THE ITALIAN TRADE AGENCY HOSTS ‘ALWAYS BE EXTRA’ DESIGNER SHOWCASE
It was a picture-perfect evening on the rooftop of the Standard Hotel High Line, as beautiful models in fabulous Italian-crafted outfits paraded around the Boom Boom Room with much exuberance. As only the Italians can do it, the evening featured an abundance of craft cocktails, delicious bites, and breathtaking views of the Hudson. Fashion industry press and VIPs were treated to a night of elegance and style.
The live model presentation featured 40+ ‘Made in Italy’ fashion and accessories brands from its online platform EXTRAITASTYLE. Funded by a grant from the Italian government, EXTRAITASTYLE is exclusively designed to help Italian brands do business with American retailers. This unique wholesale tool, always completely free to use, showcases 70+ brands and 3,800+ products including men’s and women’s fashion, shoes, handbags, swim, fashion jewelry, leather accessories and more. The featured brands are a mix of emerging designers, artisans, and heritage labels. Buyers can browse through rotating boutiques expertly curated by category. The platform values sustainability, offering retailers a paperless and travel-free means to explore brands from all over Italy in a single spot.
Says New York’s Italian Trade Commissioner Erica Di Giovancarlo, “The EXTRAITASTYLE platform is a premium example of ITA’s innovative approach to helping the best Italian designers grow their businesses in the US market. Tonight’s model presentation and party connect the world of digital discovery with real-life exposure for our brands. I think ever since the pandemic, when the world discovered that it’s possible to do business from a distance, online shopping has become an integral part of our lives. During Covid, it was a necessity; now we see it as an opportunity to combine the convenience of online shopping with the touch and feel of in-person shopping. On our EXTRAITASTYLE platform, retailers can view collections, make appointments, get information quickly and easily. Buyers save time and money; the combination of these two modalities is the best possible way to approach business today.”
What’s ahead for the Italian Trade Agency? The ITA will sponsor 62+ menswear and men’s accessories brands at the upcoming August 2024 Chicago Collective show, followed by 70+ womenswear brands at the NYC Coterie show in September 2024.
We look forward to some serious shopping at the shows!
