REPORT丨The Impact of COVID-19 on the Italian Silk Industry

Time：2020-03-27 Source：ISU Secretariat

The COVID-19 has been fierce since early 2020, like most industries, the world silk industry and consumer market have been severely hit. And the epidemic has also accelerated the arrival of the “House Times” and “Cloud Times”, the marketing channels and consumption patterns is changing. In order to fully understand the impact of COVID-19 on the world silk industry and consumer market, study the future trends of the silk industry and consumption, and provide suggestions and references for companies to respond the changes, International Silk Union launched the research of Impact of COVID-19 on World Silk Industry and Consumer Market Trends.

At present, Italy becomes one of the worst affected area, and the production and trade of the silk industry have also been seriously affected. Following, we will see the impact of COVID-19 on the Italian silk industry based on the feedback from the Italian questionnaire.

First, a brief review of the “Italian Views of Silk Situation” introduced by the Italian representative at the “2019 International Silk Union Member Assembly”.

As an important part of the international silk industry, the healthy and stable development of Italian silk is related to the future of the industry. In this research, we collected reviews and opinions from the Italian Silk Office and major silk companies.

Impact of COVID-19 on the World Silk Industry

Q: What changes do you think the COVID-19 will bring to the world silk industry and consumer market? What companies should do to resume production and increase sales? What governments and industry associations should do to strengthen the safeguards and provide support? What measures the companies should strengthen to response the epidemic?

Italian Silk Office

COVID-19 is similar to an earthquake, in this moment everything is very confused and we may only wait for the decline of the epidemic. Our Government is taking its actions, as the days go by, they are becoming more and more similar to the Chinese ones.

The day we shall come out of this turnoil, it will be important to sit down and to try to define common strategies for our beloved silk. Our fiber suffers from various problems, we hope that this terrible crisis will convince us to work seriously on them.

RATTI

1.COVID-19 epidemic has and will shift consumers’ priorities towards other needs.

2.There is still a huge uncertainty about the future which, together with the bad impact on economy (worldwide), so it is difficult which companies could increase sales. Unfortunately I am afraid that lots of traditional companies will face big difficulties.

3. Companies can provide their workers and employees with protective masks, enhance smart-working from home, thus avoiding too many contacts among employees; check temperature before entering the company and, get more info from hospitals on how to better check their own employees and workers’s health status.

High Fashion Europa Srl

The future is for the quick reactive campaign, able to adapt to the update demand from the markete.

Understanding, listening and quick action will be the key.

Tessitura F.lli Vitali Spa

It is very difficult to make any forecast in this moment, first of all we must come out of this turmoil. Unfortunately in 2020 we know silk consumption will reach its lowest point probably, since the Second World War. We must be aware of this. At the appropriate time, it will be very important to define proper silk policies for image, sustainability, quality, reliability of our beloved fiber. And the attitude of Chinese autorithies, as the leading country for silk, will be decisive.

Q: What is your identity

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Q: In response to the COVID-19, what support has your country and city provided for silk enterprises

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Concerning the answer “other”, we find that some Italian representatives share the point of the government reinforce temporary lay off funds.

Q: In response to the COVID-19, what measures do you think are the top priorities for silk enterprises

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Concerning the answer “other” , we find that some Italian representatives expressed that the price stability is the top priorities for silk enterprises

Q: In the future development of the silk industry, which of the following new technologies should actively absorb and adopt

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