The spring/summer edition of Milan Fashion Week, which began on Wednesday and runs through this weekend, was up against it from the get-go. It followed a rejuvenated London Fashion Week, which was buoyed by Riccardo Tisci’s Burberry debut. And it will be missing Gucci, one of its leading lights (which this season is showing in Paris). Nonetheless, Milan’s luxury houses know how to put on a memorable show. On Thursday night, following a dynamic Prada event held inside a new concrete-clad space at Fondazione Prada, Emporio Armani took guests to a hangar at Milan’s Linate Airport. Models walked as Alitalia planes took off from an altogether less-sparkly runway, and the show was followed by a Robbie Williams performance. It’s not over yet for Milan: look out for this weekend’s Missoni and Giorgio Armani shows.

The 4th Istanbul Design Biennial, themed around the interplay between design and learning, opens today. With it comes a much-needed gust of optimism for the country. Following the financial crisis – during which the Turkish lira took a historic 40 per cent plunge – and the unresolved spat with the US, the festival offers a way to bring the international community together in the capital. Over the next six weeks, talks, screenings, workshops and exhibitions will take on the topic of education and sustainable urbanisation. Highlights will include panels featuring designers and artists such as Finnish-born Jenna Sutela, New York and Seoul-based Taeyoon Choi and Italian Martina Muzi.