Italian Fashion Industry Leaders Join Forces

26 February 2021


The meeting was part of increased efforts by the industry to set out a path to recovery following the devastation wrought by COVID-19 and as Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s new government determines ways to help the country’s economy rebound via the COVID-19 Recovery Fund totalling more than €200m from the European Union.

As reported, during a Zoom conference call from Brunello Cucinelli’s headquarters in Solomeo on Tuesday, the namesake entrepreneur and Carlo Capasa, president of the Italian Camera della Moda, also put forward the idea of joining forces. Capasa said the fashion association next week will present a plan to the Italian government requesting specific measures and strategies to help the industry as part of the COVID-19 Recovery Fund.

Wednesday’s meeting included representatives of the Camera della Moda’s Strategic Committee, Patrizio Bertelli, chief executive officer of the Prada Group; Gildo Zegna, CEO of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group, and Renzo Rosso, chairman of OTB, met with Carlo Bonomi, president of Confindustria, the association that comprises 64,300 companies in the fashion sector. Other members of the association present included the vice president for internationalisation Barbara Beltrame Giacomello; the vice president of organization, development and marketing Alberto Marenghi; general director Francesca Mariotti, and president of Confindustria Moda Cirillo Marcolin. Also attending were Marino Vago, president of Sistema Moda Italia, and Claudio Marenzi, president of Herno and former president of Confindustria Moda.

Confindustria has reported that, in terms of employment, 50 percent of the fashion companies reduced their workforce in 2020, despite Italy’s extraordinary measure preventing businesses from laying off employees. The mandate is in place until March 31, but the new government could extend it until next fall. In fact, among the goals discussed on Wednesday, a priority is the preservation of the Italian manufacturing pipeline formed by small and medium-sized companies that is at risk of shutting down.

Sustainability targets include social objectives, from attention to working conditions to gender equality and inclusivity and diversity. Professional training will continue to be central, supporting the generational change.



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