The Monitor for Circular Fashion in the Marche region for the appreciation and circularity of Italian-made luxury goods

On June 22 and 23, 2023, the annual two-day Monitor for Circular Fashion, SDA Bocconi's research observatory for Circular Fashion directed by Francesca Romana Rinaldi with the scientific contribution of SDA Bocconi's Sustainability Lab and powered by Enel X, was held. The two-day event was held in the region of Marche, between Ascoli Piceno and Civitanova Marche, where company visits were held at YKK, TOD'S Group and Valmor - Holding Moda.

On the first day, YKK opened the doors of YKK Mediterraneo, the plant of the well-known Japanese company that is engaged in the production of sliders, electroplating, small metal parts and snap fasteners.

"Welcoming the representatives of the Monitor for Circular Fashion at our headquarters in Ascoli Piceno was a moment of pride for us" – said Enrico Degara, Chief Sustainability Officer of YKK Italy. "Our company is committed to enhancing sustainability on a daily basis. Thanks to this visit we were able to demonstrate how our products are always designed with the concepts of resource efficiency, non-toxicity and circularity in mind, constantly prioritizing recyclable sources and ethical manufacturing practices."

The Monitor for Circular Fashion also held a meeting with the city administration of Ascoli Piceno as well as a cultural tour to discover the city's rich artistic and cultural heritage.

The Mayor of Ascoli Marco Fioravanti greeted the Monitor for Circular Fashion SDA Bocconi companies, "We are happy and proud to have welcomed the Monitor for Circular Fashion to Ascoli. It was a great opportunity for our city to make its artistic and architectural beauty known to them, as well as its landscape and food and wine. Ascoli Piceno is a jewel of central Italy and, rooted in history, it represents the beating heart of our country: it's a people-friendly city, which can make anyone fall in love with it in just a few minutes as they walk its streets, observe the architectural style of the buildings and the ancestral charm of the churches, enjoy the sight of travertine or the tastes and flavors of tradition. I hope that Ascoli was able to win over the hearts of the participants of the Monitor for Circular Fashion's annual two-day event, and I thank Director Francesca Romana Rinaldi for involving us."

The following day, the Monitor for Circular Fashion visited the Headquarters of the TOD'S Group, which, nestled in the green hills of the Marche region, represents the most extensive hub of luxury footwear production in Italy. It is here that, thanks to the commitment and work of artisans and professionals, unique creations come to life every day that reflect the Group's values: tradition, innovation, quality, ethics, craftsmanship excellence and Made in Italy.

As the company states, "The TOD'S Group is proud to contribute to the Monitor's activities and to promote its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility with its professionals. Opening the doors of our Headquarters in the Marche region offered us the opportunity to share our values with partner companies, with whom we pursue the goal of contributing to the transition to circular business models and enhancing the positive impact that brands and their supply chains can generate to foster the growth and sustainable development of the fashion ecosystem."

This was followed by a visit from Valmor, part of Holding Moda, a company with more than 30 years of experience in producing sneakers for the biggest luxury companies.

"Valmor and the Holding Moda Group were delighted to welcome the participants of the Monitor for Circular Fashion. Valuing the local area and its talent is a matter of pride for us, so we were pleased to be able to host professionals at our headquarters to show them our internal processes and share best practices in sustainability and social responsibility."

The two-day experiential visit to the Marche region is just one of the many convenings of the Monitor for Circular Fashion. In fact, two more visits took place in the first half of 2023: on May 26 at Albini Group, an Italian cotton mill based in Albino that has been in the textile industry since 1876 producing high-end shirting fabrics, and on June 28 at the Pregnana Milanese plant of Humana People to People.

The two-day event was also a moment to celebrate and welcome three new partners in the Research Observatory: Avery Dennison, Certilogo and Armani.

The next Monitor for Circular Fashion events will be held on September 19, 2023, the day of the official presentation of the updated Circular Fashion Manifesto, and on October 11, for the concluding multistakeholder event of the Monitor for Circular Fashion 2023.

SDA Bocconi School of Management