With 97 000 firms (850 000 jobs), € 54,6 billion turnover (+3,3), € 10,8 commercial surplus, the Italian textile and apparel sector has attracted the main fashion designers (Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Marithé & François Girbaud, Galliano, Façonnable...). Its exceptional know-how (for instance, Leu Locati silver and gold mesh weaving), its varied high quality fabrics supply (Cotonifici Albini...) and its flexibility to produce little series in a short period of time or even organize a fashion show within a week. Threatened by mafia-supported illegal work in the Mezzogiorno and Chinese clandestine workshops in Tuscany and Lombardia, the Italian textile and apparel industry still remains competitive with quite low-costs (subcontracting with Spain, Romania, the Czech Republic...) and a lot of innovation.

Source: Fashion Daily News Jan. 4th 2008