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Will ‘Made in Italy’ be left behind in the race to innovate?

Italian supply chains are defined by their reverence for traditional crafts and skills, but innovation is needed to make them future-proof.
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Photo: Bella Webb

The coveted ‘Made in Italy’ label faces increasing scrutiny and existential challenges, from supply chain scrutiny and evolving EU regulations to climate change and threats to heritage craft. This article is part of a new series where we unpack what these pressures mean for the future, and sustainability, of luxury fashion. Read more here.

Towards the beginning of my two-week trip around ‘Made in Italy’ supply chains, I stopped by the Gucci headquarters in Milan (where even the waiting room chairs and guest pass lanyards bear creative director Sabata De Sarno’s signature ‘Rosso Ancora’ shade of burgundy).