“When we create a system, we are always very good and, above all, very strong”. This is how Carlo Capasa, president of CNMI (Camera Nazionale Moda Italiana – National Chamber for Italian Fashion) closed the press conference for the presentation of the forthcoming women’s fashion shows in Milan, scheduled February 22 to 28. A small sentence that reinforces the sense of his previous statement, regarding Lineapelle’s decision not to move its dates, confirming them on February 22-24. “Lineapelle should be thanked,” says Capasa, “because it made a great organisational sacrifice to be there, sending a great message. It is very important that it has not given up (the February dates, ed), as other events have done”. Words that he expands on when talking about the value of Italian leather and its sustainable footprint.
CNMI presents the fashion shows
Milan Women’s Fashion Week will take place February 22-28, and has 170 appointments on the calendar, “although,” admits Capasa, “others will be added. 57 physical fashion shows have been confirmed, 8 digital ones with a rich programme of presentations to close the circle. There will be important returns,” says Capasa, “Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Giorgio Armani with two events, Diesel with a fashion show, Trussardi, and the first time for Ferrari. All of this will be done with maximum security against Covid, and exploiting the most correct way the possibility of access to Italy for foreign buyers, guaranteed by the new Green Corridors”.
Beware of demonising leather
The presentation of the fashion shows gave Capasa the opportunity to open a “full leather” parenthesis. He did so by explaining that “the Italian tanning industry is one of our great excellences. An excellence that produces leather, a truly circular material. Beware, therefore, of demonising leather, because it is a waste, a recovered product of the food chain”. The message is very clear and direct.
The numbers of Italian fashion
On the economic front, Capasa explains that “in 2021, we have recovered two thirds of the turnover lost in 2020, about 16 billion euros. In 2022, we are aiming to recover the missing 8 billion euros from 2019. And it seems to us that everything is going in this direction”. Export figures are very positive, in particular “+50% in Chin,a and almost +32% in the US”’. But the figure that matters most to the CNMI president is another. “The 33.5 billion euros foreign balance should be noted. In 2019, it was 32.2. How was this possible? Simple: we have decreased imports, it is a signal that shows how some productions have returned to Italy”. Reshoring, in practice.
Pictured right: (from left) Carlo Capasa, Milanese councillors Alessia Cappello (economic development) and Tommaso Sacchi (culture), Carlo Ferro (president of the ITA-ICE Agency)
