The two dates were an opportunity to illustrate to both the press and exhibitors the program and the contents of the show which is being held at the Le Stelline Congress Center in Milan on the 7th and 8th of March. In addition, the shows product proposals were elaborated by Gianni Bologna.

From an organizational point of view, FILO organisers say the show intends to reiterate and expand its role as a prestigious showcase for the excellence of Italian and European textile products. In particular the internationalization of the show will be strengthened through a program of presentations and communications, aimed at the foreign markets of interest to FILO's exhibitors.

Paolo Monfermoso, manager of FILO explains the concept:

"Even in this complex moment for the Italian economy, FILO reaffirms its role of ideal business show for those companies favouring high quality product and research. Today FILO is the sole business to business fair concentrated on a high array of product and innovation."

"As organizers our task follows three basic concepts: concreteness, professionalism and efficiency. These three concepts have been appreciated by the exhibitors, in fact, as of today the number of companies which have confirmed their participation at the 37th edition is in line with the preceding years."

"Our main objective for March is to increase even further the number of foreign visitors. For this reason we have started a communication campaign aimed in particular at European countries that can represent important markets for the companies exhibiting at ours stands."

Trend Union Studio

Li Edelkoort's Trend Union Studio will once again be present and on the second day of the FILO event, Thursday 8th March, an audiovisual film will present the 2013-2014 Autumn Winter trends.

As for product proposals, Gianni Bologna, creative and product development manager of FILO, has elaborated four themes giving the themes the evocative title of Skill Games.

"The underlying concept is that it is necessary to manoeuvre with great expertise in these difficult times for both the consumer and the producer," organisers say.

"This is also an allusion to passion as a necessary condition to continue in creative work of any type. These are proposals that are concentrated on the characteristics of elegance and intrinsic quality of the Italian and European production, but with the realization and conviction that - it is indispensible in any case to reinterpret and rethink what we define as classic."

Skill Games themes are described as follows:

PARLOUR GAMES This part is dedicated to elegant men and women's apparel where refined luxury appears discrete and well-crafted. This is the luxury that we have been talking about for several seasons and is now slowly, slowly conquering the scene. It is the type of luxury on which our companies production is based and is a message that can be important for the future since the affluent consumers, especially those in emerging countries, will have to learn to appreciate it fully, if they would "like to make a difference" on the social scene. We think it is of vital importance to send these messages so as to create a communicative and appreciative environment capable of penetrating the market.

PUZZLE PATIENCE

There is a consolidation of the return of natural fibres, but in a way to make them seem less stale with proposals of fibres or finishes that improve both the look and the performance. This part is dedicated to great craftsmanship, the hand made, the traditional textile arts and luxurious craftsmanship, the return of knits, the crochet style and the presence of embroidery decorations. These are also naturally associated to the return of fantasy yarns and low metric counts which have given good results in last few seasons as proposed by FILO, but now need to be re-elaborated and re-proposed.

PLAY ON WORDS

This is a pretext to speak again of "hybrids", a theme which is especially sensitive and has frequently returned in the proposals of the last few years. In some cases it has been more of a necessity than a virtue, but it undoubtedly does have a special characteristic. It is only through hybrids and mixing genres (in our case we insist this occur with quality materials and a look which is aesthetically pleasant) that we can innovate not only the final look of clothing but also the structure of "yarn" and "textile" products. We play on three charades: Senti-mental: Heart and brain, reason and instinct. Techno-ecological: The technique that helps nature be more "humane". Chrono-logical: The contrast between fabrics of different "eras" used together.

CONJURING TRICKS

Fabrics are assembled with apparent contradictions or an interior double sense that would like to continue, and even go to an extreme. This concept came at the end of the presentation and proposed beautiful unusual textile combinations uniting colours and materials, which were rather complex. It spoke of the ability and creative assembly which always lies at the base of the mainstream theme of FILO: the elaboration of quality.                   

The 37th edition of FILO will take place on the 7th and 8th of March 2012 at the Le Stelline Congress Center in Milan.