Trade fairs, fashion weeks, order windows and factory seasons that decide your buying timeline in Italy. We tell you when to start and what to prepare.
Buying in Italy follows a seasonal rhythm: collections are shown at trade fairs, orders are written in set windows, and in August and over the holidays most factories barely work. Miss a window and your order slips by months. This page brings together the dates and seasons that matter to a buyer working with Prato and Florence. Each entry shows how far ahead to start and what the agent handles for you: meetings with exhibitors, factory visits, samples and the order itself.
Milan
Shows and presentations on the official calendar of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana. For buyers it marks the start of the order season: during these days and right after, many Milan showrooms open sales of their spring-summer collections.
Florence, Fortezza da Basso
Italy's leading trade fair for menswear and accessories. In January brands present their fall-winter collections and buyers select and discuss orders. Prato is about half an hour away, so the fair combines easily with factory visits.
Florence, Fortezza da Basso
Trade fair for childrenswear, kids' footwear and accessories, held twice a year. A practical place to compare brands in one or two days and find a manufacturer for your own kids' line.
Florence, Fortezza da Basso
Trade fair for knitting yarns: spinning mills present their yarn collections seasons ahead. The key venue if you are launching your own knitwear line.
Rho (Milan), Fiera Milano
Trade fair for Italian and European apparel fabrics and trims, held in February and July. Buyers come here to choose fabrics for their collection and compare suppliers.
Rho (Milan), Fiera Milano
International footwear trade fair, usually held in February and September. Shoe factories and brands present their collections for the coming season.
Florence, Fortezza da Basso
The summer edition of Pitti Uomo, with menswear collections for the following spring-summer. After the fair it is easy to stop in Prato while factories are still open before the August break.
Showrooms, factories and trade fairs across Italy
After the September fashion weeks, showrooms and factories take orders for spring-summer collections. Delivery is usually in the first months of the following year. This is the time to gather offers and agree your budget.
Prato, Florence and the rest of Italy
From the second half of December until Epiphany (6 January) many factories run reduced hours or close, and carriers are overloaded. Shipments you need before the holidays should leave early.
Showrooms, factories and trade fairs across Italy
Most brands and showrooms sell their fall-winter collections in these months. An order placed in the window usually ships in summer or early autumn. Later on, mostly leftovers and reorders remain.
Tuscany and the rest of Italy
In Tuscany winter sales usually begin in the first days of January and run for about 60 days; the exact date is set by the region. Afterwards suppliers are more open to discussing fall-winter leftovers.
Milan
The February fashion week with fall-winter collections. The organiser publishes the exact 2027 dates closer to the season; it usually falls at the end of February, sometimes running into early March.
Tuscany and the rest of Italy
The official seasonal retail sales. In Tuscany they usually start in early July and run for about 60 days; the start date is set by the region. Suppliers are more likely to have spring-summer leftovers during this period.
Prato, Florence and the rest of Italy
Many factories, showrooms and warehouses close for two to three weeks in August, especially around Ferragosto on 15 August. Production and shipping stop, so autumn orders are best launched before the end of July.
Prato
Prato's wholesale showrooms and garment makers release new styles in small runs throughout the season. Well suited to quick reorders and test batches between main collections.
Prato and Florence
Collection leftovers, surplus fabric and stock lots come up throughout the year, most of all after the selling season ends. Prices are lower, but sizes and quantities are limited, so decisions have to be quick.
Tell us what you buy, for which market and for which season. We will point out the fairs and order windows that matter to you and propose a plan: live shopping, samples, a visit to Prato or a trip to a trade fair.
Tvoi Agent