Italy hasn’t traditionally been known for the sustainability of its textile and fashion industries – but change is afoot and it’s been led by small, niche players with big ideas. By Pamela Ravasio and Alberto Saccavini.

Italy - known for the style of its inhabitants, the quality and sharp cut of its suits, the inventiveness of its fashion designers, the quality of its fabrics. However, while the diversity among Italian fashion designers is precisely the root of their ongoing popularity and commercial strength, Italy has more recently struggled to maintain its status producer of these same high-end items due to shifts in global sourcing markets, particularly since the 2008 European economic crisis.