Antonio Bartoli, Italian Ambassador to India, calls for deeper manufacturing ties as Italian brands expand their presence in India
Italian Ambassador to India Antonio Bartoli has called for greater manufacturing collaboration between India and Italy, saying India should be a production partner for Italian fashion businesses rather than merely a market for their productssaid at an event showcasing Italian craftsmanship and design, adding that the current textile trade between the two counties is of less than USD 1 billion and pointing to the India-European Union free trade agreement (FTA) as a potential driver of growth
“It’s not only a market to sell, India is a partner to make, and I hope that this can also be the future,” Bartoli said while speaking at Lakme Fashion Week in New Delhi, arguing that the combination of traditional skills and innovation could create opportunities for closer collaboration between Italian and Indian businesses.
Bartoli said textile trade between the two countries was worth less than USD 1 billion, describing the existing business as significant while pointing to room for growth. He said Italy hoped the India-European Union free trade agreement (FTA) and the work of the Italian trade commission would help increase trade. He did not specify the product categories or period covered by the figure.
Trade Pact Could Open Further Opportunities
The ambassador’s remarks come as India and the EU move towards implementing a trade agreement that could change market access for textile and apparel businesses. The two sides concluded negotiations on the pact on 27 January 2026, although signing and implementation remain subject to the required procedures.
The agreement is expected to reduce or remove EU duties on Indian textile and apparel exports, potentially improving the competitiveness of Indian suppliers in the European market. For Italian businesses, closer trade ties could also create opportunities to work with Indian manufacturers and artisans, although Bartoli did not announce any new production agreements or investments at the event.
Broader bilateral trade already extends well beyond textiles. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, trade between India and Italy reached USD 14.56 billion in 2023-24, including Indian exports of USD 8.76 billion. The ambassador’s reference to textile trade therefore concerns a narrower category of commerce rather than the overall trade relationship.
Italian imports from India fell 12.1 per cent to EUR 4.166 billion in the first half of 2025, mainly on lower metals and petroleum products, while textile, apparel and leather imports declined only slightly. In machinery, Italian textile-machinery exports to India rose 51 per cent to EUR 78 million in the same half, though 2024 shipments of EUR 132 million were 14 per cent lower than in 2023, according to the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT)
Carpisa And Prada Illustrate Industry Ties
Bartoli pointed to Italian brands expanding their presence in India, including handbag and accessories label Carpisa, which is targeting a network of more than 100 stores under its agreement with Indian partner Neopolis Brands.
Carpisa opened a store at Phoenix Marketcity in Whitefield, Bengaluru, on 28 May 2026 under the new licensing arrangement. The brand had previously entered India through a store at DLF Mall of India in Noida in 2020. Its products in India include handbags priced at around Rs 4,000-6,000, with sales also reported through online retail platforms.
The new agreement has also been reported to envisage production in India, although details on manufacturing volumes, investment and timelines have not been disclosed. The retail expansion and reported production plans are separate from Bartoli’s broader call for deeper industrial collaboration.
The ambassador also referred to Prada’s engagement with Indian craftspeople. The Italian luxury fashion house signed a memorandum of understanding with the Leather Industries Development Corporation of Maharashtra (LIDCOM) and the Leather Industries Development Corporation of Karnataka (LIDKAR) for a limited-edition sandal inspired by Kolhapuri chappals.
The collaboration involves artisans in Maharashtra and Karnataka and is intended to bring traditional Indian craftsmanship into an international luxury-fashion context. Prada has also committed to supporting a three-year training programme involving the National Institute of Fashion Technology and the Karnataka Institute of Leather and Fashion Technology.
The partnership followed criticism over Kolhapuri-inspired sandals presented at Prada’s Spring 2026 menswear show, which brought questions of cultural recognition and the use of traditional Indian designs by international luxury brands into focus.
