Italy Textile Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032

Italy Textile Market Outlook

The Italy textile market size reached approximately USD 25.67 billion in 2023. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.3% in the forecast period of 2024-2032, reaching a value of around USD 34.29 billion by 2032.

Key Takeaways

• Italy’s textile and fashion sector is undergoing a tremendous transformation due to the integration of advanced technologies such as nanotechnologies.

• Customers are increasingly on the lookout for apparel, supplies, and accessories with the “Made in Italy” tag and ethically sourced materials.

• Italy is the second largest producer of textile finishing machinery globally, accounting for a share of 17%.

The textile and fashion sector plays a major role in Italy’s economy. The country is home to globally renowned fashion brands and occupies a unique segment in the global textile market. The growth of the Italian textile and fashion sector is contributed by factors such as creativity and talent. Italy has the presence of 45,000 textile and fashion companies with a majority of the companies small in size, 82% have fewer than 10 employees and 16% are medium-sized.

Some of the factors driving the Italy textile market growth are the adoption of technology in textile manufacturing, demand for sustainable textile production, and demand for technical textiles in various end-use markets, such as construction, automotive, biomedical, and hygiene products.

Key Trends and Developments

Growing demand for technical textiles, the adoption of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), and the presence of several textile manufacturers drive the Italy textile market development.

Italy Textile Market Trends

The rising need for technical textiles across various industries, ranging from apparel to automotive, filtration systems to medical and biomedical applications, has spurred increased investments in this sector. Consequently, technological advancements are progressing, with a focus on developing high-performance functional textiles that can interact with both the human body and the environment.

The Italian fashion manufacturing sector, already substantial, continues to expand at a remarkable annual rate of 11.1%. This growth cements Italy's position as one of the leading manufacturers in both Europe and the global arena. Furthermore, the country holds exceptional expertise in clothing manufacturing.

Figure: Italian Textile Manufacturing Districts

Market Segmentation

Italy Textile Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032 offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Household is further divided into bedding, kitchen, upholstery, towel, and others whereas technical segment is categorised into construction, transport, protective, medical, and others. Additionally, fashion and clothing are divided into apparel, ties and clothing accessories, handbags, and others.

Polyester is expected to hold a significant Italy textile market share as it is widely adopted to produce technical textiles

According to the Italy textile market analysis, the production of technical textiles represents a significant portion of the Italian textile production. Polyester is strengthening its position in the technical textile market, owing to its characteristics of UV and chemical resistance, lightweight and hydrophobicity, ideal for packaging and greenhouse structures. Further, the low cost of polyester due to its chemistry promotes its use in clothing.

The Italian fashion market is currently focusing on sustainability fuelling the demand for natural fibres. Natural fibres are also softer and more comfortable than synthetic fibres and offer better temperature regulation. Nylon is a cost-effective alternative to silk and finds use in sportswear, socks, and stockings, among others. The trend of health consciousness among Italians creates demand for sportswear, aiding nylon consumption.

Fashion and clothing is a prominent application of textiles in the textile market in Italy

The fashion and clothing segment is a crucial contributor to the Italy textile market growth. The Italian districts are known for their textile production and recycling expertise. Companies performing recycling include NAZENA srl, OM Text Tiles Recycling Import – Export, among others. Como is known for silk printing, Prato for its fashion woollens, and Biella for its fine wool textiles, Prato is at the forefront of fabric recycling handling approximately 15% of the world’s recycled clothing.  Emerging Italian fashion designers such as Simone Cracker are increasingly adopting sustainable practices like upcycling and recycling with the rising sustainability concerns in the garment sector.

As per the Italy textile market analysis, Italians adopt high-quality fabrics, such as light organza, leather, and velvets to adorn their homes. Companies such as Cogal s.r.l. and Fabe S.r.l. provide a wide range of fabrics for household purposes including bedding, and bath towels. Italy is a significant textile producer in the EU and globally.

The technical textile sector is also experiencing robust development due to an increasing demand for fabrics that provide performance and functional benefits. For instance, wearable monitoring systems made with smart textiles that are integrated with sensors can monitor the heart rate. The wide range of applications of these performance materials in end-use markets, such as healthcare and transportation is rising and stimulating continuous research in the field of technical textiles.

Competitive Landscape

Players differentiate themselves through the quality of raw materials, strong customer base, and partnerships.

Other key players in the Italy textile market include Successori Reda S.p.A., Aquafil S.p.A., Caleffi S.p.A., and OVS S.p.A., among others.

Italy Textile Market Analysis

North-West is expected to hold a significant Italy textile market share as it houses several textile producers

North-West’s Piedmonte houses 1,400 textile companies. It offers a complete production chain for the clothing sector, from textile machinery and raw materials to fabrics. Further, the textile and clothing sector in Lombardy in northwest Italy consists of 15 thousand companies and 97 thousand employees located in the provinces of Milan, Varese, Brescia, and Como. Silk made from Como in Italy is widely renowned for its quality and elegance and hence is widely used in the creation of dresses, scarves, ties, and accessories.

According to the Italy textile market analysis, the Campania region located in the south of Italy is widely renowned for its creativity, materials research, and craftsmanship, and has the presence of well-established excellent and high-quality manufacturing. As a result, about 10% of the Italian companies are located in the Campania region. Moreover, about 22% of the companies in Campania are engaged in the manufacture of leather while 53% of the companies are engaged in the manufacture of clothing articles.

The Emilia-Romagna region in the Northeast part of Italy is widely known for its high-quality manufactured textiles, clothing, leather garments, shoes, bags, accessories, and jewellery. Vittorio Veneto region, also known as the wool district, aims to re-propose and incorporate traditional craftsmanship methods for the manufacture of non-dyed, ecologically sustainable fabrics making the region stand out among the mass-manufactured textiles from other regions.

According to the Italy textile market report, the rise of fast fashion has led to a significant environmental issue as it results in the increased disposal of lower quality textiles in landfills causing pollution. With the rising need for safeguarding the city from environmental pollution, Prato in Tuscany is widely engaging in recycling used clothes into knitwear and wool, contributing to the circular economy initiatives laid out in the country.

Key Highlights of the Report

Italy Textile Market Report Snapshots

Italy Textile Market Size

Italy Textile Market Trends

Italy Textile Market Analysis

Italy Textile Companies