Leathergoods, the diamonds in Italy’s fashion sector
The main industry body for leathergoods manufacturers in Italy, Assopellettieri, successfully held a ‘state of the industry’ summit in Florence on July 23. Almost 200 people attended the event, which took place in the city’s Palazzo Vecchio.
In the course of the event, industry representatives heard discussions and suggestions on how to recover from the challenges brought about by covid-19. A greater focus on sustainability and on digitalisation of leathergoods production emerged as the key priority.
President of the organisation, Franco Gabbrielli, said the industry was living through “a very delicate time” and he called for rivalries to end and for all of Italy’s leathergoods manufacturers to join forces to overcome the current difficulties.
He encouraged Assopellettieri members to look forward to the next Mipel exhibition, which will take place in Milan from September 20-23. “Perhaps the exhibition will be smaller this time, with fewer companies exhibiting,” he said, “but the companies that will be there will be carefully selected. Perhaps this is the time to accept that Mipel will be smaller in future, but more exclusive.”
Mr Gabbrielli pointed out that Assopellettieri may only be a small component of a much broader fashion industry body, Confindustria Moda. “But my view, and that of many people, is that we are the diamonds in Confindustria Moda,” he said. “It’s here in Italy that you can find true excellence in leathergoods manufacturing. It’s in us. No one is ever going to take that away from us.”
Image: Assopellettieri
