The strength of quality
At a very difficult time for the entire Italian industrial movement, a period marked by more than two years of pandemics and restrictions, with declining consumer purchasing power and high inflation increased by the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the heart of Europe, the textile sector proves that it can once again hold its own, with a surprising growth trend that bodes well for the future.
These data, in contrast to the dramatic world scenario, show how Made in Italy quality is an excellence of absolute value appreciated all over the world; a trend that has repercussions on other sectors as well, above all food and wine with Italy being the absolute master of the market.
Speaking of numbers, Smi’s preconsultation for 2021 indicates a textile-clothing turnover (the “upstream” of the fashion system supply chain) of 52.9 billion, 8.2 billion more than in 2020 (+18.4 percent).
However, the gap with 2019 has not yet closed: compared to pre-Covid levels, it remains 5.4 percent below (3 billion in value).
The quality of Made in Italy fashion and tailoring has been able to hold its own during the pandemic years and now aims to grow despite the war in the heart of Europe.
The innovation that made the difference
Italy’s path in fashion cannot be called a true recovery: when compared with other major European countries, in fact, ours was the only one to limit the damage even during the pandemic, as well as to respond strongly to the war-related rise in commodity prices.
What is the reason for Italy’s plus compared to the rest of Europe?
The quality of Made in Italy has undoubtedly made the difference, but there is another prominent factor to be considered as decisive in this regard, that related to innovation.
Indeed, the economic and especially manufacturing fabric of Italy is very different than it was a decade ago, and the Industry 4.0 plan has prompted major renovation of machinery, both in the textile supply chain and in other strategic and driving sectors for our country.
It is also because of this that the entire production system has responded better than other countries to the Covid and now the war.
Training, innovation, vision and quality: the four pillars that must continue to guide the textile industry in order to retain its role as a world leader in Made in Italy fashion.
Need to continue to grow and innovate
The encouraging results in early 2022, the holding up in pandemic years: in a word, the resilience of the Italian textile sector, even in the face of emergencies on a planetary scale, should not push industry managers to let up on investments aimed at growth, at growth that is sustainable in every respect.
Training and social and environmental sustainability are in fact the two “locomotive” words of the sector for the present and the future: to improve the world through a different, nature-friendly fashion, springing from a cohesion that represents the entire supply chain, always focusing on quality, the true element that distinguishes Italy throughout the world. Our country and Made in Italy textile production are the expression of a movement that has never prostituted itself to contamination of any kind, keeping alive that flame of uniqueness that has led even most of the luxury fashion companies across the border to rely on our excellence for the production of garments of the highest quality.
Growth is also due to this, and now all companies in the Italian textile industry must be able to not turn away and aim for common growth that will identify Made in Italy even more as superior in every respect.
