The Opening Ceremony of the 65th edition of Filo, titled “The Thread of the Supply Chain: Synergies and Added Value to Compete in the Global Market,” was held at Fiera Milano Rho, Hall 5, bringing together key voices from Italy’s textile and fashion industry.
Paolo Monfermoso, Head of Filo, inaugurated the event by highlighting the excellence of the exhibiting companies. He pointed to the strengthened partnership with Lineapelle as one of the most important innovations of this edition, offering buyers a more complete overview of the textile supply chain.
Fulvia Bacchi, CEO of Lineapelle, stressed that in a period marked by economic and logistical challenges, collaboration between trade fairs is essential. She noted that the shared focus on innovation, creativity, and sustainability will create long-term value for the market.
Paolo Barberis Canonico, President of Unione Industriale Biellese, underlined the strategic importance of cooperation across the production chain to enhance global competitiveness. He described Biella’s intact textile supply chain as a unique but fragile strength, calling for aggregation models that connect large-scale vision with the specialized expertise of smaller firms.
Matteo Masini, Head of Consumer Goods at ITA Trade Agency, reaffirmed the agency’s strong support for Italian textile internationalisation. He explained that success today requires diversifying offerings and building deeper market knowledge, with ITA set to expand its commitment through increased resources.
In a video message, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy’s Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, described Filo as a vital meeting point for the sector. He emphasized that circularity and sustainability are now central challenges for Made in Italy textiles, supported by government-backed flagship projects financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Elena Chiorino, Vice-President of the Piedmont Region, also highlighted the exhibition’s importance, noting that high-quality sustainable yarns form the foundation of Italy’s textile and apparel excellence, attracting buyers from around the world.
The ceremony continued with a round table moderated by Laura Ricardi, who shared figures demonstrating the textile supply chain’s economic impact, contributing close to 3.9% of Italy’s GDP when considering both direct and indirect value creation.
Rossano Bisio, Fabric Designer for Filo, explained that viewing the supply chain as an integrated system strengthens creativity, allowing yarn development to start with the finished garment in mind. He highlighted the Made in Filo 65 collection as an example of this approach.
Marco Bortolini, Vice President for Industrial Supply Chain Development, noted that Italy’s textile strength lies in its network of highly specialized small businesses, offering flexibility and rapid customized solutions. However, he warned that smaller companies remain vulnerable and need stronger support structures.
Dario Casalini, Founder of Slow Fiber, added that a complete and sustainable supply chain can become a model of fairness, health, and long-term well-being, avoiding environmental and social inequalities.
Vera Veri, Director at Simest, concluded by emphasizing that collaboration, digitalisation, and skills development are essential for reinforcing Made in Italy positioning globally. Simest continues to support companies with tailored financial tools and long-term internationalisation strategies across key markets.
The 65th edition of Filo is being held on 11–12 February 2026 at Fiera Milano Rho, Hall 5.