Brussels hosts fashion "Made in Apulia"

PR Log (Press Release) – May 25, 2008 – Brussels is hosting an Apulian pool of fashion enterpreneurs involved in the initiative Contacto promoted by ICE (the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade), and by the Region Apulia, in Italy.  The event is aimed at launching an innovative exhibition on the Apulian fashion manufacture, re-designed in artistic key by industrial designer Giulio Patrizi.  The opening ceremony of the exhibition is scheduled on Monday 26th May at 17.00, at the ICE liaison office in Belgium (Institut Italien pour le Commerce Exterieur, Place de la Liberté, 12, B-1000 Brussels).

Representatives of 16 manufacturing companies operating in the textile, clothing and footwear industry - that attended the first cultural launch event last April in Bari (Apulia) at the Fiera del Levante Expo Centre - will be welcome to showcase their items in Brussels to increase their business opportunities and boost their export sales within the Belgian market.

The companies based in Brussels are the following:
ITN, Dalena Berrettificio, Bengy & Company, Tricotzerodue, Sartoria Moderna, BIF, Roberta Creazioni, Must Uomo, Calceviva, Sucrette.

"We are about to enter the most operative and down to earth stage of a project called Contacto" - stated Luigi Ferrelli, responsible for the ICE management training area in Rome. "Our Brussels premises will represent a launch window for Patrizi's works of art meant to raise interest and evaluation on new design shapes among attendants as occured during the start-up event held in Bari.''  

The event agenda foresees several work meetings between the Apulian entrepreneurs and local importers, mainly represented by wholesalers and branch distributors. Contacto partners are aware that trade missions and business events represent a concrete result within the project objectives that originated the initiative. Contacto entrepreneurs feel ready to step into a new internationalization path, supported by local specialists and taking advantage of the experience gained  in such a training and working project background.  Therefore we consider that creative "made in Italy" and the ever increasing commercial potential of the Apulian businesses will let the project partners achieve rewarding and lasting response. The artistic exhibition will outlast the four business meeting days, and will welcome visitors during the opening hours of ICE Brussels until 6th June.