Fifty companies from the Italian Abruzzo and Marche regions created synergies in terms of promotion, trade fair participation and training. Atea’s president, Francesco Palandrani: “More synergies between leather goods and footwear”
You can call it teamwork. “As in football, individualists don’t get very far because it is in the execution of schemes that games are won,” says Francesco Palandrani, president of Atea-Area for the protection of artisan excellence, a consortium that brings together about fifty companies located between two regions, Abruzzo and Marche, born in 2016, representing the arrival of a series of synergistic activities started in the last thirty years with the aim of promoting the know-how of an extraordinary territory for the production of leather goods, clothing, and accessories in the world. “We had to overcome companies that go alone, entrepreneurs who reject networking with colleagues, a territory that does not create a system. It is the sore point of our sector, because if we do not grow together, in the end, no one grows.” And Atea, despite its path being heavily hampered by the pandemic with all the consequences of the case, in its first eight years of life can boast some important results. The first one is related to professional training. Since 2019, Nami-Nuova Accademia Moda Italiana has been very active: the Academy was born from a private initiative and accredited as a training body by the Abruzzo Region, with 27 specialized teachers and with a post-diploma employment rate that exceeds 90%. Moreover, it is worth to mention the international promotion, carried out through participation in trade fairs especially for leather goods, like Mipel. “Visiting our booth, many international groups have discovered Abruzzo as a territory specializing in production of leather goods and fashion. Both producers with their own brand, who find commercial outlets for their creations, and on those who work on behalf of third parties, with the possibility of establishing supply relationships for large brands and private labels, have noticed benefits from our promotion” said Palandrani. Now Atea’s activities focus on two new topics: sustainability, on which we will concentrate at next Mipel edition (15-17 September) with certified products of the companies adhering to the consortium, and artificial intelligence in the fashion sector. We will hold a seminar addressed to insiders soon, in June, with the participation of the leading experts in this field. Our associates are 80% linked to leather goods and the 20% to clothing; the companies with their own brand contractors are equivalent in the leather goods’ segment, while in the clothing section, the share of façonists prevails. Palandrani is confident in the entry of new footwear members , mainly of the Marche producers: “Unfortunately, the collaboration between shoe and bag producers very weak, but I believe that the entry of shoemakers can give the further leap in quality for Atea’s activities, expanding its range and determining an advantage for all members.”
Atea president, Francesco Palandrani
The ATEA Consortium, based in Alba Adriatica (TE), is an association bringing together artisan excellences in the clothing and leather goods sector. Founded in 1949, ATEA is committed to protecting the quality and craftsmanship of Made in Italy, promoting the development of the local fashion district and the global distribution of its products. The associated companies are selected based on strict criteria of quality, craftsmanship and professionalism.
Nami – Nuova Accademia Moda Italiana
