Sharjah24 - AFP: Go out and vote to protect your rights, top Italian designers urged compatriots this week as the Milan shows coincided with elections predicted to see a far-right government take power in Rome.

From Donatella Versace to Valentino's Pierpaolo Piccioli, calls to mobilise have been everywhere at Milan Fashion Week. Houses such as Gucci and Fendi are actively helping their employees cast their ballots in Sunday's general elections.

"Go out and vote, these elections are so important for our country!" Versace said on Instagram ahead of her fashion house's Friday show.

"On September 25 vote to protect rights already acquired, thinking about progress and with an eye on the future," she posted.

"Never look back."

Left-wing activists fear the ascent to power of far-right leader Giorgia Meloni, who is leading opinion polls, will lead to a step backward for rights in Catholic-majority Italy.

Meloni and her main ally, League party leader Matteo Salvini, advocate traditional Catholic family values and rail against what she calls "LGBT lobbies".

Meloni says she would not change the law legalising abortion, but says she wants to give mothers "the choice" not to terminate.

Piccioli, creative director at Valentino, published a lengthy post on Instagram in defence of tolerance, under the title, "A man of the left".