Italian textile fair Unique Milan kicked off its 39th edition on Tuesday with 18% more exhibitors than last year’s event and 22% more than the pre-Covid 2019 event.
The three-day event has been moved to a larger venue, with the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition center on the outskirts of the fashion capital offering just under 25% more space to accommodate growing interest.
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With 700 exhibitors – of which 569 participate in the fair’s three exhibitions: Ideabiella, Moda In and Camisa Avenida, and the remainder divided between the special areas and the Korea It is Japan observatories – all of Italy’s unique textile districts were “fully represented” both in terms of the number of participating companies and the “full range” of their offerings, the textile fair said in a statement.
Italy’s textile districts are concentrated in Biella, Prato, Como, Busto Arsizio and Vicenza, with specialties ranging from wool to silk, knitwear, recycled textiles, socks and more.
“I think Milano Unica represents – on an international level – one of the most important events for manufacturers, on the one hand, and, on the other, for buyers of high-quality fabrics and accessories,” said Simone Canclini, the newly elected president of the fair. . “The products presented are characterized by an innovative style, designed to satisfy all the needs of the entire downstream sector, with a focus on sustainability and the circular economy.”
Although the industry faces certain challenges, including a negative trend in production and commercial activity that has persisted since last year, the increase in participation underlines the importance of Milano Unica as a platform for premium and luxury manufacturers. The first quarter of 2024 saw a “general decline” in Italy’s domestic production and international trade, highlighting double-digit declines in both exports and imports across several product segments.
Export only to China It is Hong Kong The data revealed went against the downward trend, solidifying the countries’ status as the top export markets for Italian-made products, the organization said. It is also worth noting that although the industry tends to place Italian-made textiles at the higher end of the spectrum, these products are still affected by market performance. Lux sector on a global scale, said Milano Unica leadership.
“Over the years, the market has undergone differentiation. At Milano Unica we have always prioritized excellence in materials and technological research in processing, and the fair has become a reference in these complex market scenarios”, said Canclini. “Unquestionably, Milano Unica is experiencing a very favorable moment, despite the difficult situation in the textile industry, but I am convinced that even greater attention to quality standards will allow made in Italy manufacturers to react to the situation and build a future.”
The three-day event, which takes place from 9th to 11th July, will see the autumn-winter 2025-2026 collections presented, emphasizing “a journey through European and Italian excellence”. There is extra attention paid to sustainability and innovation, with new entries including MarediModa and Velvet Mi Amor by Stefano and Corinna Chiassai.
“This edition closes one circle and opens another,” said Canclini. “It closes a circle because the excellence of all Italian textile districts aligns in a compact way and opens a new one because it represents a starting point for the growing consolidation of Milano Unica’s international role.”
The opening ceremony of the exhibition featured comments from Attilio Fontana, president of the Lombardy Region, and Matteo Zoppas, president of the Italian Commercial Agency ICE. The future of the made in Italy value chain was examined during a round table with Barbara Cimmino, vice-president of Confindustria responsible for exports and investment attraction and co-founder of Yamamay; Antonio De Matteis, president of Pitti Immagine and CEO of Kiton; Luca Solca, analyst and head of luxury goods at Bernstein; and Caterina Sanson, partner at OC&C Milan. Business and finance journalist Nicola Porro moderated the panel.
“The success of Milano Unica gives us great satisfaction and, even more gratifying, is knowing that this is the result of the commitment and dedication of the Milano Unica executive committee to this great project, supported by the entire team”, said Massimo Mosiello, manager General of Milano Unica.
Mosiello thanked the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency ICE for the Internationalization of Italian Companies Abroad, “who, season after season, have supported us to make Milano Unica a point of reference for the excellence of textiles and accessories and for an increasingly demanding public.”
The general manager said that the fair also solidified the partnership with the Italian Trade Agency. “This arises from the recognition of the important strategic work carried out by management, which led to the achievement of excellent results in the international incoming and the implementation of all communication activities”, said Mosiello. “I would also like to thank our loyal partners, Banca Sella and Lauretana, for their valuable support.”
