Prato spinning mill recovering after the 2023 flood

After the disastrous flood that hit Tuscany on 2 and 3 November 2023, in which important areas of the textile district were affected, the Prato spinning companies seem to have shown signs of reaction, finding positive momentum and will present themselves at Pitti Filati with signs of restart. The approximately 80 yarn producing companies in the district – a system with over 2,000 direct employees and a turnover of around 750 million euros – were unable to recover at the beginning of 2023 but got back on track despite the heavy damage suffered. According to data from Confindustria Toscana Nord, in the first quarter of 2024 the production of yarns in Prato recorded a clear increase (+6.2%) compared to the quarter of the flood (October-December 2023), however in the face of a significant contraction (-6.5%) compared to the first quarter of 2023.

”The economic and trend trend of yarn production volumes is similar but even more marked for the value of exports: +16.9% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023″, explains Gabriele Innocenti, coordinator of the yarn producers group of fashion system section of Confindustria Toscana Nord, “on the contrary -13% compared to the first quarter of 2023. These numbers tell a story of resilience even if in a context of slowdown”.

The note also illustrates how the second quarter of 2024, now coming to an end, is instead marked by another phenomenon common to all high-end textiles: a significant contraction in orders also due to the fashion world’s need to dispose of significant accumulated inventories.

Meanwhile, the commitment of the Prato yarn producers continues in terms of the qualification of the supply chains. Five months after the launch of the collective project for the dissemination of GRS certification, progress has been made: a mapping of the subcontracting companies has been created which, assisted by a consultant, are verifying their compliance with the requirements for certification. In this context, as many as 31 companies from the Prato district are preparing to participate in the next edition of Pitti Filati from 25 June at the Fortezza Da Basso, with the news for Autumn-Winter 2025-2026.