ICE brings 55 companies to Texas for a partnership with Nordstrom

The USA are increasingly on the look-out for Italian design, especially for jewellery, fashion and accessories. To satisfy this need, the renowned Nordstrom department store chain has created a series of pop-in areas, in partnership with the Italian Foreign Trade Institute (ICE).

From 4th March to April 17th in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, customers can visit the pop-in themed areas created by Olivia Kim, Nordstrom's Vice-President for creative projects, featuring 55 Italian brands in apparel, jewellery, footwear, handbags, eyewear, fragrances and cosmetics, some of them available in the USA for the first time.

"New brands appearing for the first time on the US market, in as prestigious a showcase as Nordstrom, represent a significant success for this operation - underlined ICE New York's Director, Maurizio Forte - and if sell-out data will be positive, some of these brands will be able to become part of Nordstrom's supply chain".

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"Americans have a long-standing love affair with Italy, and this partnership is the perfect opportunity to highlight Italian fashion and lifestyle", said Olivia Kim, who hosted the inauguration event in Dallas together with the ambassador for the 'We Love It' promotion, Bianca Brandolini d'Adda.

The Nordstrom partnership is part of the Special USA Plan for fashion, sponsored by the Italian Minister for Economic Development to support Italian fashion industry exports. The plan is endowed with funds for over €20 million in the next two years, for a cooperation between ICE, Confindustria (the Italian industrialists' association) and its category associations.

According to the latest US Department of Commerce data, Italian apparel exports to the USA in 2015 amounted to €1.265 billion, equivalent to an 11.8% growth compared to 2014; footwear and leather goods reached €2.207 billion (+15%) and jewellery reached €581 million (+15%).