Resources

January 2010

Contents

Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana
Industry Resources

Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana

This article was kindly forwarded to the FIBER journal by Eleonora Mengotti of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana.

Mario Boselli
Chairman,
Camera Nazionale
della Moda Italiana
Milan, Italy

Elenora Mengotti
Guilia Pirovano
General Manager,
Camera Nazionale
della Moda Italiana
Milan, Italy

Excellence in style is the quintessence of a nation’s history; it is not something created on a daily basis and it must be more than the sum total of a business strategy. Italian manufactory — Made in Italy — is a tradition that encompasses talent, customs in taste, an ethos of elegance, master handcraftsmanship, innovative know-how, and attention to detail, as well as creativity and technical aptitude. Throughout the world, when speaking of clothing, Italian fashion is considered “beautiful and well made.” Herein lies the aforementioned excellence. It involves an ages-long practice of skilled crafting that blends aesthetic and immaterial elements with quality innovation in technology and materials. The Italian Fashion Chamber (Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, CNMI) reflects this culture and tradition, both in Italy and abroad.

Over the past 50 years, Italy has developed a formidable ability to produce top-quality fashion throughout the entire production chain, from materials to end product, yielding noteworthy quantities. Today there are almost 80,000 companies and 750,000 employees involved in Italian fashion. The integrity of the production chain has played a determinant role in the success of this vast and varied entrepreneurial structure.

Italian fashion and the nation’s business system have embarked upon a new adventure within the complex network that characterizes globalization. Italian fashion boasts its own added value, namely the prestige of ultimate quality, a quality made of entrepreneurial history, ingenuity, and the creativity of Italian designers. Fifty years at center stage have already ensured Italian fashion an excellent future throughout the world.

Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana has been bound to Italian fashion for 50 years, a period of extreme success for the nation’s industry. Italian fashion’s adventure began in Florence in the early 1950s with the first fashion shows featuring the creations of haute couture designers. These were exclusive events reserved for the most famous Italian and international journalists and for buyers of America’s most famous department stores. Giovanni Battista Giorgini, who was responsible for purchasing Italian products for the finest American clients, intuited North America’s interest in Italian style and creativity. In 1953, Italian fashions debuted in the Sala Bianca at Palazzo Pitti, an event that sanctioned and marked Italian fashion’s evolution from an artisanal to an industrial reality. During this period, relationships between tailors and industrial wool and cotton spinners and silk weavers began to develop, giving rise to prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) fashion, which was to become Italy’s triumph. Tailors’ skills became an economic force and a crucial source of wealth for the nation. Milan, Rome, and Florence became the capitals of Italian fashion.

Founded in 1958, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana is a nonprofit association with head offices in Milan, fashion capital of the world. It represents over 200 Italian fashion companies operating in haute couture, prêt-à-porter, quality tailoring, sportswear, furriers, cosmetics, fabrics, accessories, leather goods, shoes, services, and distribution. It coordinates, safeguards, and promotes the identity and excellence of Italian fashion, and it serves as reference point for initiatives aimed at raising awareness, spreading, and valorizing fashion in Italy and abroad.

Italy’s fashion industry is renowned for the prêt-à-porter fashion of its famous designers. When it comes to prêt-à-porter, this is the capital city of the world. In this sector, Milan boasts esteemed trademarks, fashion designers, and companies. Fashion’s “four walls” are the showrooms, the buying offices, press offices, and public relations offices, which, combined, employee thousands and churn out ever-evolving activities and projects. This world relies on the professionalism of a multitude of creative minds — designers, photographers, graphic artists, stylists, and directors. Milano Moda Donna and Milano Moda Uomo are annual events featuring an endless amount of fashion shows. In addition to highly acclaimed designers, these happenings attract lively new talents and offerings yearly. Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana is actively involved in this alluring and internationally renowned event, scheduling fashion shows, presentations, and correlated events. It is also responsible for image-making, interacting with institutions, creating stage settings and installations for the Centro Sfilate (Fashion Show Center), serving as press office, and ideating and coordinating special events, meetings, and conferences.

Milano Moda Donna, with two editions annually, is the world’s most popular prêt-à-porter fashion event. September/October is dedicated to the Spring/Summer collections, while February/March features the Autumn/Winter collections. In addition to hosting many fashion shows, Milano Moda Donna serves as a stage setting for a number of presentations hosted by specialized agencies. Each edition of Milano Moda Donna presents over 230 highly refined fashion shows and presentations, attracting approximately 2,500 journalists (Italian and foreign) and over 15,000 buyers. A spellbinding experience, Milano Moda Donna is hosted at the Centro Sfilate, in via Gattamelata in Milan, known for its large halls, characteristic central piazza with a video wall that enables the public to view the fashion shows in real time, showrooms for editors/publishers and sponsors, a fully equipped press room, and comfortable restaurants and snack bars. Image-making and installations are entrusted to the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana.

Milano Moda Uomo is an international event featuring novelties and prêt-à-porter collections for men created by Italian fashion’s most prestigious designers. The January edition presents the Autumn/Winter collections while the June edition introduces the Spring/Summer collections. Hundreds of fashion shows and presentations attract more than 1,000 Italian and foreign journalists in addition to approximately 10,000 buyers. Events scheduled for Milano Moda Uomo take place in various venues around Milan’s city center, in areas specially selected by companies or in showrooms.

Activities Throughout the World

Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana is Italy’s fashion ambassador around the globe. Its international commitments involve building relationships with other institutions, establishing agreements aimed at protecting and valorizing Italian products, and participating in special events organized in capital cities throughout the world. In 2000, the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana and the Fédération Français de la Couture signed a French-Italian Protocol Agreement. Revised in 2005, this document is particularly important for the fashion industry. Some of the objectives stipulated in the agreement include a shared commitment to spreading haute couture fashion products in international markets, countering imitations and forgeries, cooperating in professional training, monitoring imports from non-European countries, and increasing the industry’s competitiveness within the European Union.

Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana collaborates with the Italian Foreign Trade Institute (Istituto Italiano per il Commercio con l’Estero, ICE), embassies, and other international organizations to arrange foreign events aimed at promoting Italian fashion. Among these, the most honored are international gala evenings that feature fashion shows arranged by some of Italy’s foremost fashion designers. New and exceptional happenings are being organized, but past soirées have already been held in St. Petersburg, Shanghai, Oslo, Bratislava, and Sofia. In 2001, an agreement was signed with the Italian Ministry of Production to act cohesively in endorsing quality production departments represented by the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana.

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Industry Resources

Know of additional resources that should be listed? Please e-mail your suggestions to us at fiberjournal@udel.edu.

American Apparel and Footwear Association
The AAFA was formed in 2000 through the merger of the American Apparel and Manufacturers Association, Footwear Industries of America, and The Fashion Association. The Web site has industry news, consumer information, and statistics.
Apparel Search Company
The Apparel Search Company is one of the largest and fastest growing online resources for the apparel industry. They have been developing fashion portals for more than a decade. Apparel Search is an online apparel industry directory providing members of the fashion industry with links to virtually every aspect of apparel, fashion, textiles, and clothing. It is one of the only Web sites offering a comprehensive view of everything that is relevant to fashion and style. From their garment industry guide, you will find jobs, factories, news resources, stores, wholesalers, and much more.
Delaware Small Business Development Center
The Delaware Small Business Development Center helps strengthen Delaware’s economy by providing quality services such as management assistance, educational programs, and information resources to Delaware’s business community and potential entrepreneurs. Business advisors help entrepreneurs develop business plans, pinpoint and solve problems, locate and apply for capital, and brainstorm new strategies in order to compete more effectively in today’s economy. Training and educational programs are offered throughout the state on the basics of starting and running a business, as well as advanced topics such as using QuickBooks™ software.
Ecotextile News
Ecotextile News is a business-to-business magazine dedicated to the production of sustainable and ethical textiles and apparel. It is being published in direct response to demands from retailers, fabric specifiers, and buyers of sustainable and ethically made textile products.
Fair Labor Association
This nonprofit organization is dedicated to ending sweatshop conditions in factories worldwide and to building innovative and sustainable solutions to abusive labor conditions. The FLA conducts independent monitoring and verification to ensure that FLA Workplace Standards are upheld where FLA company products are produced. Through public reporting, the FLA provides consumers and shareholders with credible information to make responsible buying decisions.
Fashion Industry Network
Fashion Industry Network is a business network for members of the fashion industry to share knowledge regarding fashion design, manufacturing of clothing, trend spotting, etc. This site is intended to be a "business" social network. In addition to allowing members from the apparel industry, it also allows consumers of fashion to contribute to the network.
Fashion Industry News
This online newsletter and news wire service serves the fashion, clothing, and apparel community with the latest up-to-date news on the garment industry, both retail and manufacturing. The newsletter covers all aspects of the design and manufacture of clothing and accessories for personal wear. In addition, textiles, fabrics, leather, and costume design for theatrical performances are covered. Every day, Fashion Industry News reviews articles from throughout the world, selecting those that are relevant to the fashion industry. References to these articles are published daily on the Web site.
The Fashion Center, New York City
This Web site provides information on NYC Fashion District events, fashion designers, economic profiles, and news.
The Fashion Group International
FGI is a global, nonprofit professional organization with 5,000 members in the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, beauty, and home. Its mission is to be the preeminent authority on the business of fashion and design and to help its members become more effective in their careers. To do this, FGI provides insights on major trends in person, online, and in print; access to business professionals; and a gateway to the influence fashion plays in the marketplace. The group was founded in 1928 by 17 women in the fashion industry and continues to be operated predominantly by women.
Graduate Certificate in Socially Responsible and Sustainable Apparel Business
Get your company involved in managing labor and envrionmental issues by enrolling in the University of Delaware online certificate program. The competencies and skills embedded in the courses address human rights, labor standards, and environmental stewardship and are based on research with industry leaders and professionals who lead nongovernmental organizations and civil society groups with a stake in the global apparel business. Courses are offered through the Internet, so you can participate from anywhere, anytime; they are flexible to accommodate the busy schedule of working professionals.
International Trade Association Office of Textiles and Apparel
OTEXA oversees programs and strategies to improve the domestic and international competitiveness of the U.S. fiber, textile, and apparel industries and to assist importers and retailers in facilitating fair trade practices.
National Retail Federation
NRF is the world's largest retail trade association, with membership comprising all formats and distribution channels including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet, independent stores, chain restaurants, drug and grocery stores, as well as key trading partners.
National Textile Center
This research consortium works to enhance the knowledge base of the U.S. fiber/textile products industry: Auburn, Clemson, Cornell, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, University of California at Davis, University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth, and Philadelphia University.
Prime Source Forum
Held in Hong Kong, this is the annual meeting of the "movers and shakers" of the global apparel industry. Industry News on PSF’s Web site provides breaking industry developments around the world.
Social Accountability International
SAI promotes human rights for workers around the world. It is best known for SA8000, a system for managing ethical workplace conditions throughout global supply chains. SAI works with companies, consumer groups, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), workers’ and trade unions, and local governments, as well as a network of agencies accredited for SA8000 auditing, to help ensure that workers of the world are treated according to basic human rights principles.
United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel
USA–ITA is a nonprofit industry association representing the textile and apparel importing community’s interests before Congress, the Administration, U.S. Customs, other regulatory agencies, the business community, and the public.
US–ASEAN Business Council
The US–ASEAN Business Council is the trusted voice of the American private sector in the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations market. The council has helped improve the business environment for American companies and expand the U.S. competitive position in the region like no other organization. The US–ASEAN Business Council is dedicated to effectively strengthening bilateral and US–ASEAN relations through strong economic and commercial ties.
VESTEX
Guatemala’s Apparel & Textile Industry Commission (VESTEX) is part of the Guatemalan Exporters’ Association, (AGEXPORT), which promotes competitive exports growth to sustain the economic and social development of Guatemala. VESTEX anticipates and contributes to fulfilling its associates’ needs related to political and business relationships in the national and international environment. VESTEX has consolidated networking with and among its members. The commission monitors market trends for the apparel and textile industry and works for the competitiveness of the sector, according to the rapidly changing requirements of the exports market.
Women’s Wear Daily
Often called the "fashion bible," Women’s Wear Daily is a voice of authority, an international news wire, and an agent for the fashion, beauty, and retail industries.
World Trade Center Delaware
This nonprofit organization helps small and medium-sized companies expand their markets overseas, as well as raises awareness of international issues and their importance in regard to international growth. The WTC Delaware Small Business Export-Import Program offers a well-coordinated, economical, and accessible array of services to help small businesses increase their export potential. WTC Delaware continues to build on these and other programs to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses have the tools they need.
World Trade Organization
WTO is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are agreements negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.

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