In a week celebrated for its glamour and innovation, Friday morning at Monte-Carlo Fashion Week 2025 offered a powerful reminder that fashion’s influence extends far beyond the runway. At an exclusive Breakfast & Talk held in the Yacht Club de Monaco’s Ball Room, OTB Group Chairman Renzo Rosso and OTB Foundation Vice President Arianna Alessi captivated guests with a heartfelt discussion on the life-changing social projects driven by their foundation.
During the talk, Alessi shared insights about their foundation’s expanding work with women and girls. “Because we already opened two orphanages just for boys, we asked why don’t we open one for women?” she explained. After two years of planning—reflecting their “Only The Brave” mentality—they proceeded with the initiative.
“Now we’ve opened one in Kapisa. And we are going to open another one in Afghanistan,” Alessi revealed. She highlighted a unique aspect of these facilities: “The strange thing is that these girls are not without parents.” Rather, the centres provide education and opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to these young women.
The foundation also funds university education for women pursuing STEM fields. “It’s at Bocconi and other universities in Italy, paying for university and master’s programmes in STEM for women in need,” Alessi explained. In a nod to sustainability beyond fashion, she added, “We asked them to remember that when they become famous, the opportunity we’ve given them today should be passed on to another girl — that’s how we make this project circular.”
100% donation impact
A standout aspect of the OTB Foundation’s approach is their financial transparency. Unlike many charitable organisations that use portions of donations for operational costs, the OTB Foundation ensures that every euro donated goes directly to the cause. As mentioned during the talk, while some organisations keep up to 80% of donations, OTB Foundation’s model ensures that “if you donate one euro, that one euro goes straight to the cause.”
This commitment extends to their personal involvement with beneficiaries. “Now we have 57 people… and we know every single person. We follow these girls,” Alessi stated, highlighting the foundation’s hands-on approach.
The OTB Foundation has invested in over 380 social development projects worldwide, directly benefitting the lives of approximately 380,000 people. The Foundation is active in four main areas: children and youth, women’s empowerment and protection, integration, and emergencies. Each project is evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively, as if it were an investment opportunity in a for-profit company.
Fashion Week events
Following the morning’s session, Monte-Carlo Fashion Week continued with a series of runway presentations throughout the day. Isabel Fargnoli presented at 12:30 PM at the Yacht Club of Monaco, followed by a brunch aboard the M/Y Grand Prix at 1:30 PM. At 3:00 PM, Valtoria, Jiri Kalfar, Abiddikkia, and Mami Okano showcased their collections. Marlea Monte-Carlo took the stage at 4:30 PM, while Leslie Monte-Carlo, Laura Spreti, and Diana Mara presented at 5:30 PM. Polimoda, with Pavillon Bosio scenography, showed at Salle Leo Ferré at 6:00 PM, before the day concluded with a Marlea Monte-Carlo Cocktail & DJ Set at Metropole Shopping Centre at 6:30 PM.
The Yacht Club of Monaco transformed into a stunning showcase of fashion innovation, with designers presenting their unique creative visions on the runway. Guests were particularly impressed by Isabel Fargnoli’s meticulously detailed collection, while the elegant brunch aboard the M/Y Grand Prix provided a sophisticated interlude between presentations.
The afternoon shows highlighted remarkable diversity, from Valtoria’s boundary-pushing designs to Jiri Kalfar’s commitment to sustainable luxury fashion. Both Abiddikkia and Mami Okano received enthusiastic applause from the audience, with their bold colour palettes and innovative silhouettes captivating attendees throughout the event.
Monaco Life was there! See more of Monte-Carlo Fashion Week in our video reel below…
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Photo credit: Kyriaki Topalidou, Monaco Life