Made in Italy offers hope for unemployed youngster - footwearbiz: Lead

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Made in Italy offers hope for unemployed youngsters

05/11/2013
With youth unemployment in Italy currently running at 31%, various industry figures are urging young people to consider learning artisan shoe-making and leathergoods-making skills with the promise that those coming through the various training programmes that are already in place will be practically guaranteed a job.

President of employers’ federation Confindustria, Giorgio Squinzi, has said on many occasions in recent months that demand for quality products that are made in Italy remains high and that, therefore, the country’s tradition for manufacturing goods, including leathergoods and shoes, offers one of the best routes into employment for young people.

Enrico Bracalente, who runs BAG, the Marche-based company that owns the successful footwear brand NeroGiardini, has provided funding for a training programme for new artisan footwear manufacturers. Fourteen young people aged between 16 and 18 have already completed the course and others are already in training. Those who have finished are already in work.

“We have never taken our production overseas and we never will,” Mr Bracelente told local media recently. “Not a lot of people realise this, but ‘Made in Italy’ is the third-most recognised brand worldwide. It pays to make your product here.”


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