The 3rd edition of Milano Unica China will take place, as part of Intertextile Apparel Fabrics, in the Milano Unica Pavilion, an emblem of production and exhibition quality in typical Italian style.
Spring/Summer 2014 collections of 128 Italian firms from various production districts in the domestic textile-accessories tradition will be featured. 95 firms took part at the debut one year ago, and 124 at the 2nd edition in Shanghai, marking a 35% increase.
Today we can confirm that the investment made in the Chinese market has been successful. There were 3000 visitors at the Shanghai edition in October, +50% more than the March edition in Beijing.
“We must point out that the type of client that visits the event has undergone some modifications during the first year. Previously, there was more interest in men's products, but now there is an increase in registration for women's products. Data shows a prevalence of clothing operators (classic suits, sportswear, casual, shirting, knitwear, accessories...), department stores and important chain stores mainly from Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian, Ningbo, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wenzhou but also from Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries like Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Russia”, explains President Silvio Albini.
As for exhibitors, we would like to emphasize that all districts are represented at Milano Unica China. Biella is the primary district with 31 firms, Prato with 24 firms, followed by Como with 18 exhibitors. Ten exhibitors or less from Milan, Varese, Bergamo, Vercelli, Vicenza, Treviso, Florence, Modena, Brescia, Novara, Turin, Pordenone, Monza Brianza, Arezzo, Bari.
There are numerous top quality small/medium size firms that have been able to approach a market offering vast opportunities, almost impossible to deal with alone.
The total value of export has reached 167 million euros. Export towards China has increased +5.5% during the first 10 months of 2012. China + Hong Kong, despite the decline of the latter (-7%), remain in second place among top market outlets for Italian fabrics with almost 320 million euros. This decline is probably due to the transfer of buying offices to Shanghai.
Thanks to a marked decrease in imports (-26% if compared to the same period in 2011), the negative trade balance with China with regard to fabrics has gone from 333 to 196 million euros. As for specific fabric divisions, positive growth was registered for carded woolens (27.3 million euros) and worsted woolens (70 million euros), with increases in export of 4.3% and 1.4%, respectively.
“While awaiting the recovery of our domestic market, we must focus on reinforcing our position on international markets.
I may be a hopeless optimist but I still maintain a positive outlook. The world is vast and there are still areas for our firms and products, so we have to take advantage of this opportunity. Our firms must be globally-minded and keep pace with changing times by focusing specifically on new markets. We are making significant investments in China, to better understand and consolidate an increasingly important market, not only for its rapid growth but above all for quantity and absolute value”, comments Silvio Albini.
Strategic investments and choices are made possible not only thanks to a powerful entrepreneurial spirit of our exhibitors, but also thanks to important synergy within the network: the support and professionalism of our institutional partners like the Ministry of Economic Development, the Foreign Trade Commission (ICE) and Sistema Moda Italia association.
In fact, the event is organized in collaboration with the ICE Agency, involved in both the Beijing event in March and the Shanghai event in October. Thanks to their knowledge of the territory, professional connections of respective Directors and staff, their support is essential when dealing with a vast and complex Chinese market.
Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of our partner Messe Frankfurt, comments: “the agreement with Milano Unica which began in Beijing in 2012 and was officially signed in Shanghai 2012, is an important strategic agreement over the last few years regarding the mid-upper/upper market. We are happy to provide an important and consolidated event like Intertextile Apparel Fabrics together with the Milano Unica Pavilion that focuses on research, quality, style, Italian character.”
A stunning pavilion with typical Milano Unica style architecture and customer services. Milano Unica style will come alive on the evening of the second day featuring an event at the China World Summit Wing Hotel, an important moment of conviviality and a meeting point between entrepreneurs and clients, a moment of cultural synthesis between Italian art and cuisine. “We will feature entertainment by famous Neapolitan artists. ParthenopExperience will present “Naples: a land of song”. The notes of this concert will include popular traditions, “poetry in song”, warm and lively performances accompanied by rhythmic energy and original tammurriate”, explains Massimo Mosiello, General Manager of Milano Unica.
Milano Unica would like to thank its institutional partner Agenzia ICE, in Rome and Beijing, whose collaboration and know-how are of strategic importance in order to enter the fundamental yet difficult Chinese market. Antonino Laspina, Director of the Beijing headquarters, comments “After years as promotors of the Italian textile delegation at Intertextile Apparel Fabrics, the Agency decided to focus on professionally organized events and support Milano Unica, the most consolidated and well-structured exhibition that Italy has to offer, as far as commercial and cultural synergy are concerned. The results speak for themselves”.
Even DHL is an excellent partner, participating in the exhibition and providing various services for exhibitors.
S/S 2014 collections will be presented in Beijing on March 27-29. The next appointment in Shanghai on October 21-24 will feature F/W 2014/15 collections.
