The new body was born from the union between Sistema Moda Italia (SMI), the fashion and textile industry’s employers association, and FIAMP, the personal and fashion accessories federation, representing accessories manufacturers.The latter include the representative organisations of several highly specialised sectors: leather production, optical manufacturers, furriers, footwear manufacturers, jewellery and goldsmiths, as well as the Italian tanners’ union.

Confindustria Moda is presided by Claudio Marenzi, who has a 2-year mandate. Marenzi is already in charge of SMI since 2013, and since last March also of show organiser Pitti Immagine. The Vice-President is Cirillo Marcolin, currently President of FIAMP and of the optical manufacturers association.”This is a historic day,” said Claudio Marenzi, with good reason. Milan-based Confindustria Moda will in fact allow what was previously a highly fragmented galaxy of manufacturers to speak with a common voice, gaining influence and visibility.