Copy by The Italian Embassy
Photo credit: Courtesy of Italian Embassy
The challenges that globalization has set to Italian traditional tailoring took center stage at a round-table debate organized by the Embassy of Italy. “Italian Family Tailoring in the Age of Globalization” featured Alessandro Spada and Tony Maisto, respectively from the Amina Rubinacci and Italo Ferretti fashion houses, as speakers. Pulitzer Prize winner and Washington Post journalist Kathleen Parker moderated the debate.
Kathleen Parker, Alessandro Spada for Amina Rubinacci and Tony Maisto for Italo Ferretti
During the presentation of the event Ambassador of Italy Claudio Bisogniero said: “La Moda – as we call the fashion industry in Italian – is a key component of our ‘Made in Italy.’ Nearly 60,000 firms generate an expected turnover for 2015 of more than $70 billion – up 5,5% compared to 2014. Foreign markets play a crucial role. Globally, our exports in fashion grew by 6.2 % in the first six months of this year alone. Performance in US markets is simply spectacular: + 30.2%, more than $4 billion, in just 7 months.”
Ambassador Bisogniero
He congratulated “fashion houses such as Amina Rubinacci and Italo Ferretti as perfect examples of how Italian firms and family businesses have been able to fit into a globalized market and succeed, thanks to their ability to supply high quality products which are specifically tailored to customer needs.”
Ambassador Bisogniero also reminded the honorable guests that “next year a major event on design will take place in Italy. From April 2, 2016, Milan will host the “XXI Triennale” on the 21st Century. Design after design, an extraordinary journey showcasing global trends in design.”
Italian fashion is one of the cornerstones of our ‘Made in Italy’ that play a strategic role in this continually expanding market. In particular, the United States represents Italy’s first non-European market in terms of fashion export. “I’m especially happy about the synergy between the Embassy of Italy and these important Italian fashion designers spearheading ‘Made in Italy’ brands around the world,” said Ambassador Bisogniero. “The creativity, ingenuity, and extremely high quality of our designers allow Italian fashion to stay at the top of an increasingly globalized and competitive market. The extraordinary tradition rooted in our history and culture and Italy’s innovative designers provide an exceptional impulse and strength to Italian fashion in the world.”
