Smi becomes Confindustria Moda, together with Accessori Moda

As of 1 January 2025, Sistema Moda Italia (Smi) – the federation representing the textile, clothing and fashion sector – will change its name and become Confindustria Moda together with Confindustria Accessori Moda, which represents all the sectors of the leather supply chain: footwear, leather goods, fur, tanning.

The announcement was made on 19 November at a press conference entitled ‘Sinergie in Movimento: Il sistema di rappresentanza della moda italiana cambia le proprie denominazioni’ (Moving Synergies: The Italian fashion representation system changes its name) at the Milan headquarters of the Confindustria associations involved. Present at the event were Vincenzo Marinese, Vice-President for Organisation and Relations with Territories and Categories of Confindustria; Giovanna Ceolini, Founder and Sole Director of ‘Parabiago Collezioni srl’ since 1999, former President of Assocalzaturifici and newly appointed President of Confindustria Accessori Moda, who succeeded Annarita Pilotti; and Sergio Tamborini, President of Sistema Moda Italia.

The reorganisation is in line with Confindustria’s objectives of supporting and representing industrial sectors while respecting their specificities and strategic value, at the same time consolidating the link with the parent company. The two Federations will continue to work together on shared themes, with common goals and visions, while respecting the protection of the individual sectoral identities that distinguish them.

The production system represented by the two Federations generates in its totality a turnover of almost 100 billion euros, employing more than 500,000 workers and including more than 50,000 enterprises. It is also worth mentioning that our country is the leading exporter of textiles, fashion, accessories in the EU (and the 2nd in the world after China), with a trade balance exceeding 26 billion euros in 2023.

‘I am proud to call myself Confindustria Accessori Moda,’ stressed Giovanna Ceolini, ‘because as Confindustria I am part of a system, of that important backbone that is Italian manufacturing, while the name Accessori Moda underlines the importance of the accessory as an element that “makes” fashion and makes us recognised in the world in terms of Made in Italy, generating wealth in the country and attracting tourism to Italy.

‘Confindustria is the hat under which we all stand and recognise ourselves in certain precise directions. Giving up the name Smi after some 20 years underlines the added value of being under the single name of Confindustria. Fashion is not sequins sequins and fashion shows, but is instead a system of companies and important numbers, which generates work and wealth in the country,’ Sergio Tamborini pointed out.

‘It is necessary to focus on our know-how, because ‘Made in Italy’ means ‘done well’. Our country has achieved an exceptional result in the export sector, also thanks to the uniqueness of Made in Italy products, taking fourth place worldwide. Despite this, there are sectors, which represent our excellence, that must be strengthened. Representation, in this context, becomes essential with support for companies, with an active policy for growth, with the combination of fiscal development policies in favour of a sector that is strategic for us,’ added Vincenzo Marinese.