Textile industry to start again from Milano unica

Two years after its last February edition, Milano unica is ready to make a comeback. Although in a market context that is still penalized by the restrictive measures related to the health situation, the 34th edition of the international fair dedicated to the world of textiles and clothing accessories opens today. Until tomorrow, in pavilions 12, 16 and 20 of Rho Fiera Milano, the event will welcome exhibiting companies, buyers, industry professionals and journalists, for two days dedicated to high-end fashion trends, news and suggestions for SS 2023. Stimuli and creative content will come not only from the trends and sustainability area, whose theme this season is Mu hotel, but also from the return of the Japan and Korea observatories and other specific areas dedicated to innovations in the textile world.

«Expectations correlate with the market scenario and are very positive, given last year's disastrous pandemic situation that had prevented us from having the fair held regularly in February», Alessandro Barberis Canonico, ceo of Milano unica for two years, explained to MFF. «Although a comparison with last July's event is not entirely fair —because that is when the winter collections are shown— today we can still boast 342 exhibiting companies here present, 27% more than the 270 companies from six months ago». But in addition to exhibitor sentiment, as the ceo pointed out, what has changed a great deal over the past twelve months is, above all, the market. «While then we were out of orders in the industry, right now we are returning to seasons that are very similar to 2019 levels. This is, in my opinion, the strongest signal, from which it follows that companies believe in the return of a normality in sales and therefore are investing in the event», Barberis Canonico, former ceo of the historic Biella-based wool mill Vitale Barberis Canonico, continued, stressing the fundamental importance of the fair as a moment to discover new samples, new ideas and the most creative aspects studied by companies.

«The fact that there are almost 80 exhibitors more than in July confirms that the market is picking up. Of course, we have not yet reached the values on which we were working in 2018 and 2019. This year, however, we will be very close to exceeding them overall. In 2022 we expect to regain all the lost orders, from which reschedule our growth," he said. On the other hand, there are less expectations regarding international attendance, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors since many countries have reintroduced quarantines returning from abroad. There were many cancellations, especially from the US and Japan, as well as from China, due to the concurrent Chinese New Year and the borders staying closed. Therefore, the event staged in these days will be mainly European. «On the whole, most of those attending the fair will come from Italy and Northern Europe, and partly from the UK, where it seems that restrictions have been loosened», he explained.

This edition of the fair will include, as always, a series of round tables and workshops on creativity and sustainability. The Spazio Filo is back, dedicated to the main trends in the world of excellent yarns, as well as the Mu Designer Area dedicated to textile designers, with five studios presenting the most stimulating and innovative decorative proposals for fashion fabrics. The TexClubTec Area, the technical textiles section of Smi-Sistema moda Italia, will host the Innovation Area, with the direct participation of ten companies representing the entire production chain for the clothing industry, as well as an exhibition forum dedicated to the most recent innovations in the sector, i.e., textile materials for activewear and outdoor clothing. Finally, Woolmark will be the area entirely dedicated to the most innovative and performing fabrics in merino wool presented at The wool lab (see other article on this page), while at the Linen Dream Lab by Celc linen will be the protagonist, being the only green, creative and innovative European fiber, with its brands European flax and Masters of linen. (All rights reserved)

Cucinelli will be the guest of Back to School

Brunello Cucinelli will tell his story to the future creative talents in the setting of Back to school. The 34th edition of Milano unica also means the return of the eagerly awaited event dedicated to young talents and students from fashion and design schools, which will be held tomorrow morning in the auditorium of Rho Fiera Milano. The entrepreneur from Umbria, founder of the homonymous company specialized in knitwear production, will be the special guest of a talk moderated by Alessandro Barberis Canonico. «A special guest with whom we will discuss the future of the industry together with those called future creative talents», the ceo of Milano unica said to MFF. «Many students and representatives of schools and academic institutes related to fashion will participate and I think it will be very interesting to talk with this expert entrepreneur about many aspects of the industry». (All rights reserved)