MILAN (AP) — Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean returned to the Milan runway on Saturday after a three-year absence with a collection produced with artisans in Bhutan and an appeal for more political support for the withering class of artisans that gives luxury fashion its edge.

“I said I would come back when I had something to say,’’ Jean said backstage.

Jean has long supported global artisans in her collections combining Italian tailoring with textiles, artistic details and garments sourced from traditional artisans in order to help safeguard their cultural heritage.

Now, she says “Italian craftsmanship is dying out,” as fewer young people want to take up the trades.

To help preserve artisans, Jean called on Italian lawmakers to give truly fine craftsmanship the same fiscal breaks

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