MILAN, Sep 22, 2001 / FW/ --- The Milan season opened Monday under tight security, with an increased police presence and metal detectors at the entrance to the Fiera, the fairgrounds where many shows are staged. The mood was somber, and the parties that usually accompany Fashion Week were cancelled.

In show of support to their American counterparts in New York, Milan designers opted for a "business-like" presentation, that means the usual glitz and trimmings were pared down.

London had a similar mood last week wherein the designers showed support to their brethens across the Atlantic.

MILAN, Oct 3, 2001/ --- Given the predictions of gloom and doom that came before Milan fashion week, organizers said this afternoon that the collections that wrapped up earlier in the day went very well indeed.

"The fashion shows went well in an absolute sense, and they especially went well given the fears on their eve," said Mario Boselli, chairman of Camera Nazionale della Moda, at a press conference in Milan.

He continued, "We were convinced that we did the right thing in going ahead with the fashion shows despite the tragic events of September 11, but we asked people to do without the frivolous events that normally surround them."

Boselli said that the 98 fashion shows just held were down only slightly from last season. Preliminary figures indicate that there was around a 15 percent overall dip in buyers. Early indications also show an approximately 20 percent decline in the number of buyers from the US, many of whom showed up late for Milan's fashion week. The number of Japanese buyers was down by around one-third. A handful of fashion shows and presentations were cancelled, including those of American designer Rebecca Moses, Maska and Samsonite Blacklabel.

"I believe that September 11 truly represents a great change for us," said Vittorio Giulini, the head of industrial fashion association Sistema Moda Italiana. "We must increasingly learn to communicate to others what is the essential part of fashion."