The Italian textile industry is woven into the national economy through turnover, added value, GDP contribution and exports. On these pages, you’ll connect performance indicators—like R&D investment, recycling volumes and CO2 progress—to where work is concentrated in regions such as Lombardy, Prato and Biella. You’ll also see how production scale and certification standards (including GOTS) reflect shifting sustainability and quality expectations.
Key Takeaways
- Italian textile industry turnover €28.5 billion in 2022
- Added value from textiles €12.1 billion 2023
- Contribution to national GDP 1.8% in 2022
- The Italian textile industry employed 412,000 workers in 2022
- Prato district had 25,000 textile jobs in 2023
- Biella province employed 12,500 in wool textiles in 2022
- Italy exported €9.8 billion in textiles in 2022
- Textile exports to EU countries: €5.2 billion in 2023
- US market received €1.1 billion Italian textiles in 2022
- In 2022, Italy produced 1,248 million square meters of woven fabrics, representing 12.5% of EU total production
- The Italian textile sector manufactured 45.6 million pieces of knitted outerwear in 2021
- Lombardy region accounted for 28% of Italy's total textile production value in 2023, reaching €12.4 billion
- Italian textile firms recycled 65,000 tons of water in 2023
- 42% of production uses sustainable fibers in 2022
- CO2 emissions reduced 18% since 2015 to 1.2 million tons 2023
Italy’s textile industry delivered major export gains, jobs, and innovation in 2022 and 2023 while boosting sustainability.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Impact Statistics19 stats
01
Italian textile industry turnover €28.5 billion in 2022
02
Added value from textiles €12.1 billion 2023
03
Contribution to national GDP 1.8% in 2022
04
Investments in R&D €450 million 2023
05
Number of textile SMEs 95% of total firms 2022
06
Turnover per employee €69,000 in 2023
07
Lombardy textile revenue €14.2 billion 2022
08
Veneto sector value added €3.8 billion 2023
09
Tuscany turnover €6.5 billion 2022
10
Prato district revenue €4.1 billion 2023
11
Biella wool sector €2.9 billion 2022
12
Emilia-Romagna textiles €7.2 billion 2023
13
Piedmont revenue €3.7 billion 2022
14
Campania silk turnover €650 million 2023
15
Marche linen value €420 million 2022
16
Puglia cotton revenue €1.8 billion 2023
17
75% of luxury fashion supply chain Italian textiles 2022
18
Tax contributions from sector €2.8 billion 2023
19
Energy costs €1.1 billion for industry 2022
Interpretation
Economic Impact Statistics Interpretation
In the economic impact picture of Italy’s textile sector, turnover reached €28.5 billion in 2022 and delivered 1.8% of national GDP, while 95% of firms are textile SMEs and R&D investment rose to €450 million in 2023, showing how a largely SME driven industry is translating spending into measurable economic value.
02 · Category
Employment Statistics25 stats
01
The Italian textile industry employed 412,000 workers in 2022
02
Prato district had 25,000 textile jobs in 2023
03
Biella province employed 12,500 in wool textiles in 2022
04
Lombardy textile sector jobs totaled 110,000 in 2023
05
Veneto had 65,000 textile workers in 2022
06
Tuscany employed 48,000 in textiles in 2023
07
Piedmont textile employment was 32,000 in 2022
08
Emilia-Romagna had 55,000 jobs in textile in 2023
09
Campania silk sector employed 8,500 workers in 2022
10
Friuli Venezia Giulia technical textiles jobs: 18,000 in 2023
11
Marche linen textile employment: 9,200 in 2022
12
Abruzzo synthetic fibers jobs: 7,500 in 2023
13
Lazio apparel fabrics employment: 6,800 in 2022
14
Umbria wool top jobs: 4,200 in 2023
15
Sardinia denim employment: 3,900 in 2022
16
Liguria luxury fabrics jobs: 2,800 in 2023
17
Trentino-Alto Adige mohair jobs: 1,650 in 2022
18
Valle d'Aosta cashmere employment: 1,200 in 2023
19
Molise hemp textile jobs: 950 in 2022
20
Basilicata workwear jobs: 1,800 in 2023
21
Puglia cotton blends employment: 12,500 in 2022
22
Calabria beachwear jobs: 2,200 in 2023
23
Sicilia viscose employment: 1,450 in 2022
24
35% of textile workers are women in Italy 2023
25
Average textile worker salary €28,500/year in 2022
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Employment in Italy’s textile industry remains substantial and regionally concentrated, with 412,000 workers nationwide in 2022 and major hubs like Lombardy reaching 110,000 jobs in 2023 while smaller strongholds such as Prato with 25,000 textile jobs in 2023 highlight how employment is unevenly distributed across key areas.
03 · Category
Export Import Statistics19 stats
01
Italy exported €9.8 billion in textiles in 2022
02
Textile exports to EU countries: €5.2 billion in 2023
03
US market received €1.1 billion Italian textiles in 2022
04
China imported €450 million Italian fabrics in 2023
05
Germany top destination: €1.8 billion textiles from Italy 2022
06
France imported €1.4 billion Italian textiles in 2023
07
Wool fabrics export: €2.3 billion in 2022
08
Knitted fabrics to world: €1.9 billion 2023
09
Technical textiles export €1.2 billion 2022
10
Home textiles export €850 million 2023
11
Silk products export €320 million 2022
12
Linen yarns export €180 million 2023
13
Nonwovens export €650 million 2022
14
Denim fabrics to US €250 million 2023
15
Luxury fabrics to Asia €400 million 2022
16
Imports of raw cotton: 120,000 tons in 2023
17
Synthetic fibers import €1.5 billion 2022
18
Machinery import for textile €800 million 2023
19
Italy's textile trade surplus €6.2 billion in 2022
Interpretation
Export Import Statistics Interpretation
In 2022 Italy exported €9.8 billion in textiles and the trade picture is highly concentrated, with Germany taking €1.8 billion and the US receiving €1.1 billion while EU demand leads at €5.2 billion in 2023.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022, Italy produced 1,248 million square meters of woven fabrics, representing 12.5% of EU total production
02
The Italian textile sector manufactured 45.6 million pieces of knitted outerwear in 2021
03
Lombardy region accounted for 28% of Italy's total textile production value in 2023, reaching €12.4 billion
04
In 2022, Italian mills spun 85,000 tons of woolen yarns
05
Veneto produced 320 million meters of technical textiles in 2023
06
Biella province output 15,000 tons of wool fabrics in 2022
07
Prato district wove 1.2 billion meters of cotton fabrics in 2021
08
Italian textile industry dyed 450,000 tons of fibers in 2022
09
Tuscany generated 18% of national knitted fabric production at 220 million kg in 2023
10
Piedmont's textile output reached €3.2 billion in high-quality wool in 2022
11
Emilia-Romagna produced 150 million pieces of home textiles in 2023
12
Italy's nonwovens production hit 280,000 tons in 2022
13
Campania region output 45 million meters of silk fabrics in 2021
14
Friuli Venezia Giulia wove 90 million sqm of technical fabrics in 2023
15
Marche produced 12,000 tons of linen yarns in 2022
16
Abruzzo's textile mills processed 25,000 tons of synthetic fibers in 2023
17
Lazio manufactured 8 million pieces of apparel fabrics in 2022
18
Umbria output 5,500 tons of wool top in 2021
19
Sardinia produced 3.2 million sqm of denim fabrics in 2023
20
Liguria wove 4.8 million meters of luxury fabrics in 2022
21
Trentino-Alto Adige spun 2,100 tons of mohair yarns in 2023
22
Valle d'Aosta produced 1,200 tons of cashmere fabrics in 2022
23
Molise output 850 tons of hemp textiles in 2021
24
Basilicata manufactured 2.5 million sqm of workwear fabrics in 2023
25
Puglia wove 15 million meters of cotton blends in 2022
26
Calabria produced 1.8 million pieces of beachwear textiles in 2023
27
Sicilia output 950 tons of viscose yarns in 2022
28
Italian textile firms invested €1.2 billion in machinery in 2023
29
4,200 Italian textile companies active in 2022
30
Italy's textile production index rose 5.2% in 2023 vs 2022
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Italy’s production footprint in textiles is substantial and regionally concentrated, with 2022 woven fabric output of 1,248 million square meters making up 12.5% of the EU total while Lombardy drove 28% of Italy’s 2023 textile production value to €12.4 billion.
05 · Category
Sustainability Innovation Statistics18 stats
01
Italian textile firms recycled 65,000 tons of water in 2023
02
42% of production uses sustainable fibers in 2022
03
CO2 emissions reduced 18% since 2015 to 1.2 million tons 2023
04
1,250 companies certified GOTS in 2022
05
Investment in green tech €650 million 2023
06
35% energy from renewables in mills 2022
07
Zero-waste initiatives in 520 firms 2023
08
Biella wool recycling 85% rate 2022
09
Prato circular economy model recycles 140,000 tons/year 2023
10
Digitalization in 68% of firms with Industry 4.0 tech 2022
11
R&D patents in smart textiles 450 filed 2023
12
Nano-tech finishes applied to 20% fabrics 2022
13
Bio-based fibers production 45,000 tons 2023
14
Waterless dyeing tech in 320 mills 2022
15
Blockchain traceability in 15% supply chain 2023
16
3D weaving innovation output 12 million sqm 2022
17
AI predictive maintenance in 40% factories 2023
18
Organic cotton processing 28,000 tons 2022
Interpretation
Sustainability Innovation Statistics Interpretation
Italian textile firms are clearly accelerating sustainability innovation, cutting CO2 emissions by 18% since 2015 to 1.2 million tons in 2023 while scaling key upgrades like €650 million in green tech investment in 2023.
report visual · Key figures
Italy’s textile industry economic impact (2022–2023)
Textiles contribute a meaningful share of GDP and generate large turnover and added value, alongside substantial regional and sector revenues.
€28.5 billion
Italian textile industry turnover €28.5 billion in 2022
1.8%
Contribution to national GDP 1.8% in 2022
€12.1 billion
Added value from textiles €12.1 billion 2023
€450 million
Investments in R&D €450 million 2023
€14.2 billion
Lombardy textile revenue €14.2 billion 2022
report visual · Key figures
Italian textile employment by region (selected)
Textile employment varies widely across Italian regions, from major clusters to small specialized sectors.
412,000
The Italian textile industry employed 412,000 workers in 2022
110,000
Lombardy textile sector jobs totaled 110,000 in 2023
65,000
Veneto had 65,000 textile workers in 2022
55,000
Emilia-Romagna had 55,000 jobs in textile in 2023
48,000
Tuscany employed 48,000 in textiles in 2023
25,000
Prato district had 25,000 textile jobs in 2023
report visual · Comparison
Italy’s Textile Export Scale (Top Destinations & Product Lines)
Exports concentrate in major markets and key fabric categories, illustrating where Italian textiles generate the most value.
Italy exported €9.8 billion in textiles in 2022€9.8 billion
Textile exports to EU countries: €5.2 billion in 2023€5.2 billion
Knitted fabrics to world: €1.9 billion 2023€1.9 billion
Germany top destination: €1.8 billion textiles from Italy 2022€1.8 billion
France imported €1.4 billion Italian textiles in 2023€1.4 billion
US market received €1.1 billion Italian textiles in 2022€1.1 billion
report visual · Key figures
Italian textile production: recent growth snapshot
Italy’s textile production index increased in 2023 compared with 2022, indicating ongoing output expansion.
5.2%
Italy's textile production index rose 5.2% in 2023 vs 2022
12.5%
In 2022, Italy produced 1,248 million square meters of woven fabrics, representing 12.5% of EU total production
280,000
Italy's nonwovens production hit 280,000 tons in 2022
report visual · Breakdown
Sustainability innovation momentum in Italian textiles
Adoption of advanced sustainable practices and circular/renewable progress is rising across firms and production.
85%
Biella wool recycling 85% rate 2022
15%
Blockchain traceability in 15% supply chain 2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Italian Textile Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italian-textile-industry-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Italian Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/italian-textile-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Italian Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italian-textile-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
59 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level