Fabrics remain driving force of Italian economy

MILAN, Italy, Feb. 5 (Xinhua): Italian fabrics have shown to be a driving force promoting general recovery, according to 2014 data on the sector presented here at the opening of the 20th edition of Milano Unica, the Italian Textiles Trade Show, yesterday.

Last year's overall sales were above the 8-billion-euro threshold, showing a 3.8 per cent increase, the research center of Sistema Moda Italia (SMI), the trade organization for Italian manufacturers of yarns, woven and knitted fabrics, clothing and fashion accessories, said.

The result was made possible thanks also to the growing trend of 4.4 per cent increase in domestic demand, which interrupted a multi-year cycle characterized by either significant reductions or stagnation, SMI said.