Milano Unica to collaborate with CFDA on “The Fabric Program”

By

Dani Greene

Published
Jan 26, 2016

International luxury textile trade fair Milano Unica on Monday announced that it will collaborate with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) on “The Fabric Program.” The new program enables American designers to work in Italian textile production mills to raise awareness for “Made in Italy” techniques and methods of developing textiles.
 

Accessories designer Gigi Burris and womenswear designer Ryan Roche will participate in first edition of the program, which will also include a menswear designer who will be announced in the coming weeks. At the culmination of the program, each designer will incorporate their signature textile into their Spring/Summer 2017 collection.
 
President of Milano Unico Ercole Botto Paola said of the program, “We are very proud of this partnership to support American designers. To show them the Italian way of craftsmanship is a unique opportunity for us, and having them learn about our heritage will be knowledge they can take with them into the future.”

Steven Kolb, CFDA CEO, also expressed enthusiasm for the program, saying “Our partnership with Milano Unica gives emerging American designers the chance to create custom fabrics with Italy’s best production houses.”

Milano Unica is a bi-annual international textile fair from Milan, Italy. The textile fair's President, Ercole Botto Paola, brings together a sophisticated group of fabrics and textile creators to help educate about Italy's textile history, craftsmanship and technique.

Founded in 1962, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) works to strengthen the influence of American Fashion in the global economy. CFDA is the primary organizer of New York Fashion Week: Men's and hosts the CFDA Fashion Awards.