Tvoi AgentBuyer guides: sourcing apparel and fabrics in Italy
This is where we answer the questions brands, boutiques and marketplace sellers ask us most: how wholesale buying in Prato works, what Made in Italy really means, how to choose a fabric and a factory, how to convert Italian sizes and how to take goods out of the EU without Italian VAT. The guides draw on more than 10 years of work in the Prato textile district and Florence. Rules and rates change, so we describe regulatory points carefully and recommend confirming them with a customs broker.
Wholesale in Prato
Step-by-step guide to wholesale buying in Prato: brief, showrooms and factories, prices and minimum orders, quality control, export documents and shipping.
Made in Italy labelling
What the Made in Italy label means: EU origin rules, the stricter 100% Made in Italy claim, penalties for false origin and how to check the factory and label.
Italian fabrics
Guide to Italian fabrics and yarns: wool, cashmere, linen, cotton, silk, blends and Prato regenerated wool. How to read composition and weight and how to order.
Italian sizes
Italian clothing and shoe sizes compared with EU, UK, US and Russian sizes: women's and men's charts, footwear, grading and fit tips for wholesale orders.
VAT-free export
How to buy in Italy without Italian VAT when goods leave the EU: export for businesses, proof of exit, tax free shopping for tourists and import duties at home.
Choosing a factory
How to choose and vet a garment factory in Italy: types of manufacturer, company checks, questions for the first meeting, red flags, samples and the contract.
Prato prices and minimum order
Prato wholesale prices for clothing: price bands by category, minimum order per model and per supplier, what EUR 500, 2,000 and 5,000 buys and how to cost it.
Prato and Made in Italy
Is Prato clothing really made in Italy? How pronto moda showrooms differ from Prato factories, what Made in Italy requires and how to check labels and quality.
Prato buying seasons
When to buy in Prato: spring-summer and autumn-winter arrivals, the best weeks to visit, the August closure, holidays, sales and supplier breaks explained.
Macrolotto Prato
Macrolotto Prato for buyers: how Macrolotto 1, 2 and Zero differ, where to find pronto moda showrooms, who is allowed in and how to plan a day of buying.
Prato or Bologna
Prato or Bologna's Centergross: the two Italian wholesale hubs compared on format, range, minimum orders and logistics, and when each one is the better fit.
Choosing a buying agent
How to choose a buying agent in Italy: fee models, contracts, partita IVA, invoices from factories, quality control reports, red flags and what to ask first.