The Megachallenges of MFGS 2022

«Italian quality, the Made in Italy, is present in every brand of the world. In order to produce quality, you have to go through Italy,» this is how Paolo Panerai, editor in chief and ceo of Class Editori, opened the 21st edition of MFGS - Milano fashion global summit 2022. «In these years we have been telling and analyzing the fashion world talking not only about the most glamorous realities, but also supply chains and smaller companies. Our territory is undoubtedly rich of savoir-faire and excellencies acknowledged on an international level, this is why with this new edition of MFGS we want to consolidate this know-how, from the chain to the digital world, without neglecting the environment».

The framework of Italian fashion, despite the Ukrainian crisis, remains positive but new challenges force the industry to revise some dynamics. The 2022 digits are better than 2019, the pre-Covid-19 year, with a turnover of about 92 billion, with strong growth in exports as well. And there is no shortage of early reflections on the new Government, from which the fashion industry continues to demand cohesion and attention. «The fact that there will be a ministry of Made in Italy will necessarily have to enhance fashion, which is the most visible sector of all the excellence of our country,” Panerai continued, in a dialogue with Carlo Capasa, president of the Cnmi - National chamber of Italian fashion, partner of MFGS for over 20 years, since the very first edition in 2002 that saw Giorgio Armani among the protagonists, chosen by prime minister Giorgia Meloni for his first official exit, perhaps a sign of attention for this sector that is the second industry in our country.

A unique industry, in which, since time immemorial, big brands collaborate with small and medium-sized companies to ensure the excellence of Made in Italy. «We have worked in recent years with the conviction of how important it is to inform this sector,» Paolo Panerai stressed. «For 25 years we have been giving a voice to creatives, designers, managers and entrepreneurs in the fashion industry with MF Fashion, Europe's only b2b and b2c fashion, luxury and design newspaper, which is published with MF-Milano Finanza». Business was up 18% even net of price increases, returning to pre-2008 financial crisis levels. Contributing to this were once again exports, which rose by 21.9% in the first five months and 30.2% for fashion and related sectors, thanks to the performance of the US (+59.7%) and South Korea (+34.1%), not forgetting the UK (+22.3%) and despite the slowdown in China and Russia.

However, the scenario remains cautious due to the energy crisis. And it is mainly the supply chain that is suffering. «Giving the supply chain a voice has been an MFGS commitment since 2018 and constitutes another of the distinctive strengths of the new Class TV Moda as an absolute point of reference in the market with the main schools, where the new styles and protagonists of the future are born,» the founder of Class Editori commented. «Manufacturing is based on the skills and flair of those who work, and these are things that are difficult to transmit, which is why training and the protection of processes are topics that can no longer take a back seat,» Panerai noted, giving an assist to Capasa, who closed with a focus on the narrative of fashion and Made in Italy itself. An aspect that can be a strength for the industry, but on which it is still weak.

With MFGS 2022, the megachallenges of Made in Italy are in the spotlight. The reflection continues today, moving to the topics of technology and the Metaverse. Future challenges for Made in Italy lie in an increasing commitment to social and environmental sustainability, the fight against counterfeiting, the digitization of companies at all levels, including shared projects in districts, and the training of the new workforce. The talks will close Thursday in Milan with a focus on the supply chain, to then pass an ideal baton to Venice, where journalists from Class Editori will moderate the Venice sustainable fashion forum, an event in its first edition organized by Cnmi with Smi and Ambrosetti. (All rights reserved)