Interview with Mr Claudio Taiana

Face2Face

Mr Claudio Taiana
President
MarediModa

The Association MarediModa was established in November 2003 with the intent to represent and promote the interests of its member companies which are manufacturers of beachwear fabrics and accessories. MarediModa S.c.a.r.l, is organizing the most important trade fair of the beachwear sector and the leading companies of this line of business are gathering every year in Cannes – from swimsuit makers to designers, where they can find a constant and innovative update on swimsuit trends. Born on 14th July 1950, in Como-Italy, Mr Claudio Taiana is the President of Maredimoda S.c.a.r.l. He is a graduate from the National School of Textile of Como (1970). In 1972 he served in the Italian army as reserve officer (lieutenant), and two year later joined his family business as an employee. In 1978 he became partner of Tessitura Taiana – fabrics manufacturing company, and till date he is at the helm of affairs for this company as an MD. From 1983 till 1984, Mr Taiana was president of the Young Manufacturers’Group in Como. For period 1985 to 1993, he has been president of Enfapi Lombardy and has been responsible for the professional training activities at the Manufacturers’ Association in Como. During duration 2001 to 2004, he has been president of SMI (Italian Silk Association). He joined MarediModa in 2006. Last year Mr Taiana also assumed presidentship of Varese-Como- Lecco highway promoting committee on behalf of 23 associations operating in these three areas. Speaking with Face2Face team, Mr Claudio Taiana edifies present movements in European beachwear industry.

In our last Face2Face talk with your Group’s former president Mr Marco Vanzini, it was a great deal of information to learn about MarediModa Group activities those days. Thanking for the opportunity once again, extending you a heartiest welcome on this channel, Mr Taiana, we would request you to apprise us how has your group enhanced its services and intensified its role in gone two years?

Well, as you know, MarediModa Group, a non-profit cooperative company, is the reference point for sector businesses, making progress in its commitment to offering real support to beachwear and lingerie textiles manufacturers.

MarediModa – IntimodiModa (25-27 November 2009) has gradually become a paradigm of the international trade fair organized by businesses for businesses, with the objective of promoting high quality European production in fabrics and accessories for the beachwear and lingerie sector.

In the past two years, Maredimoda has become the first organization to understand the importance of finding a highly qualified alternative to outsourcing sector production to the Far East. It introduced a selection of textile manufacturers from the Euromed area (Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean) at the event Maredimoda held in Cannes.

The MarediModa Preview in Munich (13-14 October 2009) has established itself as a niche engagement in which beachwear companies can give a sneak peak of their beach collections to customers from Central and Eastern Europe.

What’s more, Maredimoda also organizes commercial missions in order to explore new opportunities for business in emerging markets. In early June, nine Italian companies have completed a four-day mission to Tunisia, a developing market that could lead to interesting business developments for our sector.

Well on that note, am sure our visitors would go inquisitive about those countries which could be counted as established /emerging markets besides Tunisia?

Speaking of high quality products, Italy has surely maintained its role in the field of textiles, partly thanks to technological investments aimed at maintaining very high production standards.

Niche production is still common in Germany and France. As regards third-party assembly, the Mediterranean basin is assuming increasing importance with Tunisia in the lead, while high quality production can also be seen in Bulgaria and Romania.

And, how about China, Mr Taiana? For these days, we can also see China as a major player in your industry. What is your take on this?

Europe has had to endure the invasion of Chinese products after the entry of China into the WTO. China is now a major player in the beachwear and lingerie markets, especially as regards lower to medium market brackets and products for the masses. Europe has come very close to losing its identity, assaulted by China’s lack of regulations and unorthodox business philosophy.

In these last few years, we have been witnessing a restoration of balance, a strong return toward high quality European production and toward clothing assembly with high quality standards and more flexible times, offered by the Mediterranean and Eastern European nations.

Published on: 17/08/2009

DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.