Excellent results for the 47th edition of Filo
Excellent results for the 47th edition of Filo
The 47th edition of Filo, the international exhibition of yarns and fibres, closed today in a very positive tone, with a high growth in visitors’ number: +14% compared to the spring edition of 2016. Organisers were particularly satisfied with the number of foreign buyers.
As Paolo Monfermoso confirmed: “The 47th edition Filo closed today in a very positive mood. Buyers’ flow was higher than expected and it confirmed that our organisational choices, according to the evolution of the textile-apparel industry fair calendar, have met the real needs of companies, both exhibiting and visiting ones. The increase in foreign buyers’ visits was also significant since it reflects, on one hand, the role that Filo is playing internationally and, on the other, the interest that excellent productions of our exhibiting companies meet worldwide. Along our path towards an increasing internationalisation of Filo, the Italian Trade Agency has been with us for many years, and during this edition ITA promoted the participation of foreign buyers coming from Japan, Korea, India, USA, France, Belgium, UK, Spain and Turkey. Equally important is the cooperation with Sistema Moda Italia, sharing with Filo the intention for an even greater unity of purpose and action across the entire Italian textile and apparel pipeline. One first concrete example will be on September through the “Expo of Elegance”, as the undersecretary Scalfarotto defined it in his message for Filo’s inauguration. In that same period, the 48th edition of Filo will be held, and yarns shown by our exhibitors, characterised by high quality and destined to top-of-the-end products’ creations, will demonstrate once again the companies’ ability to produce increasingly creative and innovative products”.
In line with tradition, the official inauguration of the 47th edition of Filo took place during the conference organised by Filo in cooperation with ITA-Agency and Sistema Moda Italia. On this occasion, the conference focused on “Filo 4.0” (Yarns 4.0), discussing innovation and digitalisation as key factors for companies’ growth. Filo is very concerned about this issue, and Carlo Piacenza, president of the Unione Industriale Biellese, highlighted that: “The Industria 4.0 plan is a project that will give importance to Italian manufacturing industry and we have to thank Ministry Calenda for this. Manufacturing industry should obtain proper recognition in Europe too, starting from the introduction of the “made in” label and of the traceability of productions, a very important theme for yarns”. “As far as Filo is concerned – Mr. Piacenza continued – with the 47th edition the exhibition has seen an increase in the number of exhibitors. Among the new participating companies, those from Prato grew in a significant way, demonstrating their great interest for the exhibition and for the high number of visiting buyers that marked Filo for the last editions. We are very proud of that”.
Of the issues linked to the manufacture spoke Cristina Tajani, councillor for the municipality of Milan: “The question of manufactures based in urban areas is in the thoughts of the mayor and the whole administration board. The municipality of Milan wants to re-consider the city as a productive platform, and not just for services; for this reason, especially through the exhibitions that take place here, Milan offers its services as a partner for those areas where manufacture is still strongly active. As far as textile and apparel system is concerned, it is crucial for Milan to “re-build” the whole pipeline in its totality, with fashion events, fabrics and yarns’ exhibitions. The runway shows represent the most glamour moment, but their success depends also on the quality of the other chain’s steps”.
Mauro Chezzi from Sistema Moda Italia underlined the importance of the Italian textile-apparel industry giving the figure referring to production’s value: 53 billion in 2016, representing 10% of added value related to the whole Italian manufacturing industry. These numbers, according to mr. Chezzi, showed how “The textile-apparel industry is part of the traditional development model of the Italian manufacturing industry, able to move up consumer’s expectations. That is why the Industria 4.0 revolution doesn’t catch us unprepared, but we expect that it gives important advantages, especially for small-sized companies, as textile ones usually are”.
Undersecretary of State Ivan Scalfarotto sent a massage for the official opening of the 47th edition of Filo. The undersecretary for Economic Development could not attend the inauguration of Filo because of a State visit to China. In his message, he wrote: “Since Filo and Milano Moda Donna are taking place at the same time, Milan is offering a plastic representation of the dimension and richness of our fashion pipeline and the uniqueness of a country-system able to produce excellence related to yarns, fabrics and tailoring, not to mention accessories and whatever is related to elegance”. Mr. Scalfarotto added: “The fact that your today’s discussion is focused on the opportunities offered by the plan Industria 4.0 and its specific inclination to this sector, seems indicative and comforting, as the strengthening of the relation between Filo, ITA-Agency and Sistema Moda Italia is full of good perspectives, together with the international vocation of this sector”.
Right at the end of the exhibition, comments of the exhibitors confirmed their satisfaction for business carried out during the 47th edition of Filo.
Roberto Rimoldi from Filatura Luisa said: “It has been a positive fair’s edition, with an excellent flow of clients, due also to the increasing number of exhibitors. I think that this is the right way because raising the number of exhibiting companies means also making the visit to Filo more and more interesting. In addition, the position into the calendar is the right one: we have to adapt to the changes decided by downstream fairs”.
Paola Rossi from Zegna Baruffa Lane Borgosesia: “Our opinion about these two days of Filo is extremely positive. We have seen a high flow of visitors, not just to our booth: the Trends Area has been continuously full of visitors. Personally, we have received visits from lots of clients, both Italian and foreign ones. Among these, there were many people coming from Japan, Korea and UK. Excellent results gave the system of pre-registered appointments with foreign buyers from the delegation promoted by Filo and ITA Agency. As for Italy, high qualified buyers from relevant weaving firms visited the exhibition. Among our most appreciated products there was Mousse, with a nice colour card in both melange and jaspè version”.
Vincenzo Caneparo from Davifil: “We are very satisfied with this edition of Filo. We have received even more visitors compared to the past edition, that had already registered a flows’ record for our company. Visitors’ growth has been uniform, both for Italian and foreign ones. It has to be remarked that the increase in number did not bring to a lower quality of buyers, that remained high as usually happens at Filo. The excellent performance of this edition is strongly linked with the right choices made by organisers as far as dates are concerned. Davifil shows a very wide choice of yarns, which can meet the needs of different clients.
Gianni Fantini from Tollegno 1900: “We are satisfied with the performance of this Filo’s edition. We have received many visits, especially from Italian buyers. During these two first editions we have gathered good results, whose consequences will arise during next editions. Buyers have particularly appreciated our blends with natural fibresor technical ones, as Tencel or silicone ones, which give to products unique characteristics”.
Francesco Della Porta from Pozzi Electa evaluates positively this edition: “We are very satisfied, we have registered a high participation of qualified and concrete buyers. We have met more Italian buyers than foreign ones, since our production is totally ‘Made in Italy’, and carried out with self-produced energy (both photovoltaic and hydro-power). We have created a collection inspired by themes, that has been strongly appreciated by clients”.
Paola Aglietta from Italfil: “Visitors’ flow has been energetic along the two days of Filo, in line with the interest inspired by products for winter. Buyers were highly qualified, with a real interest not only for our already consolidated yarns, but also for our new technical products, studied for sport’s market, ensuring comfort and easy maintenance. On the other hand, our company invested a lot in technologies that allow us to develop new blends and a total renewal in colours’ choice”.
Giovanni Marchi from Marchi& Fildi: “The results of this edition are clearly positive. We have seen many clients, both usual and new, especially Italian ones. Buyers showed their interest for all our proposals, ranging from the more classical ones to research articles. Among new products, the ones destined to a higher segment of market were the most appreciated ones. On the other hand, our company privileges service as constant research of the product, but also as detailed organisation of techniques and commercial structures, trying then to satisfy totally our clients”.
Anna Mello Rella from Tintoria di Quaregna: “Filo is a very interesting, well-organised, concrete and professional exhibition. The level of visitors is high and they payed close attention to our products”.
Davide Marcante from Süedwollegroup-Safil: “This has been a positive edition, with a high buyers’ flow, who were strongly interested in our products, especially those resulting from research processes. Our group’s new structure sets new challenges, but also the opportunity to offer our clients a wide production concerning yarns’ industry”.
Alberto Enoch and Alex Zanuto from Servizi e Seta: “Our results are extremely positive, with a higher number of visitors compared to past editions. Italian buyers were more than foreign ones, but all very qualifies. Among the products we have shown, silk ones received great attention”.
Maurizio Pellati from Filatura Papi Fabio: “We are very satisfied, the presence of visitors has been constant. The proportion between Italian and foreign buyers account respectively for 65% and 35%. Among our products, cashmere blends, one of our greatest strength, aroused particular interest among clients”.
Chiara Bianchi Mariocchi from Lanecardate: “This has been for us a return to Filo and it has been positive. We worked well during both days of the fair, meeting many visitors, with 40% of foreign buyers and 60% of Italian ones. Buyers appreciated particularly yarns designed to high-end products.
Biella, February 23, 2017
