There is talk of recovery, and it is the numbers, once again, that support a concept that was at the heart of the webinar dedicated to the Gen Z organised by Sì SposaItalia Collezioni and featuring the leading players in the sector, including Gianfranco di Natale, General Director of Confindustria Moda and SMI.

The general analysis from which the meeting started naturally looked at companies in the textile, fashion and accessory sector, of which the bridal system is a part: the figures showed the downturn in turnover in 2020 (-26% approximately); a decline that affected both the domestic market and exports since no country, at the time of the survey, had yet recovered, despite the latent dynamism of some strategic markets such as China and the USA in the first place, but also Germany and France. In terms of employment, the survey found little change from last year - partly due to government regulations - with a year-on-year change of -4.2% in companies employing a total of 17,500 people.

But what are the prospects for the immediate future? The figures are more than comforting, especially if they are included in the recovery that everyone hopes for but which is slow in coming, albeit accompanied by natural optimism. This means that companies are reacting and the sentiment is positive: 47% envisage "a beginning of recovery from the second half of the year", 41% expect "a continuation of the negative trend for the entire year". In comparison, only 12% see "a beginning of recovery already in the first half of the year".

While it is undeniable that it is not yet possible to speak of a recovery outright, the outlook for turnover in 2021 bodes well: while the first quarter is expected to see a continuation of the negative trend at rates similar to those of the previous quarter (-18.4% compared to the first three months of 2020), the second quarter is expected to see an easing of the downturn (-10%), while it will only be possible to speak of a recovery in the fourth quarter, obviously bearing in mind the spread of the vaccination plan and the gradual return to 'normal' levels of activity during 2022.