept stores, how Italian culture is reflected in fashion and art, and the city's clear connection between fashion and culture. You'll dive into Valentino's pioneering role in the industry, and find out how the brand evolved from post-war haute couture to maintain a prominent position in the fashion world today. You'll also discover how Prada embodies Milanese style and hear the backstory to the brand becoming the official sponsor of the Italian monarchy, starting with Vittorio Emanuele II. 

After you stroll through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, considered one of the world's first shopping malls and home to exclusively to high-end and luxury shops, the tour's focus will shift away from luxury stores and brands known worldwide and move towards a more artsy and vintage area, clearly linked to Milan's fashion and clothing culture. As you travel through the elegant Brera District to Madame Pauline Vintage, where the tour ends, you'll discover the relationship between craftsmanship and the quality of materials, from leather goods to fabrics. 

On this Milan tour, you'll

• Stroll through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, one of the world's first shopping malls and home to exclusive high-end and luxury shops
• Weigh up the pros and cons of having brands under large fashion holdings or being owned by founders or individuals
• Pass by Miu Miu, Prada's younger sister which targets a younger clientele, and see Portrait Milano, a new shopping and foodie hub
• Hear how Gucci started out in the 1930s with a focus on sports accessories, particularly for equestrians
• Stop in front of Antonia, one of the foremost high-end fashion stores in Milan and among the most important in Italy
• Discover the crucial role that Bar Jamaica played as a meeting point for artists, writers and politicians at the beginning of the 1900s
• Find recent, high-design pieces for a fraction of the price at shops that only locals know about
• Find out about Italy's restrictive laws regarding sales and discounts
• Gain an understanding and visit some of the most iconic concept stores in Milan
• Stroll through the Brera district, renowned as the vintage area of Milan

By the end of this 75-minute tour, you'll have a better understanding of the whole process that goes into making a single item of clothing, from the idea and the brand identity, down to the pattern making and fabric selection. You'll also gain insight into the most interesting brands, aesthetics, and trends that the world desires today. 

Although some areas of the tour are flagstone or cobblestone, this tour is wheelchair accessible and can be experienced by travelers of all capabilities. The total distance of the audio tour is 2.18 miles.
Meet Your Expert
Thea

Thea is a Milanese freelance fashion designer and docent with a lifelong passion for fashion. She gained her BA in fashion design at the prestigious Istituto Marangoni in Milan where she studied for three years. Since graduating, she has worked as a fashion designer in many design offices such as United Colors of Benetton and Jil Sander. Thea is currently pursuing her career in fashion working on a number of different projects such as fashion illustration and fashion collection. She is also a fashion collection, fashion illustration and trend analysis lecturer at the Istituto Marangoni in Milan. She's truly fond of her city and admires the continual possibilities and various cultural attractions it offers, from fashion to art and contemporary design up to the classical and best-known food, wine, history and Italian traditions.

How do I access the audio guide and download it for offline use?
Once you complete your purchase, you will receive a voucher code for your Audio Guide. You must download the Voicemap app and enter the code. 
  1. Install VoiceMap from the Apple App Store or Google Play
  2. Create an account
  3. Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes
  4. Enter your Voucher Code
  5. Select Download Now
Is closed captioning (i.e. subtitles) available?
Yes! All of our audio guides have the option to turn on closed captioning should you have difficulty hearing the expert.

How long does each event last?
Our recorded audio guides typically run for 75 minutes.

How can I share this audio guide with friends or family?
You are welcome to listen together with friends or family, but each person listening to the guide on their own device will need to purchase the audio guide individually.

How long does my access to the audio guide last?
Once you purchase an audio guide, you are welcome to listen to it as many times as you would like. Your access to a purchased audio guide does not expire.

What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Sales for recorded audio guides are final upon purchase. Please contact us at digital@contexttravel.com if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase.

Can I purchase a gift card for a friend who is traveling?
Absolutely! Gift cards can be purchased here. Gift cards are good for 365 days from the date of purchase.

(4.67) 3 Reviews

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Fantastic narrations and full of info, highly recommend! I didn’t expect to learn so much but wow!!!