The Opening Ceremony of the 65th edition of Filo, titled ‘The Thread of the Supply Chain: synergies and added value to compete in the global market’, took place at Fiera Milano Rho – Hall 5, setting the tone for the exhibition by underlining the strategic importance of collaboration across the textile value chain.
Paolo Monfermoso, Head of Filo, opened the session by highlighting the high standards of the participating companies and pointed to the strengthened partnership with Lineapelle as a key innovation of this edition. ‘The synergy with Lineapelle is an example of consolidation of the supply chain: it allows us to offer national and international buyers a more complete view of what textile industry has to offer,’ he said.
Fulvia Bacchi, CEO of Lineapelle, reinforced this message, stating: ‘At a time of great economic and logistical difficulties, and when it is said that trade fairs must reinvent themselves, Lineapelle and Filo have chosen to work together to enhance the commitment of their respective exhibitors to innovation, creativity and sustainability. It is a common path that will be surely successful for the market.’
Paolo Barberis Canonico, President of Unione Industriale Biellese, underlined the importance of cooperation across the production chain to strengthen global competitiveness. He emphasised the unique nature of the Biella textile district, where the supply chain remains fully integrated, while also warning of its fragility due to the predominance of small enterprises. He stressed the need for aggregation models that combine the vision of larger companies with the specialist capabilities of smaller firms to preserve and enhance this strategic industrial asset.
Matteo Masini, Head of Ufficio Beni di Consumo at ITA Trade Agency, spoke about the Agency’s ongoing role in supporting internationalisation and its long-standing collaboration with Filo. ‘Today, internationalisation also means knowing how diversifying the offer to meet the needs of those markets that are not only geographically far from ours. ITA’s work throughout the year involves lengthy preparation to increase and strengthen the knowledge of these markets to optimise results during the trade fair. The Agency will strengthen this work and commitment in the second half of this year and in 2027 too thanks to an increase in available resources.’
In a video message, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, highlighted Filo’s growing importance as a meeting point for industry stakeholders. He stressed the central role of circularity and sustainability in the future of the Made in Italy textile sector and reaffirmed government support for the transition towards more sustainable production models.
Elena Chiorino, Vice-President of the Piedmont Region, also addressed the audience via video, underlining the strategic relevance of Filo for the region and the wider textile supply chain. She noted that the presence of international buyers reflected strong global interest in Italian manufacturing excellence.
The second part of the Opening Ceremony featured a round-table discussion moderated by Laura Ricardi, Head of the press office of Unione Industriale Biellese. Citing recent figures, she noted that the indirect impact of the textile supply chain is estimated at 38 billion, while the direct impact stands at 9 billion, together accounting for nearly 3.9% of Italian GDP. This illustrated how value creation extends far beyond direct production to include processing, services, distribution and end markets.
Rossano Bisio, Fabric Designer for Filo, spoke about the creative importance of a holistic supply chain view, explaining how product development now begins with the finished garment in mind. He highlighted how the Made in Filo 65 fabric collection reflects this integrated approach and how the Nexus concept promotes synergy among different industrial districts.
Marco Bortolini, Vice President of Unione Industriale Biellese for Industrial Supply Chain Development, described the strengths and vulnerabilities of Italy’s textile manufacturing model, characterised by highly specialised small enterprises. He noted that while flexibility and customisation are key competitive advantages, the limited size of companies can also create fragility, reinforcing the need for coordinated support mechanisms and a stronger, more resilient supply chain.
Dario Casalini, Founder of Slow Fiber, positioned the Italian textile supply chain as a potential global model when it is aligned with ethical, environmental and social responsibility. According to him, a healthy and sustainable supply chain generates inclusive and long-term value for local territories rather than creating environmental or social imbalances.
Vera Veri, Director of Investimenti Partecipativi at Simest, explained how financial and strategic support mechanisms can strengthen international competitiveness. She highlighted the importance of collaboration, digitalisation and skills development in reinforcing the global positioning of Made in Italy textiles. She outlined Simest’s role in supporting companies through tailored financial instruments and international networks, helping supply chains expand into key global markets and emerging economies.
The 65th edition of Filo is being held on 11 and 12 February 2026 at Fiera Milano Rho – Hall 5, bringing together international buyers and exhibitors to explore innovation, creativity and sustainability across the textile supply chain.
