Valeria Mangani has been active since 2019 to promote a law in favor of the fashion sector in Lazio. We therefore share with particular pleasure the report of the Lazio Region hearing held this week.

25/02/2021 - "Provisions to promote the fashion sector" this is the bill at the center of today's hearing, in the Economic Development Committee, chaired by Marietta Tidei, with trade associations.

The first signatory of the bill was the councilor Massimiliano Maselli (FdI) which opened the proceedings by illustrating the text. "This is a synthetic law, consisting of only 5 articles, I am increasingly convinced that the fashion system is not only textiles, but also footwear, leather processing, up to the production of jewelry and accessories and by now we are talking of a fashion system, an important reality, which has also grown a lot in Lazio and we remember that it is one of the most important items of the Italian GDP, producing about 95 billion euros per year. It is one of the sectors that allows the Italian brand to be known in the world, the bill is dated 23 December 2019 it is clear that, like all sectors and production realities, even fashion in this pandemic year has suffered slowdowns, this law could be welcomed positively for a series of factors, but also because it could help to revive and relaunch this very important sector ”. Among the many initiatives listed by the director Maselli, in support of the sector there was the proposal of the "fashion day" to be established in Rome, within which a section could be dedicated to the award for young designers.

Various interventions by the trade associations in favor of the law. Massimo Torti of Confcommercio said:  “We are ready to make our contribution, given that we represent 113.000 points of sale in Italy, with 309.000 employees of which 310.000 in the Lazio region alone, we have 12.780 stores in the fashion sector with almost 35.000 employees. It is a sector that represents a crucial node as regards the knowledge of Made in Italy in the world because we are, with our showcases, ambassadors of Made in Italy. It might be useful to include in this bill, first of all, our heritage of shops and also of craft businesses ". He then continued on the need to create spaces for young designers.

Stefano Dominella of Unindustria in his long speech he spoke of the “Lazio Region, perhaps, the only body that supports fashion and I have to say also at times very vigorously. As soon as possible, a real fashion renaissance will be carried out, in our city and in our region, it could become the leading region in terms of fashion and tourism start-ups ”. He then went on to talk about Rome as a shopping city, as are Milan and Florence, but above all the importance of creating a link with tourism and creating national events, because currently fashion events in Rome are not. Three focal points on which Dominella asked to pay attention, start-ups, young graduates from schools in Rome, the simplification of tenders, but also the collaboration with the ICE.

Valeria Mangani of Making Fashion spoke of the fashion sector as the one that pollutes the most in the world, after the oil one, therefore he introduced the issue of sustainability in this supply chain, thinking of rewarding companies that introduce something innovative such as biotechnologies, silver fibers, fabrics made from bamboo, so yes to tradition but with an eye always focused on innovation.

He intervened for the Italian manufacturing gold sector  Stefano de Passale who spoke in particular of artisan companies, very small realities but at the same time very projected on exports about 87% of the 8 billion invoiced by the goldsmith sector, is exported all over the world.  "The Lazio Region is not among the main districts of the sector - explained De Passale - but it is always in an interesting position in the context of small businesses, because there are about 1200 production units located in the Region according to the Ateco manufacturing codes . " De Passale then spoke of the importance of training and information especially for the sector of goldsmith craftsmanship,

Federpreziosi Pierpaolo Donati spoke of a fashion and jewelery system, two worlds that integrate and complete each other, "We too in Lazio - Donati specified - as distribution, therefore as retail stores, we are about 3000 companies, our strength and the capillarity with which the fashion and jewelery system reaches the end customer is a very important force".

“I found this law very interesting - he has declared  Adriano Franchi, general manager of Altaroma -  which recognizes the strategic importance of the fashion sector for Lazio, the other important aspect is the evidence of a need for coordination between the various stakeholders such as associations and institutional representatives. The interest in young designers, but also young students and their prospects for employment and entrepreneurial development ".

Fabio Petrella of Confartigianato intervened directly from Milan, where the fashion week is underway, spoke about the importance of the relationship between professionals and institutions,  “I think a regional fashion table is important - stated Petrella - but we should reconvene that national fashion table that has been absent for two years, we are in a very difficult phase, of fragmented resources and projects, we need to team up. There are really very stringent problems, the resources allocated at the moment are insignificant, the last call for 5 million euros, considering that in Italy there are 130.000 companies, you understand well that 5 million euros are probably needed for 5 companies 10 companies. Solutions must be found for the country's second strategic axis, the first manufacturing in Europe ”.

At the end of the hearing the directors intervened Francesca di Vito (M5S) e Marta Leonori (PD). The first spoke of the importance of combining innovation with the tradition of Made in Italy craftsmanship, also referring to the law on historic shops as a necessary recognition for that famous generational transition and to ensure that this historical culture is not lost. Councilor Marta Leonori spoke of the need to invest in new professions, new start-ups, internationalization and therefore recalled that the presentation of a law on creative companies that is well connected with the fashion sector is recent.

source: Press office of the Lazio Regional Council