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Tough times for Fashion: Fashion Product Managers to the Rescue
The aim of this report is to show the impact that Fashion Product Manager Istituto Tecnico Superiore has had on the textile industry in the fashion district of Carpi, Italy. ITS is a post High School Technical Institute which lasts two years and focuses its curriculum on specific subjects and internships in the industry. The school has brought a wave of innovation and creativity and also played a role in promoting sustainability and ethical practices despite a problematic beginning and the Covid-19 pandemic. Also, this report will show the business situation in the fashion industry from 1990 to 2017 when the Emilia-Romagna region decided to promote the Fashion Project Manager ITS and the current situation.
To begin with, the fashion industry became a major contributor to the region's GDP up to the 1990s, creating employment opportunities and attracting investments. Designers and fashion houses were able to experiment with new materials, techniques, and styles, pushing the boundaries of traditional textile manufacturing. This has led to the development of unique and cutting-edge fashion products that have gained recognition both nationally and internationally. However, in the 1990s, the fashion industry started going through really tough times which lasted for almost thirty years. Statistics show that 70% of fashion companies closed. As a result, there was a 50% cut in jobs: this means many skilled workers had a tough time keeping their jobs or finding work. Even a 10% drop in revenue worsened the situation: the industry needed a plan especially when comparing the Carpi fashion industry to the rest of the country. Generally speaking the fashion industry had losses but not as many on a national level.
Therefore, in 2017 the Emilia Romagna region and the EU started promoting strategies to improve the economy of the region, including the economy related to the textile industry by implementing a new position in the industry: the Fashion Product Manager. Fashion Product Managers are seen as key players in turning things around by promoting and revitalizing the fashion business especially for big brands. ITS, Fashion Project Manager Technical Institute, opened up in Carpi in 2017 with the aim to train young people as Fashion Product Managers. Hence, it has contributed to promoting the industry and contributing to the revenue and increasing the employment rate among the young.
However, in a recent evaluation of the ITS, some concerning figures have come to light. Here's a breakdown of the key statistics recorded in 2020: only 18 out of 25 enrolled students successfully obtained their diplomas. In the specific field of fashion, the program is ranked 15th out of 18 ITS programs. This suggests a need for improvement in comparison to other institutes focusing on similar areas. When considering all ITS programs in Italy, the Fashion Product Manager program is positioned at 216th out of 260. As the fashion world tries to deal with these big problems, it is not clear how things will get better. People are asking everyone involved to work together, think of new ideas, and make a plan to help the industry and the people who depend on it. In the end, the big drops in fashion companies, jobs, and money show that the fashion world is going through hard times. While the whole country is facing money problems, the fashion industry is having an even tougher time. Now, it is important for everyone involved to work together to find ways to make things better and help the people who depend on the fashion world for their lives and jobs. The companies that have been helped by POR-FESR 2014-2020 funds are about eighty percent of the and their revenue has slightly increased by 10%.
In conclusion, despite the fact that the fashion industry has experienced losses and is still going through difficult times, the Fashion Product Manager ITS has marginally contributed to gains since 2021 considering the drastic changes that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about.
