by Giorgio Costa and Giulia Crivelli   The recovery of the textile-clothing and ceramic tile sectors, which are crucial to Italian manufacturing, are increasingly tied to the export market. That's confirmed in figures published yesterday by their respective trade associations. They show that while there's little light forthcoming from the do...

A New York fund is the latest to try to breathe life into the long-ailing Italian shoemaker Bruno Magli. Marquee Brands, a brand acquisition company set up in September by the New York-based private equity firm Neuberger Berman, is set to announce on Monday that it will acquire the luxury shoe label for 28.5 million euros, or about $34 million. &...

Gucci announced plans to host its Cruise 2016 runway show in New York on June 4, WWD reported on Wednesday. This is the Italian brand's first resort collection under new creative director Alessandro Michele, who revealed his first collection for the brand last month.   More information about the upcoming Gucci show, including the venue, has...

by Terence Cullen   Brioni, an Italian men's fashion company, has inked a deal for the first two retail levels of 680 Madison Avenue, according to the landlord, Thor Equities. The clothier is taking 7,000 square feet for its flagship store on the ground level and second floor in a lease, the landlord announced, which closed on Tuesday....

As part of Villanova University's "The Difference Italy Makes" conference series, Bottega Veneta chief executive officer Carlo Alberto Beretta led a lecture on "Tradition, Elegance and Craftsmanship: The Timeless Luxury Model of Bottega Veneta" before a packed room of students and academics. The conference, created in conjunction with the Consulate...

Rene Caovilla is celebrating 80 years with two special capsule collections. According to wwd, the Italian shoe brand has paired with Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus to create a line for each store.   We felt it was the right thing to do to celebrate the 80th anniversary, conceiving two capsule collections that mix heritage with a contempo...

Of all the accessories brands promising "discreet luxury," few deliver quite like Valextra.The iconic Milanese label has perfected the art of low-key elegance — offering bags, cases and luggage that convey sophistication and status while never resorting to bougieness or bling.   No wonder timeless icons like Grace Kelly and Jackie O made Val...

by Meg Miller   Italy's fashion houses are legendary, from Dolce Vita to Prada, Versace to Valentino. The country has always been known for its meticulous craftsmanship and luxury materials, but it was only after Word War II that Italy emerged as a fashion destination.   "Before the war, Italian fashion was always following the direct...

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles posted an 8% U.S. sales gain in March, compared to a year earlier, as strong growth for crossovers and trucks offset declines in car sales.   The automaker sold 213,187 units in March. That included a 15% gain for the Jeep brand to 82,337, an 11% increase for the Dodge brand to 51,149 and an 11% increase for the Ram...

by Chiara Beghelli "When we get to Rome, I'll buy you a jacket in a fantastic place, at Battistoni's," said Jude Law to Matt Damon in "The Talented Mr. Ripley," a film that revels in the dolce vita of Americans in Rome in the 1960s.   It's a dolce vita that unspooled not only at the cafè tables of Via Veneto but in the boutiques of Via Cond...