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ITALIAN FASHION ON THE CATWALK IN ASIA
Rome (Ign) - Italian fashion is making moves on the Far East. With a stop in Taiwan between 18 and 20 January 2007 at the Hotel Grand Formosa in Taipei, and two in Japan - at the hotel Hokura in Tokyo from 22 to 24 January and from 25 to 26 at the Hilton in Osaka - the independent travelling show "Moda Italia" will present the 2007/2008 autumn/winter collections of clothes and accessories in the two Asian countries. The show, organised by the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE), is now in its 30th edition for Japan and 24th for Taiwan, and over time has become a crucial event for the Italian and local trade. The edition of last July, held in Tokyo and Osaka, in which 89 companies took part, was visited by around 3600 Japanese buyers, while the stop in Taipei, with 18 Italian companies, saw the participation of 428. At the next edition in Taiwan 33 companies of clothing and accessories will be present, while in Tokyo and Osaka there will be 79 clothing companies, 36 of leather goods and 32 of footwear, all offering Italian products.
The oriental show is an important opportunity for the companies of Italian fashion. According to forecasts, in 2006 there will be an increase in turnover of 3%. Italian fashion sells above all in Europe: a study by Hermes lab reports that in 2005, 50% of the sector was directed at the 25 countries of the EU; while in the first half of 2006 thanks to foreign demand, Italian exports grew by 4.1% on the first half of 2005, in line with the more positive trends of the last century. The biggest boost is provided by the new member states of the EU, with imports up 14.2% in the first half, and the other emerging European countries, Russia in the front line, with an increase of 11.2%. If the forecasts are confirmed, the companies in the sector will record an increase in turnover of 18% in the current year and a rise in EBITDA of over 23%. The foreign trade balance, meanwhile, will end with a surplus of €17bn.
The growth in 2006 is the result of a long period of expansion, which has led companies on one hand to delocalise, and on the other to increasingly specialise in the higher ends of the market. Today the sector can look to the future with optimism: there are extremely strong signs of structural consolidation, while the prospects for 2007 remain good, both on the domestic market but above all abroad. Clothing and leather goods are increasing their exports to world markets, thanks to a capacity to focus on brand valorisation, to strong alliances between businesses - essential for attacking complex markets like Russia and China - and the increase in liquid assets made available by listing on the stock exchange or by private equity funds taking capital stakes in the businesses.
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