Designers from the Italian region of Veneto are inspired by Catalan fashion

On May 28 and 29, Barcelona hosted the “Exchange Veneto – Catalunya: Design Industries” event, organised by the Catalan Fashion Cluster with the support of ACCIÓ. The event brought together professionals and representatives from the design and fashion sectors from the Italian region of Veneto.

The aim of the meeting was to explore collaboration opportunities, exchange knowledge, and strengthen the internationalisation strategies of businesses in the sector. During two intense days, the Italian group took part in presentations, workshops, and visits to key sites in the city.

The visit included around twenty attendees from eleven Italian companies based in the Veneto region, one of Europe’s most concentrated areas of textile and fashion industry. The participating companies operate in various fields such as fabrics, leather, professional footwear, 3D printing, fashion, and artisanal jewellery.

The opening day took place at Pier07, where Alberto Pezzi, Senior Cluster Manager at ACCIÓ, welcomed the participants. David García, Cluster Manager, then presented MODACC’s main international initiatives. Analyst Rosa Pilar López provided an overview of the Spanish fashion market, followed by Joan Gallego, managing partner at Plus Value, who led a practical session on market access strategies. The day concluded with a retail tour through innovative shops in Barcelona, guided by Magda Espuga (Kiss Retail), where current trends and challenges in physical retail were analysed.

The following day, participants visited MaterFAD and the Disseny Hub Barcelona, where they discovered projects related to innovation, sustainability, and emerging design. They also met with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona and explored the work of the Catalonia Craft Centre, where they gained insight into Catalan artisan tradition through a contemporary lens.

In general, the delegation expressed strong interest in gaining in-depth knowledge of the Catalan market—its consumer trends, key players, and regulations. They also had the opportunity to meet with institutional contacts (clusters, innovation agencies, chambers of commerce) and potential business partners (distributors, buyers, agents). The exchange highlighted the collaboration potential between Catalonia and Veneto in areas such as fashion, craftsmanship, and design, and opened the door to future joint initiatives between companies and clusters from both regions.