Fashion meets feminist literature at the Miu Miu Literary Club 2025

Miu Miu didn’t approach Milan Design Week 2025 as you might expect. While other fashion brands focused on their latest homeware offerings or exuberant art installations, the Italian fashion house helmed by Miuccia Prada opted to give attendees food for thought with the second edition of the Miu Miu Literary Club—a groundbreaking celebration of female voices in the arts.

Taking place from April 9 to 10, the Miu Miu Literary Club reinforces Miu Miu’s commitment to cultural discourse through literary exploration paired with live performances and panel discussions. Following last year’s debut which spotlighted the emblematic works of Italian feminist writers Sibilla Aleramo and Alba De Céspedes, this year’s event—titled A Woman’s Education —delved into the writings of two literary giants from distinct cultures: French existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir and Japanese novelist Fumiko Enchi, who wrote under the pen-name Fumiko Ueda, to facilitate discussions on girlhood, love and sex education.

Tatler breaks down what you need to know about this blend of fashion, literature and purpose.

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Literary impact from across cultures

French existentialist author Simone de Beauvoir (Photo: Miu Miu)

Japanese novelist Fumiko Enchi (Photo: Miu Miu)

Under the umbrella theme ofA Woman’s Education, the event addressed the complex territories of girlhood, friendship, love and desire through panel discussions.

Day one centered on The Power of Girlhood, examining de Beauvoir’s novella The Inseparables (2020)—a story that charts a young woman’s development through her experiences with female friendship. Fun fact: while the novel was completed 60 years ago, it was considered too daring to be published during the author’s lifetime. Moderated by writer Lou Stoppard, the panel that featured trailblazing female literary figures from today such as Lauren Elkin, Geetanjali Shree and Veronica Raimo, conversed on the topics related to youth, societal expectations and rebellion.

The second day shifted focus to the notion of About Love, Sex and Desire, unpacking Enchi’s seminal work The Waiting Years (1957). The novel is considered one of Japan’s earliest explicit explorations of female sexuality that was later awarded The Noma Prize—the nation’s highest form of literary recognition. For the occasion, Miu Miu brought together more subversive female voices in modern literature from Naoise Dolan and Nicola Dinan to Sarah Manguso. Guided by spoken-word poet, model and activist Kai Isaiah Jamal, the group discussed how the meaning of sex and desire for women has changed through the years.

Beyond the physical event, two episodes of the podcast Deep Read with Phoebe Lovatt were also recorded at the venue, ensuring that all of us can engage with and learn from Miu Miu’s patronage of feminist literary discourse.

A historic setting

Miu Miu Literary Club 2025 at Circolo Filologico Milanese (Photo: Miu Miu)

Miu Miu Literary Club 2025 at Circolo Filologico Milanese (Photo: Miu Miu)

Circolo Filologico Milanese, one of Milan’s oldest cultural associations, provided a scholarly backdrop for these impactful discussions on girlhood and liberation.

Founded in 1872, the building marked by an art nouveau style was established to promote the study and awareness of foreign cultures and languages. Miu Miu transformed the space, setting up the scene for its Literary Club 2025 by placing copies of the aforementioned novels by de Beauvoir and Enchi on the seat of each attendee.

Dynamic performances

Joy Crookes performs at the Miu Miu Literary Club 2025 (Photo: Miu Miu)

Bluem performs at the Miu Miu Literary Club 2025 (Photo: Miu Miu)

Spoken word performance at the Miu Miu Literary Club 2025 (Photo: Miu Miu)

This year’s edition of the Miu Miu Literary Club balanced intellectual discourse with artistic expression. Notably, the enlightening conversations held across the two-day event was complemented by poetry readings, DJ sets and live performances by international female musicians such as British singer-songwriter Joy Crookes and London-based musician Bluem.

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