With whole towns in Italy dedicated to producing a single item, be it eyewear, silk or shoes, it’s clear why the big names in fashion continue to rely on the expertise of the country’s specialised craftsmen.
Venice’s location makes it unique: no other city can claim to be made up of more than 100 islands threaded together by canals and bridges, and supported by pieces of timber driven into mud. It shouldn’t work. Yet somehow…
The supremacy of the Italian design sector lies in its craftsmanship, use of fine materials and stylistic ingenuity. But our look at recent developments shows that it’s also an industry that knows how to innovate and evolve…
Long the unsung hero of Italian manufacturing, it's high time Naples told some of its sunny stories from the factory floor. It’s been a centre for craftsmanship, shipbuilding and tailoring for generations, which means…
From cotton fields in Egypt to state of the art laboratories in Bergamo our search for quality “Made in Italy” textiles focuses on the fifth-generation Albini Group.
Although quintessentially Italian, pasta-makers are increasingly reliant on imported wheat.
We meet the man shaping a more sustainable future for its production.
Il Salone del Mobile, the world’s biggest furniture fair, is a bellwether of the industry and a showcase for new ideas. As brands gear up for this year’s show, Monocle finds out that the immediate future looks promising.
Big-box retail and out-of-town stores are struggling in the DIY sector. This is the chance for a revival of small inner-city hardware hubs where knowledge and service rule the day. In Italy they have a model to copy.
The people at Bontoni shoes like to take things slowly, producing just eight pairs of shoes a day. Their dedication is helping Montegranaro, Italy’s shoe town, take changes to the global footwear market in its stride.
From its lively HQ-cum-gallery in one of Rome’s most imposing buildings to its modern Tuscan factory where workers are viewed as artisans, Fendi is proving itself a determinedly transparent and progressive brand as it…
Vinitaly is the annual wine-industry extravaganza where insiders can get the measure of the market, buy and sell their wares, and, of course, have a taste.
Its cuisine is known the world over and everyone aspires to drive Italian-designed cars. Here are 10 areas in which, economic woes notwithstanding, Italy leads the way.
Italy has gifted the world so many great things but what are the quintessential qualities of the country itself? From sociable swimming hubs to unfussy mealtimes and enviable urban spaces, we choose our 10 favourite traits…