Centuries of experience

Abstract

This survey of the Italian textile industry begins with a summary of the collapse of regionalised industries in the USA. The economic dominance of the USA has come at the price of losing regional talents and skills to the extent that some industries, such as the shoe industry, are virtually non-existent. The contrast could not be greater when Italy is considered. Especially in the textile industry Italy is the success story of the developing nations, beating the USA, the UK and every other major western economic power. Within Italy itself the textiles, apparel and leather export figure is second only to mechanical products and represents more than 15% of total exports. (see figure on page 21). Italy is also world number 2 in the export of textile machinery. Key to this success is seen as the collective knowledge to be found in the areas where the textile industry has survived for generations. A second factor is the loyalty of the domestic market with Italians largely shunning cheap lower quality goods from abroad.