When to buy in Prato: seasons, best weeks and closures

How spring-summer and autumn-winter collections arrive

Prato runs on two rhythms. Factories and brands that sell by collection take orders in advance: for autumn-winter as a rule from January to March, for spring-summer from September to November, with delivery several months later. Pronto moda showrooms work differently: new styles appear every week, and ready-made goods can be collected straight away. The first spring-summer styles usually reach the showrooms at the start of the year, and autumn-winter styles towards the end of summer, although each supplier has its own schedule. Hence a practical rule: if you need your own production or a collection order, plan six months ahead. If you need ready-made goods for a quick restock, it is enough to pick a week when the range has already been refreshed.

The best weeks for a trip or a live shopping session

In our experience the most convenient periods are the second half of January, February and March, and then September, October and the first half of November. In these weeks showrooms present new styles, factories run at full capacity, and there is still time for production and shipping before the holidays. A January trip combines well with Pitti Uomo in Florence, and in February and July the Milano Unica fabric fair takes place in Milan. For ready-made pronto moda goods, other working weeks also work, except August and late December. Plan visits on weekdays: on Saturdays many showrooms have shorter hours or are closed, depending on the supplier. Trade fair dates are in our fashion buying calendar, which also shows how far ahead to start preparing.

August and Ferragosto: when Prato closes

August is the main period when buying in Italy effectively stops. Many factories, showrooms and warehouses close for two to three weeks, most often around Ferragosto, the public holiday on 15 August. Carriers and customs agents also work reduced hours. Production that was not started before the closure as a rule resumes only in September, and samples and supplier replies are delayed. So autumn orders are best placed and paid by the end of July, and shipments of ready-made goods should be planned to leave before the break. Some pronto moda showrooms stay open in August, but with an incomplete range, so we check each supplier's schedule in advance.

Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year

From the second half of December until Epiphany on 6 January, many Italian factories work reduced hours or close, and carriers are overloaded. Goods you need for the holiday season are best ordered in October and shipped by mid-December. There is another break that buyers often do not know about. Some companies in the district, including certain showrooms and their suppliers, close for a few days or up to two weeks around Lunar New Year. In 2027 it falls on 6 February. Each company has its own schedule, so before a trip in late January or February we check with suppliers who is working on your dates and move visits if needed.

Other public holidays in Italy

Beyond the long breaks, the year has single non-working days that are easy to miss when planning. These are Easter and Easter Monday (the dates change every year), 25 April, 1 May, 2 June, 1 November and 8 December. When a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many companies take a ponte, or bridge day, and also close on the Monday or Friday next to it. In Florence, 24 June is the feast of the city's patron saint, Saint John, and many offices are closed. These days do not stop a buying trip by themselves, but they push production and shipments back by a day or two. When we plan a visit programme or a delivery schedule, we allow for these dates in advance so that meetings and dispatches do not land on a holiday.

Sales and end-of-season stock

Official seasonal sales in Italy apply to retail, but they affect wholesale too. In Tuscany winter sales as a rule start in the first days of January and summer sales in early July, and they last about 60 days; the region sets the exact dates each year. During these periods suppliers more often have leftover stock from the past season, and prices on it are easier to negotiate. For a buyer this is a good time if limited sizes and colours suit you and you can decide quickly. If you need the full size range of a new collection, follow the order windows rather than the sales. Sale dates and other seasonal events are marked in our fashion buying calendar for Italy.

Planning your buying season

• Decide whether you need ready-made goods or a collection order
• Plan autumn-winter orders for January-March, spring-summer for September-November
• Launch production and shipments before the end of July
• Ship holiday goods by mid-December
• Check supplier schedules before a trip in late January or February
• Check Italian holidays and bridge days against your travel dates
• Consult the calendar of trade fairs and sales