Filo 65 concludes in Milan with steady visitor turnout and expanded international buyer participation

The 65th edition of Filo, the International Yarns and Fibres Exhibition, concluded in Milan with stable attendance and strong interest from domestic and international buyers. The event featured closer collaboration with Lineapelle, alongside presentations focused on quality, innovation, and research.

Visitor attendance remained steady over the two-day event, despite logistical challenges linked to the Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games. Exhibitors presented high-quality collections that were assessed by national and international buyers for their focus on style, innovation, and research.

On the second day, the exhibition was visited by Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Minister of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE). He stated: “Textile industry is an important sector of our economy, as example of style and creativity: an excellence that combines quality and tradition in Italian products. Strengthening the competitiveness of our companies in the global market means rejecting the concept of fast fashion, which is an affront to rights and nature. The government is pursuing an innovative path on extended producer’s responsibility. MASE has prepared a draft regulation for textile supply chain, whose adoption is currently in progress, and it will apply to post-consumer urban waste. Companies will thus be directly involved in the end-of-life stage of what they produce.”

He further noted: “The Ministry has adopted specific measures for the eco-design of products, sustainability and circularity in the sector. We are working to promote innovation and the use of low-impact fibres, moving away from unsustainable raw materials. Italy is leading the world in the transition of textile and fashion sectors: therefore, the direct involvement of companies throughout the whole production cycle is the key to the success of the supply chain, protecting those who operate in compliance with high standards and against unfair competition.”

Filo continued its international development through collaboration with ITA – Italian Agency and the Piedmont Region. A delegation of 25 buyers attended, mainly from France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Hungary, and Finland, as well as India and China. ITA – Agency also renewed its sponsorship of the Made in Filo project for this edition.

Ten buyers from Finland, France, Japan, Ireland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom participated in the Buyers Days organised by Ceip, the Piedmont Region’s Regional Agency for Internationalisation and Investment Attraction, under the Integrated Textile Supply Chain Project (PIF) “Textiles” funded by PR FESR 2021–2027.

Paolo Monfermoso, Head of Filo, stated: “Despite the challenging context, the 65th edition closed with positive results. Filo confirms its status as a leading trade fair, thanks to the high quality of its products and the professionalism and practicality of its visitors. This result was not a foregone conclusion because, despite signs of improvement, the industry continues to be affected by the uncertainties caused by the international geopolitical situation, in addition to minor logistical inconvenience caused by Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games. For this reason, we chose to strengthen our synergy with Lineapelle, which yielded excellent results, offering visitors a broader view of the textile supply chain's capacity for innovation, creativity and sustainability.”

He added: “In relation to research and innovation, I would like to highlight the great interest shown by visitors for the third edition of Made in Filo, the collection of fabrics entirely designed, produced and manufactured by Filo, made by using yarns provided by exhibitors and processed by implementing the best manufacturing techniques. As far as sustainability is concerned, we are cooperating with CLASS by Giusy Bettoni, which allows us to offer a vision of the topic focused on responsible innovation, with concrete experiences and case histories, starting with the InsideOut by C.L.A.S.S. project, which aims at giving visibility to less visible parameters in the textile and clothing industry, from ethics to traceability and transparency, from health to circularity.”

Monfermoso also said: “We are honoured to have received a visit from Minister Pichetto Fratin, who visited the booths to admire the style and creativity of exhibitors' proposals. During the Opening Ceremony of the 65th edition of Filo, we talked a lot about the supply chain and the added value it ensures to companies and their competitiveness in the markets, as Paolo Barberis Canonico, President of Unione Industriale Biellese, pointed out in his speech. This theme was also addressed during the Dialoghi di Confronto, held over the two days, as a sign of how collaboration and synergies within the supply chain are seen as an essential element for this industry’s future.”

He concluded: “After two days of intense work, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of Filo65: the companies and buyers, Lineapelle and in particular Fulvia Bacchi – CEO of Lineapelle, the institutions that support us, first and foremost ITA- Italian Agency and the Piedmont Region with Ceipiemonte, the speakers who participated in the Opening Ceremony and in the Dialoghi di Confronto, and the partners who collaborated for the creation of Made in Filo. See you in September for Filo66.”

The 66th edition of Filo is scheduled for 15–16 September 2026 at Fiera Milano - Rho.

Biella, 12 febbraio 2026.