At the semiannual industry-leading Chicago Collective trade show on Aug. 2 to 5, the Italian Trade Agency will showcase its curation of premium menswear fashion and men’s accessories brands. With its more than 60 Made in Italy brands, the ITA has also announced the introduction of nine new brands at the Merchandise Mart this year.
As part of the ITA’s strategy to promote menswear within the American market, Chicago Collective trade show attendance has become a fundamental part of the ITA’s mission to promote Italian companies and visibility within foreign markets.
With its Made in Italy artisanal brands together for ease of retail discovery, the ITA-sponsored brands will showcase the renowned quality Italian brands are known for. The ITA will host its signature lounge in the center of its Italian Pavilion with a complimentary espresso bar and aperitivo with Italian-curated cocktails and bites for attendees. Post-show, the ITA is additionally sponsoring a networking event with its brands and American retail partners.
The U.S. market has remained the largest non-European market for consumers of Made in Italy brands — and has continued to be a key market for Italian fashion manufacturers for apparel, footwear, leather goods, skins and furs, textiles and yarns, eyewear, cosmetics and jewelry. Nearly 3 percent of the U.S. market share for men’s apparel imports comes from Italy, with more than $750 million worth of goods exported in 2024. Fashion continues to be the third largest manufacturing sector in Italy.
Earlier this year, the ITA sponsored the Chicago Collective’s January event and the February Coterie show in New York. The government initiative’s exclusive digital platform, ExtraITAStyle, also saw a 2025 website refresh with new wholesale tools to allow American retailers to discover its comprehensive assortment of Italian brands — featuring more than 6,000 products.
This May saw the “Italy on Madison” immersive three-day showcase spanning design, beauty and fragrance, eyewear, fashion and food and wine, with more than 90 Italian brands and 600 guests in attendance at the ITA’s Upper East Side brownstone. And most recently, the ITA showcased 25 Made in Italy brands at the Miami Cabana swimwear show in June.
To learn more, visit www.ice.it.