One of the historic productive centers of Italian fashion lies in the Province of Vicenza. Some of the companies that wrote the history of the Italian textiles industry were founded in the area that includes the cities of Schio, Thiene and Valdagno, where they still have their head offices. In any case, the entire Vicenza’s territory can be described as a large and widespread fashion laboratory, made up of small companies that are protagonists in various market niches, large groups that are present with their trademarks in stores throughout the world and a close-knit network of companies that provide outsourced services for the industry. Precisely this diversified productive structure, which is typical of Italy’s northeast, is the strong point of the “Made in Vicenza” fashion system: productive flexibility and tradition have enabled Vicenza’s firms to occupy a mid to high segment of the market and carve out a space for themselves in an authoritative manner, on the shelves of stores on every continent. We are not speaking only of textiles and clothing, but also of knitwear and the fashion accessories industry.

From weaving to combed spinning, the production of coats and T-shirts, without forgetting the underwear department, Vicenza’s enterprises have successfully expressed themselves in the entire range of textiles and clothing production. Many companies work for the most important fashion trademarks, which is a demonstration of the level of quality attained. Many others have carved out a position for themselves on their own, becoming veritable international houses of fashion.

There are some 2,000 enterprises operating in the sector, spread throughout the Provincial territory – a reality that employs over 25 thousand people and produces 4,700 million euro of business. About 30% of the turnover comes from international markets: Europe, but also North America and the Far East. According to the figures, the Vicenza’s area exports goods from this sector for a total of 1,700 million euro – almost 7 percent of national exports for the sector.