Industry leaders discuss competitiveness, sustainability, innovation and collaboration at the 66th edition of Filo in Milan.
Filo66 Opens with Focus on a Stronger Textile Supply Chain
The opening ceremony of the 66th edition of Filo, titled “Weaving the Future: balance for a stronger, more competitive textile and fashion supply chain”, took place at Fiera Milano Rho, Hall 24.
The ceremony brought together representatives from the textile and fashion industry to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, with particular focus on building a more united, innovative and responsible supply chain.
The discussions explored the concept of balance across the textile value chain, including the relationship between competitiveness and sustainability, innovation and manufacturing expertise, and upstream and downstream businesses.
Opening the event, Paolo Monfermoso, Head of Filo, said the sector is experiencing a challenging period, with conditions varying among companies. He noted that the number of exhibitors at the 66th edition was in line with the February edition and that the number of buyers registered on the opening morning provided grounds for optimism about the event’s results.
B2B Trade Fairs and Supply Chain Collaboration
Pier Francesco Corcione, General Director of Biella Industrial Union (UIB), highlighted the role of B2B trade fairs in supporting business development and networking.
He said Filo places the textile supply chain at the centre of the event by promoting dialogue among its key players while focusing on expertise, sustainability and research.
Emanuele Ramella Pralungo, President of the Province of Biella, welcomed participants and highlighted Filo’s role in showcasing yarns and Made in Italy products. He also spoke about the importance of bringing different sectors together to address complex challenges and develop broadly supported solutions.
Fulvia Bacchi, CEO of Lineapelle, highlighted the synergy developed between Lineapelle and Filo while maintaining the distinct identity of each exhibition.
Meanwhile, Matteo Masini, Head of the Consumer Goods Office at ITA – Italian Trade Agency, reaffirmed the agency’s support for the internationalisation of Italian companies and its long-standing collaboration with Filo.
Italian Textile Industry’s Role in Europe
The second part of the opening ceremony featured a round-table discussion moderated by Laura Ricardi, Head of the UIB press office.
Introducing the discussion, Ricardi highlighted figures illustrating the importance of the Italian textile and clothing industry. According to the figures presented, the sector accounts for around 30% of European production, making Italy the European Union’s leading producer, Europe’s second-largest exporter and the world’s fifth-largest exporter.
The sector recorded a turnover of €58.39 billion in 2025, with around 37,500 companies and more than 372,000 employees.
The discussion focused on what balance within the textile supply chain means and how different parts of the value chain can work together to maintain competitiveness and cohesion.
Sustainability as a Collective Supply Chain Effort
Michele Pozzi, Sales Director of Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale, described sustainability as a collective process and emphasised the importance of transparent, innovative and responsible supply chains in the linen sector.
He said stronger supply-chain relationships can contribute to trust across the textile value chain.
Cesare Cigolini, Managing Director of Achille Pinto, focused on the role of small artisan businesses in the Made in Italy production system. He highlighted the need to integrate smaller businesses into the supply chain while supporting their organisational and financial capacity to meet requirements related to sustainability and traceability.
Protecting Skills and Upstream Capabilities
Stefano Aglietta, Chair of the Spinning Section of UIB, addressed the importance of maintaining skills, specialisation and entrepreneurial diversity within the upstream sections of the textile supply chain.
He called for greater consideration of the relationship between price and added value, while highlighting the wider contribution of businesses to employment, social cohesion and local communities.
Marco Bortolini, Vice President UIB for the Development of Industrial Supply Chains, highlighted the impact of increasing raw-material, energy and labour costs on manufacturing companies and processors.
He also pointed to the importance of sustainability, skills and innovation in determining value across the supply chain and noted the role of consumers in recognising the value associated with textile products.
People, Technology and AI in Textile Manufacturing
Patrizia Salemi, HR Manager at Vimar 1991, highlighted human resources as a central element of textile supply-chain competitiveness.
She noted that changing labour-market conditions require manufacturing companies to preserve and transfer specialised knowledge while also developing organisations that respond to the expectations of younger generations.
She also highlighted the expected impact of technology and artificial intelligence on the workplace while maintaining that people will remain central to the sector.
Circular Economy and the Future of the Textile Sector
Sergio Tamborini, former President of Confindustria Moda, emphasised the importance of collaboration across the Italian textile supply chain.
He highlighted the need to establish new balances between upstream and downstream activities, sustainability and competitiveness, and innovation and manufacturing expertise.
Tamborini also described the transition toward a circular economy as an industrial opportunity and stressed the importance of collective action across the supply chain.
Filo66 Continues at Fiera Milano Rho
The 66th edition of Filo is being held on 15 and 16 September 2026 at Fiera Milano Rho, Hall 24.
With its focus on supply-chain collaboration, sustainability, innovation, skills and competitiveness, the event is providing a platform for textile industry stakeholders to discuss the factors shaping the future of the Italian and international textile and fashion value chain.