Italy (Brussels Morning) The Apulian Runway Experience, Puglia’s premier Fashion Week, is gearing up for its second edition later this year, from November 9 to 13, 2024. Spearheaded by La Ditta in partnership with CNA and supported by Regione Puglia, this event aims to elevate Puglia’s profile on the global fashion stage while showcasing the region’s distinctive manufacturing and creative talents.
Puglia is home to a rich tradition of craftsmanship, with more than 3,600 fashion and manufacturing businesses employing over 34,000 people. Far from being just a popular tourist destination, Puglia is a vibrant center for creativity and production. This fashion week offers local artisans and up-and-coming designers a crucial platform to present their work to a global audience, while also creating opportunities to build connections with key industry figures, buyers, and investors.
At last year’s event, Daniele Del Genio, President of CNA Puglia, stressed the importance of promoting the region’s manufacturing prowess.
“Puglia is not just about summer, the sea, and olive trees,”
Del Genio remarked.
“We have a dynamic manufacturing sector that deserves the spotlight,”
he added, pointing to the region’s significant potential in the international fashion market.
Echoing this sentiment, Francesca Zampano, Director of Promotion of Trade, Crafts, and Enterprise Internationalization at Regione Puglia, emphasized the event’s global outlook.
“The Apulian Runway Experience is a key initiative to boost Puglia’s standing in the fashion world. We are excited to introduce the creativity and quality of ‘Made in Puglia’ products to an international audience,”
she said, reaffirming the region’s dedication to promoting its fashion industry abroad.
Over five days, the event will feature nightly runway shows and presentations, each evening focusing on a different town in Puglia. This approach merges local traditions with contemporary design, resulting in a diverse fashion showcase that honors the region’s rich cultural and artisanal history. Moreover, the event will address critical issues facing the industry today, such as sustainability, artificial intelligence, and the future of fashion production.
Backed by both local and national institutions and gaining increasing recognition on the global fashion circuit, Puglia’s Fashion Week is on course to become a key event for fashion professionals. It promises to foster investment, collaboration, and innovation in the region’s blossoming fashion scene.
