Last year was an excellent one for Italian men's fashion and business in 2008 should be stable, according to a report drawn up ahead of this week's Pitti Immagine Uomo exhibition.
Turnover for men's fashion climbed 6% over 2006 for a total of 8.6 billion euros, even in consideration of a slowdown towards the end of the year, a study by Smi-Ati said.
A major boost for Italian men's fashion came from abroad with demand jumping over 10% in the first half of the year and sales outside the European Union soaring by 14.7%.
Exports to Russia, for example, leapt 47.4% in 2007, while sales to China and Hong Kong rocketed 35%, placing these markets among the top ten for Italian goods.
A weak dollar contributed to a 3.3% decline in exports of Italian men's fashion to the United States, while sales to Japan were unchanged over 2006.
The EU absorbed 54% of Italian men's fashion exports last year including a 15.8% hike in sales to Britain.
Exports to Germany, however, fell 2.7%.
Domestic sales of men's fashion rose 2% in 2007 but the volume of sales was basically unchanged over the previous year.
The 73rd edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo opens on Wednesday and will close on Saturday with 727 firms presenting 897 brands of which 33.7% will be from abroad.
The event will once again be staged at Fortezza da Basso and over 26,000 buyers are expected to attend the trade fair.
