the 18th edition of milano unica shanghai closed its doors on august 30th, with the collective participation of 44 high end made in italy textile and accessories producers, and final tallies higher than those of march 2023.
In the ample exposition area of the Intertextile Apparel Fabrics fair, the 44 Italian exhibitor companies shared the spotlight, with 50% of the stands manned by company owners and area managers, a testament to the importance of the Chinese market for Made in Italy textiles and accessories.
A fitting setting for the high-quality creative proposals on display, with ethical contents and in continual technological evolution, the area dedicated to the exhibitors from Milano Unica, decorated in the inimitable style of Italian luxury, was visually striking and impactful.
Thanks to this important initiative by ICE Agenzia for the internationalization and promotion of Italian companies overseas, the final tallies show an increased number of visitors compared to the March 2023 edition, although still slightly below the level of the 2019 edition.
“We are particularly pleased to have finally seen the Italian companies back in Shanghai, after more than three years. Despite all the difficulties, China remains one of the most important markets for Italian exporters in the sector, and in this August 2023 edition, the most qualified Chinese buyers were able to reunite with the segment’s high-end Italian exhibitors. In fact, the top Chinese consumers are particularly attracted by the quality, design and innovation offered by Italian companies. Many meetings were held in the Milano Unica hall, which also saw a visit from the Consul-General in Shanghai”, commented Augusto Di Giacinto, Director of ICE Agenzia Shanghai.
As already mentioned, despite the downturn of Hong Kong, the Chinese market is in third place, behind France and Germany, for the export of Made in Italy textiles, and trending upward at 7.3%.
The segment of textiles and accessories for luxury apparel is one of the leading Made in Italy export categories, enjoying the success built by Italian entrepreneurs over the years, who have shown, even in the most difficult circumstances, great fortitude and an ability to continually and rapidly renew their offering, without ever compromising on its extraordinary quality, characteristic of Italian fashion, thanks also to the craftsmanship, creativity, know-how and increasingly sustainable production processes.
In fact, the textile and accessories supply and production chain is the third-leading Italian manufacturing segment, and a point of reference worldwide for excellence and innovation.
The 18th edition of Milano Unica showed a positive sign of the future prospects of the Chinese market, and the trade fair confirmed its standing as a can’t miss event for the global market and international business relations.
“Despite the contraction of the market, our presence in China represents an important long-term investment, with an economic impact of great importance, given the high number of consumers. For years now, the Chinese have shown great appreciation for Made in Italy goods and Italian creativity. Milano Unica Shanghai is definitely a very important occasion for meeting and exchange, as well as for gauging the possibilities for future developments of the local market.
I noticed, with some satisfaction, that demand for our product remains robust, despite the continual challenges posed by the socioeconomic situation and the risk of a slowdown in growth. Moreover, according to some colleagues from important companies who were present at the fair, there was an increase of interest in the women’s collections, all of the very highest level”, declared Alessandro Barberis Canonico, President of Milano Unica.
