Why Italian Fashion Is So Popular

Some countries are famous for wildlife, some precious stones, and others, tourist sites. In Italy’s case, it’s known for well-tailored, luxury, handcrafted fashion.

Italy has the fourth-largest economy in Europe and is the tenth most prominent exporter in the world. Fashion is one of its secondary sources of income, and it’s currently still one of the world’s top fabric-producing countries—since the eleventh century.

So, why is Italian fashion and textiles so popular, you ask? Let’s take a look.

A Brief History Of Italian Fashion

Italy wasn’t always the fashion capital of the world. Up until the second half of the 20th century, Italian fashion was just about as ordinary as every other textile-producing country. Before the Renaissance, Paris was number one in the fashion industry worldwide and is currently still one of Italy’s most worthy competitors.

However, today, designers, press, buyers and fashion lovers flock to the bi-annual Milan Fashion Week’s to appreciate the craft of established and upcoming fashion designers.

Considering the amount of time that the industrialization of Italy had stolen from the fashion industry, it was surprising when the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries ushered in the modern Italian fashion brands we know and love today. By the 1960s, Italy was a leading fashion contender worldwide, all eyes were on Italian fashion for the very latest trends, cuts and colours.

The achievements of Italian fashion are owed to creative designers like Schiaparelli who is known for her continuous use of shocking pink and witty accessories. She made a large contribution to haute couture outside of Paris. She also introduced the idea of cutting along the bias, creating a completely new tailoring trend and bringing Italian fashion to the forefront of the style industry.

While many Italian designers focus on bespoke tailoring and couture designs, Italy offers very stylish ready-to-wear collections from powerhouse brands such as Prada, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and MaxMara.

5 Reasons Why Italian Fashion Is So Popular:

The Colours

There’s a good reason why so many people love the Spring/Summer season; the variety of colour feeds the eyes and even lift the spirits. Textile mills in Italy are known for their cutting edge printing techniques that combine pattern and colour. Brilliant splashes of colour incorporated into Italian clothing as a whole plays a vital role in attracting the attention of fashionistas all over the world. Designers such as Donatella Versace, Miuccia Prada, Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana and Missoni have contributed largely to this.

Craftsmanship

Italian’s are generally known for their thirst for excellence and attention to detail. This is not just in the fashion industry but also in other areas like furniture and footwear. Even their attention to detail when it comes to food and wine cannot be denied. This attention to detail is so treasured and widely known that luxury brands all over the world (especially those in the UK and US), prefer to outsource their production to Italian clothing manufacturers. The country also has a broad network of textile mills and manufacturer’s many with their own unique areas of expertise.

Sense of Style

The theme of Italian style is classic and timeless. This is one thing that can’t be replaced by any other brand or industry. Trends may be fun, but nothing beats the satisfying feeling you have when you own a timeless Marni or Nico Giani bag. Also, most wealthy people appreciate having good quality and long-lasting pieces throughout their lifetime and even pass them onto their children as family heirlooms.

The Name

Italy has made a name for itself in the fashion industry because of the points listed above and more. Just having the ‘Made in Italy’ tag on a product gives it value. People love to boast about their Italian designer bag, pair of shoes, or bespoke suit because of the associated value. 

The Demand

Due to being so well-respected, there is a high demand for Italian pieces. And, the higher the demand, the higher the price tag. This is because we assume that the more expensive a product, the more valuable it is. Italian fashion is no exception; people will happily invest in valuable Italian garments.

Thanks to a combination of style, asethetics and excellent craftsmanship from fabric to finished garment Italian fashion has made itself incredibly worthy in the global fashion market.