Finesse, discipline, and passion are ingredients not only in shoemaking but also in sonic creation. Among the Milan Men’s Fashion Week happenings, the city’s Palazzo Barozzi becomes an unconventional stage for the debut of Church’s Autumn-Winter 2026 collection. Scored by three symphonies, the collection harmonizes the artistry of shoemaking with the grace of music, drawing parallels between both crafts while honoring each in turn.

Within the palace walls, guests were invited into the maestro’s studio to enjoy the ingenious orchestra of shoes by the English footwear label. Laid out on the desks, masterful precision and artistic exploration were on display in more ways than one.

Courtesy of Church’s

Amid the finetuned display, three live recitals—curated by musical maverick Ruggero Pietromarchi—cascaded through Vignola’s Renaissance house, performed by three musicians. Neapolitan composer Renato Grieco guides guests through musique concrète on the bass viol; percussionist and sound artist Riccardo La Foresta reinterprets ancestral melodies through complex drum beats; and composer Agnese Menguzzato plays an 8-chord electric guitar, crafting a musical experience dedicated to the eternality of sound and human gesture.

Courtesy of Church’s

Symphony I begins with the Sunday Morning collection, a reinvention of Church’s iconic sandal in waxed suede and signature wools, merging winter warmth with a refined, unconventional silhouette; leading into the Regent range, which captures the youthful country squire with shoes on the robust 133 Country last, fusing rustic allure and handcrafted refinement.

Symphony II’s “New Formal” presents a modern gentleman whose unstructured yet detailed silhouettes balance tradition and innovation across the Sidley, Stanhope, Sidbury, and Skipton styles.

In the crescendo, Symphony III presents the Royal collection as a pinnacle of understated opulence, with refined monkstraps and elegant oxfords—The Prince and The Duke—crafted in glossy leathers that radiate contemporary brilliance.