Articles by Isabella Naef
Isabella Naef has been the Senior Editor of FashionUnited Italy since 2008. She is in Milan and covers fashion and luxury goods, with a particular focus on financial and economic news and sustainability. A dual Italian and Swiss citizen, Isabella graduated in Political Science from the University of Milan. She is member of the Professional Journalists' Association since 2000, contributing to newspapers and magazines. She is passionate about covering the fashion industry during this dynamic period, where sustainability, Gen Z, and artificial intelligence are paving the way for new and exciting chapters in economic, creative, and trend history.
Environmental responsibility improves financial performance by increasing sales
As consumers increasingly favour environmentally responsible companies, businesses face growing pressure to transform sustainability into a competitive advantage. A new study demonstrates that environmental responsibility indirectly improves financial performance by increasing sales. This identifies a key mechanism that has received little...
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Sale of 15 percent of Armani Group could be delayed beyond March 2027 deadline
The planned sale of a 15 percent stake in the Giorgio Armani group may not be completed by the March 2027 deadline set out in founder Giorgio Armani's will. This is according to a report by Corriere della Sera today, which cited internal sources at the group. The newspaper adds that conditions in the luxury market remain difficult and that...
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Textile EPR: ReDress explains how foreign producers selling in Italy can prepare for new requirements
On July 23, the Unified Conference approved the draft regulation that will establish the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for textile and footwear products in Italy. The minister of environment and energy security, Gilberto Pichetto, commenting on the approval of the draft regulation prepared by the ministry, emphasised: “With this...
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What does 'made in Italy' actually mean?
Italians are unmistakable. They are recognisable everywhere, very attentive to pairings, fabrics and have a unique ability to combine and wear colours and garments. They have created styles and moods that stand the test of time. This is also evidenced by the exhibition at the Certosa di San Giacomo in Capri, a tribute to the style that has...
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Safilo Group: sales down 1.9 percent in H1
In the second quarter of 2026, Safilo Group recorded net sales of 239.1 million euros (275.7 million dollars), down 4.5 percent at constant exchange rates. The gross industrial margin was 73.1 percent, up 11.5 percentage points from 61.6 percent. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 20.5 percent, up 9.4 percentage points from 11.1 percent in the same...
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Salvatore Ferragamo returns to profit in H1; consolidated revenues reach 468 million euros
Salvatore Ferragamo spa reported second-quarter revenues of 259 million euros (298 million dollars). This represents an increase of 2.4 percent compared to the 253 million euros in the second quarter of 2025, up 4.6 percent at constant exchange ratesDT. Consolidated revenues for the first half of 2026 amounted to 468 million euros. This is an...
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Zanatta family increases stake in Tecnica Group to 69 percent
On Friday, an agreement was signed for Italmobiliare to sell a 9.09 percent stake in Tecnica Group to Prime Holding , the Zanatta family's controlling holding company for Tecnica Group, for a total of approximately 50 million euros. Tecnica Group owns several major winter sports and outdoor footwear brands, including Blizzard, Lowa, and Moon...
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'The Devil Wears Prada 2' effect: 18 percent rise in foreign tourism at Milan film locations
Following the release of “The Devil Wears Prada 2”, average daily footfall from foreign tourists in the film's key Milan locations has increased by 18 percent compared to the previous period. This is according to an analysis by the research centre of Confcommercio Milano Lodi Monza Brianza, conducted via the Cities Analytics platform. The...
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Aeffe: binding offer of 115 million euros for relaunch and safeguarding of jobs
A new meeting on the Aeffe dispute was held yesterday in Rome at Mimit. During the meeting, it was announced that the Ferretti family, the group's current owner, has submitted a binding offer for the company's relaunch. The offer was made together with Invitalia, the Oxy Fund and a Chinese industrial partner. The transaction, valued at...
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Brunello Cucinelli's revenue up 13.3 percent in first half of 2026
Brunello Cucinelli has reported first-half revenues of 749.4 million euros for the period ending June 30. This represents an increase of +13.3 percent at constant exchange rates and +9.5 percent at current exchange rates. According to a statement, the retail channel saw an increase of +19.3 percent at constant exchange rates. This was driven by...
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