End of last March the Italian embassy in Cairo hosted the Italian Design Days, a worldwide initiative brought to life by the Italian Trade Agency to promote Italian products and companies. While the last edition was dedicated to furniture, this edition, hosted at the Four Seasons The First Residence,was dedicated to other key pillars of the Italian industry, the textile and fashion industry.
Titled Fabric: Innovation & Sustainability, the round table that brought together accomplished Italian and Egyptian industry leaders, was opened with a welcome speech by H.E. Michele Quaroni, the ambassador of Italy to Egypt, who highlighted the long history and importance of Egyptian and Italian Trade.
Moderated by Susan Sabet, publisher Pashion magazine and co-founder of the Egyptian Fashion and Design Council, the first speaker UNIDO officer Sarah Berlese gave the audience an insight on the UNIDO Cotton Program and the 3 components of sustainability.
Stefano Albini, president of the Albini Group, a world leader in fabric manufacturing, and the number one producer of shirt fabrics in Europe gave a detailed overview on how his company has introduced sustainable business practices.
Enrica Erba, the founder of Orange Fiber, an upstart in Sicily, told her inspiring story of how to process orange waste into fabrics, that already earned her collaborations with Salvatore Ferragamo and H&M.
The chairwoman of the Egyptian Ready Made Garment Export Council, Marie Bishara, presented the sustainability programs and initiatives the RMG has currently in place and is planning to implement in the near future.
May Kassem, a founding member of the Sustainable Fashion Alliance Mena, introduced the group’s program and mission and highlighted the challenges and opportunities the Egyptian market holds.
Emerging designers Farah Wali gave a recount of her career that started at Polymoda Milan, and finally saw her return to Egypt and re-launch her namesake collection that specializes in recycling materials.
The last panelist, Ali El Nawawy, founder of Egyptian street-wear brand Scarabaeus Sacer gave his account on turning a local ready to wear business into a successful sustainable brand.
Following a reception, guests were invited to discover an exhibition of Italian fashion brands retailed in Egypt, by leading fashion retailers such as EGO and Femex and the locally designed Concrete “Sur Mesure” Collection.
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