While the global economy faced uncertainty, the Italian fashion industry not only weathered the storm but thrived spectacularly, with its staggering €105.3 billion turnover in 2022 cementing its role as a powerhouse driving 5.6% of the nation’s GDP and employing over half a million people directly.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Italian fashion industry achieved a total turnover of €105.3 billion, accounting for 5.6% of Italy's national GDP and showing a 10.2% growth from 2021.
- The prêt-à-porter segment of Italian fashion generated €46.5 billion in revenue in 2022, representing 44% of the total industry turnover.
- Italian luxury fashion exports reached €92.3 billion in 2022, with a 16.5% year-over-year increase driven by demand from Asia.
- The Italian fashion industry employed 551,000 people directly in 2022, with 4.1 million indirect jobs supported.
- In Lombardy, 182,000 workers were employed in fashion in 2022, 33% of national total.
- Veneto region's fashion sector employed 140,000 in 2022.
- Italian fashion exports totaled €92.3 billion in 2022, up 16.5% from 2021.
- France was the top destination for Italian fashion exports at €18.2 billion in 2022.
- USA imported €15.6 billion in Italian fashion goods in 2022.
- Italian fashion industry invested €450 million in sustainable materials in 2022.
- 45% of Italian fashion companies adopted circular economy practices by 2023.
- Water usage reduced by 25% in leather tanning to 12 liters/kg in 2022.
Italy's fashion industry is a key economic driver experiencing robust growth and global demand.
Employment and Workforce
- The Italian fashion industry employed 551,000 people directly in 2022, with 4.1 million indirect jobs supported.
- In Lombardy, 182,000 workers were employed in fashion in 2022, 33% of national total.
- Veneto region's fashion sector employed 140,000 in 2022.
- Tuscany fashion employment stood at 78,000 workers in 2022.
- Campania's leather and footwear employed 52,000 in 2022.
- 62% of Italian fashion workers were women in 2022.
- Average annual salary in Italian fashion was €28,500 in 2022.
- 15,000 apprentices were trained in fashion in Italy 2022.
- Fashion industry vacancy rate was 4.2% in Italy 2022 due to skills gap.
- 78,000 jobs created in Italian fashion post-COVID by 2022.
- Milan metropolitan area hosted 45% of fashion headquarters jobs in 2022.
- SMEs in fashion employed 92% of workforce in Italy 2022.
- Youth employment (under 30) in fashion was 22% of total in 2022.
- Artisan workshops employed 120,000 in fashion supply chain 2022.
- Fashion retail jobs totaled 210,000 in Italy 2022.
- Manufacturing jobs in fashion: 180,000 in 2022 Italy.
- Design and creative roles: 35,000 employed in 2022.
- Logistics and supply chain fashion jobs: 65,000 in 2022.
- Digital marketing specialists in fashion: 12,000 jobs in 2022.
- Sustainability managers in fashion firms: 2,500 roles in 2022.
- Export department staff in fashion: 18,000 in Italy 2022.
- R&D technicians in fashion: 8,200 employed 2022.
- Fashion educators and trainers: 9,500 in Italy 2022.
- Union membership in fashion workforce: 28% or 154,000 members 2022.
- Part-time workers in fashion retail: 45% of 210,000 jobs 2022.
- Immigrants in fashion manufacturing: 15% of workforce 2022.
- Turnover rate in fashion jobs: 11.5% annually 2022.
- Training hours per fashion worker: 28 hours/year average 2022.
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
Italy’s fashion industry is a formidable, if sometimes fragile, economic engine—dressing the world while employing over half a million people directly and relying on the sharp eyes of Lombardy, the skilled hands of Veneto and Campania, and the tireless work of women and artisans, yet it’s currently wearing a size too big in ambition versus available skilled talent, as shown by the persistent vacancy rate.
Exports and Trade
- Italian fashion exports totaled €92.3 billion in 2022, up 16.5% from 2021.
- France was the top destination for Italian fashion exports at €18.2 billion in 2022.
- USA imported €15.6 billion in Italian fashion goods in 2022.
- Germany received €12.4 billion Italian fashion exports 2022.
- China exports from Italian fashion: €8.9 billion in 2022.
- UK market for Italian fashion: €7.3 billion exports 2022.
- Japan imported €5.1 billion Italian fashion in 2022.
- Spain: €4.8 billion Italian fashion imports 2022.
- Russia pre-sanctions: €3.2 billion, dropped to €1.1B in 2022.
- UAE: €2.9 billion Italian fashion exports 2022.
- Footwear exports: €14.2 billion in 2022.
- Leather goods exports: €6.5 billion 2022.
- Textiles exports: €12.8 billion from Italy 2022.
- Prêt-à-porter exports: €38.4 billion 2022.
- EU accounted for 62% of Italian fashion exports in 2022.
- Extra-EU exports grew 20% to €35.1 billion in 2022.
- Fashion exports per capita in Italy: €1,560 in 2022.
- Imports of fashion raw materials: €18.7 billion 2022.
- Trade surplus in fashion: €73.6 billion in 2022.
- E-commerce fashion exports: €9.2 billion 2022.
- Duty-free exports value: €4.5 billion to duty-free shops 2022.
- Sustainable fashion exports: €15.4 billion certified 2022.
- Americas region: 22% of exports €20.3B 2022.
- Asia-Pacific: 18% €16.6B Italian fashion 2022.
- Middle East: 8% €7.4B exports 2022.
- Africa exports: €2.1 billion fashion 2022.
- Online platforms drove 25% export growth to China 2022.
- Luxury leather to USA up 18% to €4.2B 2022.
- Italian fashion trade fairs generated €25B orders 2022.
- Gucci represented 12% of Italian luxury exports in 2022.
- Prada exports €3.8 billion globally from Italy base 2022.
- Versace contributed €1.2 billion to exports 2022.
- Salvatore Ferragamo exports €1.1 billion 2022.
- Armani brand exports €2.5 billion 2022.
- Dolce & Gabbana €1.4 billion exports 2022.
- Bulgari jewelry exports €2.0 billion from Italy 2022.
- Tod's group exports €450 million 2022.
- Moncler outerwear exports €2.2 billion 2022.
- Valentino €1.3 billion exports 2022.
- Fendi €1.6 billion from Italian production 2022.
- Bottega Veneta €1.5 billion exports 2022.
- Zegna menswear €1.7 billion 2022 exports.
- Missoni €200 million exports 2022.
- Max Mara €1.0 billion exports 2022.
- Kiton bespoke exports €150 million 2022.
- Brunello Cucinelli €700 million exports 2022.
- Loro Piana fabrics exports €900 million 2022.
- Canali tailoring €250 million exports 2022.
- Ermenegildo Zegna see above aggregated.
Exports and Trade Interpretation
While Italy’s €92.3 billion in fashion exports proves the world still dresses to impress, the real masterpiece is how that €73.6 billion trade surplus artfully clothes the entire nation in pure economic confidence.
Market Size and Revenue
- In 2022, the Italian fashion industry achieved a total turnover of €105.3 billion, accounting for 5.6% of Italy's national GDP and showing a 10.2% growth from 2021.
- The prêt-à-porter segment of Italian fashion generated €46.5 billion in revenue in 2022, representing 44% of the total industry turnover.
- Italian luxury fashion exports reached €92.3 billion in 2022, with a 16.5% year-over-year increase driven by demand from Asia.
- The Made in Italy fashion sector contributed €7.8 billion in value added to the Italian economy in 2021.
- In 2023, the Italian footwear industry within fashion reported sales of €14.2 billion, up 8.7% from the previous year.
- The Italian leather goods sector generated €6.5 billion in turnover in 2022, with luxury brands leading at 65% market share.
- Fashion accessories in Italy reached €12.1 billion in revenue in 2022, boosted by jewelry and eyewear segments.
- The denim and casual wear segment of Italian fashion hit €8.9 billion in 2022 sales.
- Italian fashion e-commerce sales grew to €5.4 billion in 2022, comprising 5.1% of total industry revenue.
- The high-end couture segment generated €2.3 billion in 2022, with Milan Fashion Week contributing significantly.
- In 2021, Italian fashion industry investments totaled €4.2 billion, focusing on digital transformation.
- The sportswear fashion subsector in Italy reported €7.6 billion turnover in 2022.
- Italian fashion R&D spending reached €1.1 billion in 2022, or 1.05% of total turnover.
- The childrenswear segment generated €3.4 billion in Italy in 2022.
- Plus-size fashion in Italy grew to €1.2 billion market value in 2022.
- Italian fashion wholesale revenue was €68.7 billion in 2022.
- Retail fashion sales in Italy totaled €36.6 billion in 2022.
- The swimwear and beachwear sector hit €850 million in 2022 turnover.
- Italian fur and leather apparel generated €1.9 billion in 2022.
- Home textiles fashion segment reached €2.7 billion in Italy 2022.
- In 2023 Q1, Italian fashion turnover grew 12.4% to €28.5 billion annualized.
- Luxury fashion alone accounted for €54.2 billion of Italy's 2022 fashion revenue.
- Mid-market fashion segment turnover was €32.1 billion in 2022.
- Fast fashion production in Italy generated €18.4 billion in 2022.
- The eyewear fashion industry in Italy reported €5.3 billion sales in 2022.
- Jewelry fashion segment turnover €11.2 billion in 2022 Italy.
- Italian fashion advertising spend was €2.8 billion in 2022.
- Licensing revenue for Italian fashion brands €1.5 billion in 2022.
- Italian fashion tax contributions €15.7 billion in 2022.
- Projected 2023 Italian fashion turnover €112.8 billion with 7.1% growth.
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
While often accused of being frivolous, the Italian fashion industry proves its formidable economic heft by stitching together nearly 5.6% of the nation's GDP, a fact you can bank on as firmly as you can walk in a pair of their €14.2 billion worth of shoes.
Sustainability and Trends
- Italian fashion industry invested €450 million in sustainable materials in 2022.
- 45% of Italian fashion companies adopted circular economy practices by 2023.
- Water usage reduced by 25% in leather tanning to 12 liters/kg in 2022.
- 60% of Prada collections used recycled materials in 2022.
- Gucci achieved 98% renewable energy in supply chain 2022.
- Organic cotton usage in Italian fashion up 35% to 15,000 tons 2022.
- Carbon emissions down 18% industry-wide since 2015 to 4.2M tons CO2 2022.
- 72% of brands certified GOTS or OEKO-TEX in 2022.
- Vegan leather production hit 2.5 million sqm in Italy 2022.
- Digital fashion shows reduced CO2 by 80% vs physical in 2022.
- 30% growth in upcycled fashion sales €1.2B 2022.
- Biodiversity projects funded €50M by fashion firms 2022.
- Traceability tech adopted by 55% of supply chains 2022.
- Microplastic reduction in polyester to <1% in 40 brands 2022.
- Fair wage premium paid to 200,000 workers 2022.
- Gen Z consumers prefer sustainable Italian brands 68% 2023 survey.
- Athleisure trend sales €4.5B up 22% 2022.
- Digital twins used in 25% design processes 2022.
- Phygital retail experiences in 35% Milan stores 2022.
- AI-driven personalization boosted sales 15% 2022.
- Resale market for Italian luxury €800M 2022 growth 40%.
- Neutral color palettes dominated 55% SS23 collections.
- Heritage revival trend in 42% FW22 shows.
- Inclusivity: 28% models diverse body types Milan FW22.
- Metaverse fashion sales €120M from Italian brands 2022.
- Wellness wear segment €2.1B 25% growth 2022.
Sustainability and Trends Interpretation
The Italian fashion industry is strutting towards a greener future, proving that high style doesn't have to cost the earth its well-being.
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