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.
Zegna Group's operating profit rises to 74.5 million in H1
Ermenegildo Zegna reported revenues of 987.3 million euros (1.15 billion dollars) in the first half, up 6 percent year-over-year and 9 percent on an organic basis. The direct-to-consumer channel drove the performance with a growth of 12 percent (+16 percent on an organic basis), accounting for 86 percent of the group's brand revenues. Meanwhile,...
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Aeffe net debt steady at 112.6 million euros as rescue deal takes shape
Italian fashion group Aeffe, owner of Moschino and Alberta Ferretti, ended July with net debt of 112.61 million euros, barely moved from 112.37 million euros a month earlier, as it works to negotiate its way out of a financial crisis. Of that total, 96.37 million euros is short-term borrowing against 29.06 million euros of medium- to long-term...
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Woolrich closes Bologna office; 78 redundancies announced
Woolrich is closing its Bologna office in Northern Italy, resulting in 78 redundancies. According to the local newspaper 'Il Resto del Carlino', the final day of operations for the historic company's Bologna headquarters was yesterday August 31. The company was acquired last December by the Turin-based group BasicNet, which has decided to...
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Designer Jonathan Riss sues Prada for five million dollars over "abandoned" project
A project named "Prada Strada", a collaboration between Prada and Belgian designer Jonathan Riss, has ended in a legal dispute. The project was intended to customise a fleet of Rolls-Royce cars for a global event tour. The project, however, failed to launch and Riss has now brought Prada and three of its top executives into a contractual dispute...
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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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