This September 2025, a piece of Italy is coming to Georgia—and not just the kind you eat, wear, or dream about during your next vacation. The Made in Italy Expo is planting its flag in Atlanta, and with it comes a renewed sense of pride, purpose, and presence for Italian creativity, craftsmanship, and industry in the heart of the Southeastern United States.

The event, set to run from September 15 to 22, is more than just a celebration of Italian lifestyle. It’s a strategic move to shine a spotlight on the deep, and often undetected, Italian industrial footprint already thriving in Georgia and neighboring states. From advanced manufacturing to fashion, design, logistic and food tech, Italy is showing up in the Southeast in powerful new ways—and this Expo is designed to make sure everyone takes notice.

The initiative is organized by the Italia America Reputation Lab (IARL), in collaboration with the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast – Georgia Chapter. It’s the first time a program of this scope has come together in Atlanta, specifically to elevate the “Made in Italy” brand as both a cultural treasure and a business powerhouse.

So what’s on the agenda? Over the course of eight days, the city will host Italian film screenings, immersive engagements, panel discussions, and exclusive tasting experiences—all designed to get Atlantans and visiting guests to not only enjoy Italy but do business with it. But here’s the twist: it’s not just about what Italy can offer from abroad. It’s also about celebrating the Italian companies that are already here, quietly building jobs, technologies, and partnerships across the Southeastern corridor, contributing for several Billions to the State GPD and employing thousands Georgia residents.

In the manufacturing sector, Italian companies like Pirelli, Essilorluxottica ad Aquafil bring advanced technologies and innovative practices, enhancing local production capabilities and creating high-quality jobs. In the realm of technology and fintech, companies like Crif Select, SCM Group,and Cassioli are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge solutions, driving innovation, and fostering a dynamic tech ecosystem in Georgia. Logistics companies like Jas Forwarding play a crucial role in optimizing supply chains and improving efficiency, thereby supporting Georgia’s status as a major transportation hub. The design industry benefits from Italian companies’ renowned expertise and creativity, influencing trends and elevating the quality of design services and products available in the state. Dolce & Gabbana at Phipps Plaza, the Ferrari dealership in Roswell, and the showrooms of Natuzzi Divani and Pedini are just a few iconic examples of the high-end Italian retail presence in the area. This landscape is complemented by a vibrant culinary scene, with longtime ambassadors of Italian cuisine like Piero Premoli at Pricci and Riccardo Ullio with Sotto Sotto, and the newer hotspots like YEPPA, which has energized Buckhead’s nightlife and is now preparing to launch YEPPA Villa in one of the most celebrated areas of the Italian Riviera. Atlanta is also home to many distinguished Italian managers, researchers and academic professionals working in the private and public sectors.

Italy, after all, is also one of the world’s top industrial nations. It ranks second in Europe in terms of manufacturing output, with a stronghold in precision mechanics, sustainable technologies, logistics, and automation. And a significant portion of that innovation is being exported directly—or replicated through partnerships—right here in the U.S., especially in states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

That’s what makes Atlanta the perfect place to host this event. The city is already a crossroads of global trade, a hub for innovation, and a hotspot for cultural diversity. It also happens to be home to a growing network of Italian professionals, companies, and institutions. Bringing them together under the Made in Italy banner—while also inviting the public to experience it firsthand—is what makes this Expo so timely.

The 2025 edition is being called a “teaser” for what’s coming in 2026 — the full program aimed to become an annual reference point for Italian visibility in the U.S. market. By building momentum now, the team behind the Expo hopes to create a sustainable, scalable format that can be repeated and expanded not just in Georgia, but in other parts of the country.

More than just a festival or trade show, the Expo wants to leave behind a cultural and economic footprint. That means bringing Italian brands face-to-face with U.S. retailers. It means creating space for students and professionals to engage with Italian innovation. It also means reinforcing the idea that Italian products aren’t just luxurious—they’re smart, sustainable, and made with a purpose.

Take the upcoming panel on Italian innovation and green manufacturing, for example. It won’t just be a branding pitch. It’ll be a conversation about supply chains, clean energy, circular economy principles—all areas where Italian companies are already leading globally. And the goal is to connect those leaders with American buyers, distributors, and policymakers.

But while the Expo is deeply business-minded, it never forgets the emotional pull of Italian culture. From a curated film festival exploring identity and migration, to a closing night event featuring food, music, and a Milan-style fashion show, the Made in Italy Expo taps into what Italy does best: creating experiences that feel unforgettable. It’s that blend of heart and strategy that makes the program so compelling.

There’s also a strong community focus. The Expo team has made it clear that they want this to also be a springboard for local entrepreneurs who are placing Italy in their core business processes like it is for J Goldin Eyewear who are conceiving in Dunwoody their sunglasses collections rigorously manufactured in Italy to preserve the high-quality value imprinted in their design phase. One segment of the program will even highlight how Italian olive oil-based cosmetics are gaining traction among African-American consumers for their quality and heritage. That’s a connection point rarely explored, and exactly the kind of story the Expo wants to elevate.

In the end, this is about reputation. Italy has long been admired for its beauty, its style, its sense of tradition. But it’s time for a new chapter—one that also emphasizes innovation, industry, and long-term collaboration. The Made in Italy Expo is here to help write that story, and to make sure it starts right here in Atlanta.

Get engaged and win fantastic prizes including tickets to Italy, a 6-days housing in the Italian Riviera and vouchers from prime Italian restaurants in Atlanta, like Pricci, Sotto Sotto, Yeppa, Novo Cucina, and Kitty Dare.

Additional food and wine brands involved in the program include, Parmigiano Reggiano, Urbani Truffle, La Regina, Acqua Lauretana, and unique specialties from the Liguria Region.

For more information, visit www.madeinitalyexpo.org or follow @MadeInItalyAtlanta on social media. But don’t just watch from afar. Come taste, see, and discover what “Made in Italy” really means in 2025—and why it matters more than ever for the future of Georgia, the Southeast, and beyond.