“Diwali in Milano” brings Milan’s fashion, luxury and design communities together at Cittamani

Conceived and organised by Divya Singh in partnership with Cittamani Milano and San Simone Winery, the Festival of Lights dinner received the patronage of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Italy.

Members and friends of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Italy (ICCI) joined professionals from Milan’s fashion, luxury and design industries at Cittamani Milano for Diwali in Milano, an evening celebrating India’s Festival of Lights. At the heart of the gathering was a Diwali dinner curated by Chef Ritu Dalmia, offering guests a way to experience Indian culture through food, hospitality and conversation.

For Divya Singh, who conceived and organised the evening, the choice to bring these communities together around a dinner table gave the celebration its character. Guests who knew one another professionally had the chance to meet in a more personal setting. Those joining the Chamber’s community for the first time could do so through a shared occasion. For guests familiar with Diwali, it was an opportunity to share a tradition close to home. For others, the invitation offered an introduction to the festival in the company of people who celebrate it.

A meeting of cultures around the table

Cittamani Milano and San Simone Winery partnered with Divya Singh to bring the evening to life. As both venue and partner, Cittamani gave the celebration a home in Milan, while Chef Ritu Dalmia’s dinner placed Indian culinary traditions at the centre of the occasion. The participation of San Simone Winery brought an Italian wine producer into that exchange. Together, the partners made the meal itself part of the dialogue between the two countries.

For a gathering that included people working in fashion and design, the setting had particular resonance. A textile, a piece of jewellery or a dish can all carry a sense of place. The people who make them decide which techniques to preserve, what to reinterpret and how to introduce their work to a new audience. A celebration such as Diwali offers a personal way into those questions, giving people who might ordinarily meet as buyers, designers or business partners the chance to get to know one another as hosts and guests.

Looking ahead to ICCI’s Fashion & Luxury Stream

The evening also brought together members of the creative community with whom ICCI looks forward to working more closely. Divya Singh will lead the establishment and development of ICCI’s Fashion & Luxury Stream, giving these industries a dedicated point of contact within the Chamber and helping professionals in Italy and India find one another around shared interests.

For ICCI, extending its patronage to Diwali in Milano reflects the importance of occasions where a professional relationship can begin with a personal connection. Trade missions and industry meetings give companies a place to discuss a project. A dinner like this gives the people behind those companies time to discover what they have in common and a reason to continue the conversation.

ICCI extends its warm thanks to Divya Singh for her vision and work in organising the celebration, to Anandjit Singh, Cittamani Milano and Chef Ritu Dalmia, and to San Simone Winery and Purnima Duggal for their partnership. We are grateful to the members and friends who joined us around the table and look forward to welcoming them again as the Chamber develops its work with the Italian and Indian creative communities.