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When European Textiles Resist the Luxury Slowdown

Bettina Bush Mignanego

By Bettina Bush Mignanego03 février 2026

An increase in European exhibitors, a tentative market recovery, debates on China and ready-to-wear: Milano Unica 2026, bringing together the best manufacturers of high-end fabrics and accessories, revealed a luxury sector forced to rethink its priorities between financial performance, product value, and cultural responsibility.

The Milano Unica trade show, dedicated to high-end textiles and accessories, was held from January 20 to 22 and presented the spring/summer 2027 collections of 730 exhibitors, with a record number of European exhibitors, up 25% (Milano Unica)

25%

Increase in the number of European exhibitors at Milano Unica 2026

730

Number of companies attending the show in 2026

13.5%

Increase in the participation of American buyers at Milano Unica 2026

The sector as a whole has performed well, with indicators that can be interpreted as the beginning of a favorable trend for 2026

Simone Canclini, President of Milano Unica (Milano Unica)

This biannual event, marked this year by dynamism and change, demonstrated its ability to analyze trends in fashion and luxury goods, which are slowing down in a complex international period.
Simone Canclini, President of Milano Unica (Milano Unica)
Looking at the numbers from the show, there was a notable increase in the number of European exhibitors, up 25% from the 2025 edition, with 730 companies in attendance, as well as an increase in international buyer participation, including French (+8.5%), American (+13.5%), Korea (+10%), Canada (+6.6%), and Germany (+8%).
These are important statistics when compared to the more worrying economic data for the sector. The 2025 results for Italian textiles, estimated by the Confindustria Moda research department based on data from Istat (the public research body that produces the country's official statistics) for the first nine months of the year, still reveal a difficult situation, even though there has been a significant slowdown in the negative trend in sales and exports compared to 2024, with only -1.5% compared to -8.8%; for exports, -1.5% compared to -10.7%.

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What is needed to bridge such a significant gap between consumers is to create something that the middle class can afford

Luca Solca, Managing Director of Luxury Goods at Sandford C. Bernstein Switzerland

The president of Milano Unica, Canclini, says he is satisfied with the results of this edition: “They are far from obvious, given the evolution of the textile and clothing sector at national and international level over the last two years, particularly in the luxury segment. Italian exhibitors and, to an increasingly significant extent, European exhibitors find our event an indispensable support for the international promotion of their products.”
The best performances in the textile industry were recorded recently, in the third quarter of 2025, which suggests a certain optimism: “The sector as a whole has performed well, with indicators that can be interpreted as the beginning of a favorable trend for 2026,” he added. We must learn to take advantage of this positive trend and transform it into a favorable dynamic for the future, to better promote our products to end customers. Our industry is a creator of beauty, art, culture, and tradition."

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