Milano, September 15, 2011 The 13th edition of Milano Unica, featuring fabric collections for the Fall/Winter 2012/2013 season, confirmed the importance of foreign markets for our industry and the difficulties Italian firms have to deal with during this period. The inauguration of the event was attended by: Giuliano Pisapia, Mayor of Milan, Wang Qunbin, President and founder of Fosun, one of the leading Chinese groups operating in industry, finance, distribution, real estate and communications, Claudio Luti, CEO of Kartell, Michele Tronconi, President of Sistema Moda Italia and Pier Luigi Loro Piana, President of Milano Unica and Ideabiella.

The Milan event, specializing in quality Italian and European textiles and accessories, featured 483 exhibitors and was visited by 21.400 clients +2% with respect to the September 2010 edition. The overall foreign attendance increased by 15%: China +30, Hong Kong +30%, South Korea +51%, Japan 21%, India 18%, Brazil 24%, Russia +60%, Uk +26%,France +13%, Spain + 18%. Attendance from Usa and Germain remains stable. A slight decrease of in Italian visitors was registered (-5%) but with the same number of firms represented.

“Regarding the attendance – comments the President of Milano Unica, Pier Luigi Loro Piana, who, during the inauguration welcomed Silvio Albini as the next president – this confirms what I have been saying for a long time; we have to start looking towards those markets which a short time ago were emerging and have now become new economic powerhouses”.

“For this reason – continues Pier Luigi Loro Piana – I am dedicated to taking Milano Unica to China starting in 2012. In fact, we will be in Peking in March and in Shanghai in October. This decision is not only because this enormous market is growing at a rapid pace, 10/12% on the whole, with nearly a 30% peak in the luxury sector, but because China represents the gateway to Asia. We have to convince ourselves that these countries not only represent a great opportunity for us, but that there is no alternative. If we want to continue to grow, we must go there to try and capture shares of the market. The clue is that we have to act together with our precise and exclusive identity and most of all, be convinced of our actions”.

The Presidential Committee of Milano Unica expressed its thanks to Pier Luigi Loro Piana for his intense and creative commitment over the past three years. The high point of the event was the impressive “ON STAGE” fashion show, organized in collaboration with Woolmark, in the unusual and magical setting of the Naviglio Grande, where the creations of 10 up-and-coming designers were presented.

“On STAGE was an enormous success, highly acclaimed by the public and international guests – concludes Pier Luigi Loro Piana – reconfirming its role as a unique stage for young designers, who have the opportunity to participate in a fashion show in Italy for the first time, while making direct contact with the finest Italian and European textile producers”.

“The creative and organizational commitment of this edition – commented Massimo Mosiello, General Manager of Milano Unica, who has headed the textile-accessories event since the first edition – has been quite demanding, yet it has taught us that we possess the ability to deal with the big, new challenges that await us. Making Milano Unica, here in Milan, become a unique and unmissable appointment, while, at the same time, trying to manage its qualified presence on new markets. Since China is our first stop, we could not ignore an important message from this great Country: ‘Dare to fight, dare to win’. The coordination of this edition, including layouts, services and special events, was greatly appreciated by exhibitors, guests and journalists representing specialized foreign press. In the future, we shall strive to make the Fair even bigger and better. The next edition presenting Spring/Summer 2013 collections will be held February 7-9, 2012, once again at the Portello-Fieramilanocity”.