Market Updates
Pitti Filati sees increased optimism among spinners
6 July 2006
Pitti Filati sees increased optimism among spinners
Yarns, July 5-7, Florence, Italy
Florence's yarn fair Pitti Filati, showing yarns for knitwear for autumn/winter 2007/08, was much busier on the first day than had been expected.
Spinners are in a more optimistic mood than has been seen for some seasons. While business remains tough, the decline Italian spinners have seen has been held, at least for the moment, as the surviving Italian mills see some slight signs of recovery. This is based on their strategy to concentrate on high quality and innovation, supplying niche markets at the top end of the fashion industry.
This show is still a focal point for designers and buyers looking for yarns and knitwear ideas for the new season, despite the repositioning of the whole knitwear supply chain. Design studios reported a flurry of activity on the first day throughout the Fashion at Work section, with strong sales in knitwear design swatches.
However, there appears to be a decline in US buyers, with reports that the knitwear market in that country is down.
Meanwhile, spinners at the show are concentrating on high quality and innovation, unable to compete on basic yarns from Asia.
"Buyers are looking particularly for natural fibres, and we are seeing more wool blends, " reports Osman Kilic, owner of Turkish spinner Ormo. "Classic yarns are important, but there's less interest in fancy yarns."
Wool is the main fibre for winter, with emphasis on classic qualities. Zegna Baruffa is launching its new 1850 collection, based on classic archive yarns and produced with the finest raw materials but on modern machinery.
Blends of wool with soft luxury fibres cashmere and alpaca are prominent, and there are also new fibres such as bamboo in mixes with wool or cotton.
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© WGSN 2006
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