Vogue World: Milan had plenty of fashion, music and spectacle, but it was the humanoid robots that ended up getting people talking. During the 2026 event, futuristic machines took to the runway as part of a section dedicated to technology, leaving some viewers wondering why robots had to be part of a fashion show in the first place.
The Milan edition of Vogue World was held on 22 September at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, kicking off Milan Fashion Week. This year's event explored Italian craftsmanship alongside technological innovation, with the show divided into five acts looking at fashion's past, present and future.
Humanoid Robots Hit the Runway
Humanoid robots from Unitree Robotics appeared during Vogue World: Milan's The Age of Intelligence section, bringing an unmistakably futuristic moment to the fashion spectacle.
With Gigi D'Agostino's 'L'Amour Toujours' playing in the background, the robots walked down the runway and interacted with the crowd. Their appearance fitted the show's broader focus on the relationship between fashion, craftsmanship and technology.
Vogue described the fourth act as a look at smart and sustainable fashion, bringing technology and design together. The Milan production traced Italian craftsmanship from its historic roots towards a technology-driven future.
It was also a particularly noticeable choice given the event's emphasis on the 'human touch.' Vogue had positioned the Milan show as a celebration of craftsmanship and creativity in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
Critics React: 'Why Are Robots There?'
The robots may have been on theme, but some viewers clearly did not want them anywhere near the runway.
'I am so sick of robots (and AI) being forced on us! It needs to stop!' one person wrote on Reddit. Another questioned their purpose at a fashion event, asking: 'What are the robots doing there, they aren't even wearing any clothes.'
Others turned their frustration into jokes. One person said it would be funny if somebody tripped the robot while it was 'gingerly hobbling down the runway,' while another joked about throwing water at it.
Meanwhile, some comments focused on the contrast between the machines and the human work traditionally associated with fashion shows.
'Folk clapping for these sh*tty robots rather than the human models, the handmade clothes... gimme a break 🙄,' one commenter wrote. They added that the robots 'add absolutely nothing to the collection or runway,' while comparing the moment with Alexander McQueen's famous use of robotic technology.
The critic was referring to McQueen's Spring/Summer 1999 'No. 13' show, where model Shalom Harlow stood on a rotating platform as two industrial robots, typically used for painting cars, sprayed her white dress with black and yellow paint. The striking finale became one of McQueen's most memorable examples of using technology as an integral part of a runway performance.
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Is Fashion Ready for AI or Robots?
The reaction comes as robots and AI continue to appear in fashion in increasingly visible ways.
Just days before Vogue World: Milan, Seoul Fashion Week also put robotics on the runway, with a humanoid robot appearing alongside human models at the Greedilous show. The robots were presented as part of a wider exploration of futuristic design and technology.
Robots have also featured in fashion presentations before, including Coperni's Autumn/Winter 2023 show, where robot dogs appeared alongside models. The Paris show used five Boston Dynamics Spot robot dogs as part of a futuristic reinterpretation of Jean de La Fontaine's The Wolf and the Lamb, with the robots interacting with models.
