By
Ansa
Published
Dec 9, 2015
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USA: Italian SMEs arrive at Nordstrom

By
Ansa
Published
Dec 9, 2015

Alongside names like Armani, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana, the Italian fashion industry also features smaller companies that are big in creativity and know-how.

Over 50 of these small, smart Italian companies, complete newcomers to the US market, will be arriving next March at the Pop-in@Nordstrom themed spaces, conceived by renowned buyer Olivia Kim and located inside the Texas branches of Nordstrom department store.

Nordstrom


Kim contributed to the launch of trend-setting Opening Ceremony Store, and was chosen by Nordstrom in 2013 to raise its level of quality and attract customers having a greater awareness for the fashion system.

In April she set her sights on Italy, and began the selection process for this new initiative. A list of 700 names was whittled down to 56, the final selection taking place last September in Milan, when Nordstrom placed orders for Italian products ranging from shoes to handbags, hats, gloves, eyewear, knitwear, jewellery, tights, perfumery, cosmetics, umbrellas and, of course, clothing.

"We searched for collections that were fun and directional, traditional and lovingly made, eccentric, outstanding and all bearing the trademark of Italian manufacturing excellence. We're delighted to introduce these brands to our customers, giving them a platform where they can be showcased for the first time in the USA," commented Kim.

"This is a 360° representation of Italian fashion, featuring both emerging and well-known SMEs, some of them absolute newcomers to the US market, and all of them sharing one common denominator: their products are strictly made in Italy," the President of ICE (the Italian foreign trade institute) Riccardo Monti commented. He put the initiative in the context of the Special USA Fashion Plan advocated by Deputy Minister of Economic Development Carlo Calenda, and developed in association with Confindustria (the Italian industrialists' association) and the industry's trade associations.

Nordstrom's 'pop-in' spaces will be set up in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, Texas, for six weeks from 4th March to 17th April 2016. Alongside them, Nordstrom's Texas stores will also feature a series of promotional events involving food, art and music.
 

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