The first National Made in Italy Day will be celebrated on Monday, April 15, marking a historic date for the country. From Rome to Milan, a series of institutional events will unfold over 24 hours to highlight Italian excellence and reaffirm the Government’s commitment to a key industrial sector for the country. «Through the Special Fund for the green and digital transition in fashion, 5 million euros have been allocated for 2023 and 10 million euros for 2024», Adolfo Urso, minister of enterprises and Made in Italy, explained in an interview with MFF, outlining the specifics of the day.
On April 15, we will celebrate the first Made in Italy Day. How will the day unfold?
It is a significant milestone, as we honor our brand, which not only embodies our national identity but also serves as Italy’s global emblem. In the morning, I will attend the ceremony for the presentation of the stamp dedicated to Made in Italy Day at Palazzo Piacentini, the headquarters of the ministry of enterprises and Made in Italy. Later, always at Mimit, I will join the inauguration of the Altagamma exhibition, «The mirror of italian excellence». Then, I will head to the Sala Zuccari of the Senate for the Comitato Leonardo awards ceremony. In the afternoon, I will be in Lombardy for an event at Palazzo Marino, organized in collaboration with Assolombarda and the Municipality of Milan.
Less than a year since the law was enacted, what progress has been made?
We have established the Made in Italy high school, which will commence offering courses in key industrial sectors starting this September. It will be a pilot year for the new course of study, which aligns closely with industry needs. This innovative educational approach integrates humanities and STEM subjects with the goal of fostering Italian excellence, promoting sustainable growth, nurturing Italian talent, easing students’ transition into the workforce, and fostering stronger connections between education and industry. With this law, we also established the National Made in Italy Fund to promote the growth, support, strengthening, and revitalization of strategic national supply chains, with an initial endowment of 1 billion euros and additional private resources from domestic and foreign funds.
What about historic brands?
We are committed to safeguarding them. Mimit can now assume ownership of trademarks registered for at least 50 years, or those with a documented history of continuous use for the same period, at no cost, should a company choose to cease operations. Finally, through the Made in Italy law, we will promote female entrepreneurship by increasing support for women-led initiatives and encouraging the growth of female-owned enterprises across the country.
What is the Government doing for the fashion industry? Is there a specific investment?
The Government has established the Special Fund for Green and Digital Transition in Fashion at Mimit, with an allocation of 5 million euros for 2023 and 10 million euros for 2024. The aim is to support the textile, fashion, and accessories sectors, particularly focusing on promoting and enhancing investments for an ecological and digital transition.
How crucial is fashion for Italy, and what potential does it hold?
The fashion industry has long been a pillar of the national economy, with large, medium, and small enterprises leading within the broader European context. The data speaks for itself: in 2023, the sector’s turnover is estimated at around 110 billion euros, showing growth from 2022. To understand the sector’s scope, consider that there are approximately 60,000 companies operating in textiles, clothing, tanning, cosmetics, jewelry, and eyewear, employing over 520,000 people. Italian fashion’s entire supply chain heavily relies on exports, a critical support element. Enterprises must focus on this aspect, but they will not be left alone. The sector will receive ample support to incentivize exports, focusing on industrial policies to address emerging challenges, such as those posed by Chinese and American markets, as well as to tackle new global challenges, including unfair competition and counterfeiting.
The National Chamber for Italian Fashion has advocated for a series of EU regulations in Brussels to protect quality fashion. What should the EU do following the June 6-9 elections?
The EU is on a path toward regulating the fashion industry for greater sustainability, but there is still much work to be done. The new rules include commitments to move away from fast fashion by promoting durable garments, increasing the use of recycled fabrics, and minimizing incineration and landfill disposal. Additionally, there is a commitment to tackle greenwashing and develop a digital product passport with mandatory circularity information. Another critical objective is to promote actions to address the unintentional release of microplastics from textiles. These measures are part of a comprehensive initiative aimed at reducing the industry’s environmental impact, which will undoubtedly play a central role in EU decisions.
How crucial is education for the future of our industry, and what investments are being made?
The fashion sector is experiencing continuous growth, but as it faces new environmental and technological challenges, acquiring new skills becomes imperative. Therefore, both the industry and the Government must collaborate to bridge the gap between workforce demand and educational offerings. Italy has always been synonymous with beauty, quality, and craftsmanship, meaning that it is essential to ensure a skilled workforce equipped with the necessary technical and professional skills. Effective workforce planning requires targeted education. To this end, the Government is working to integrate education with entrepreneurship. This effort includes reforms to Higher Technical Institutes (ITS) and the establishment of the Made in Italy High School, a pivotal initiative aimed at enhancing, promoting, and safeguarding Italian excellence.
Do you have any personal memories related to fashion?
Having served as Deputy Minister of Trade for eight years, from 2001, during the era of globalization and increased promotion, I have countless cherished memories of accompanying businesses and organizing Made in Italy events on various continents. I would say there are too many to choose just a few.
And now? Have you ever attended a fashion show?
Indeed, I had the pleasure of attending Valentino’s show at Piazza di Spagna. An icon of fashion and the icon of Rome. It was a truly evocative experience. (All rights reserved)
