Craftsmanship in Italy became luxury after years of neglection

3 October 2016

Fashion

Italy has a strong story of craftsmanship and creativity rooted in its history since the historical period of the Rinascimento. Over the last 30 years, this heritage lied in a corner as the nation moved from an industrial economy to a service industry-based society. The art of craftmanship, personal talent and industrial design have been put apart to invest in more intangible services.

Zegna Baruffa Lane Borgosesia + Carlo Volpi

In recent years the high-end fashion and luxury industry rediscovered craftmanship as a way to be creative and, at the same time, as a leverage for developing state-of-the-art technologies and equipments. It has been able to retrieve ancient techniques of manufactoring or innovate on products and processes, transforming hand-made in a distinctive sign of exclusivity, preciousness and rarity.

Mazzanti Piume + Paul Andrew, Ely B. Eleonora Bruno Hats, Silvia Massalesi

Milano celebrates the excellence of Made in Italy with the exibition “Crafting the future. Stories about craftsmanship and innovation” opened the 21^st of september at MUDEC – Museo delle Culture di Milano during the first day of the Milan Fashion Week and free to the public until the 13^th of october.

Organized by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) under the aegis of the Ministry of Economic Development and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), the show is curated by Franca Sozzani and Sara Maino under the artistic direction of Luca Stoppini and the coordination of Federico Poletti.

“Crafting the future” brings together leading producers and young fashion designers to co-author projects exclusively for the occasion, showing Italy’s home-grown production capabilities, the italian design culture and the infinite sources of revolutionary new ideas.

Mazzanti Piume + Paul Andrew, Ely B. Eleonora Bruno Hats, Silvia Massalesi

“The fashion industry, including jewelery and perfumes is worth 87 billions of euros and has grown by 1,4% compared to 2015” – Carlo Capasa, Chairman of CNMI says. This year we plan to attend more fairs and exibitions abroad where we can show italian excellence in craftmanship and innovation, and bring Made in Italy in the world.

“Apparel and fashion accessories sector is the second entry of Italy’s export and is worth 60 billions of euros – says Ivan Scalfarotto, undersecretary of state, Ministry of Economic Development; we have opened a permanent rountable that connects industry associations, exibitions and the municipality of Milan and Florence to incentive the promotion of Italy’s manufactoring heritage. Here you are some of the beatiful creation made for the exibition “Crafting the future”: