YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The first Textile Alliance Armenia-Italy Business Forum was held September 22-24 during Milan Fashion Week, which saw many Armenian designers unveiling their new collections.

New collections by Sončess, Faina, RUZANĒ, Ariga Torosian, Nelly Serobyan, LOOM Weaving, Vahan Khachatryan and Kivera Naynomis were presented on September 23.

Before the fashion show, the Armenian designers raised awareness on the Azerbaijani atrocities committed against Armenia, and wore #StandwithArmenia shirts made with pictures by Artsakh-based painter Liana.

The fashion show received wide acclaim by local and international media, including by Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Elle, Fashion Week Online, The Spin-Off and other magazines.

The ministry of economy said that business visits to Italian textile factories were organized on the same day.

“2022 was an important anniversary for the Republic of Armenia because thirty years ago diplomatic relations were established between Armenia and a number of European countries, including Italy. Over the past thirty years the Armenian-Italian relations were active not only in diplomatic and official arenas, but also in culture, literature and of course business. Particularly, big successes were recorded in launching and developing Armenian-Italian cooperation in textile and clothing industries. Given the relations between the two countries and prospects of developing the Armenian-Italian partnership in textile industry, the ministry of economy sponsored the inaugural Textile Alliance Armenia-Italy Business Forum and Fashion Show September 22-24. The timeframes of the event were no coincidence, because during these days Milan was hosting one of the most important global fashion events – the Milan Fashion Week.”

The Armenian Ambassador to Italy Tsovinar Hambardzumyan and the Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia Rafayel Gevorgyan delivered remarks at the opening of the forum.

Honorary Chairman of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion Mario Boselli also delivered remarks.