Mitsubishi Italia S.p.A. is now working with Erdos Co.—China's leading maker of cashmere sweaters—and MC Knit Corporation to prepare sample cashmere sweaters for the ASPESI label. An important business partner of Mitsubishi Italia, ASPESI has been meeting orders to fill surging demand for down jackets since 2003. Mitsubishi Italia is happy to be working with Erdos on this project—a company that despite strict limitations on imports from China, has managed to successfully secure the largest allocation of 2006 exports in this sector. ASPESI has been locally producing cashmere in Italy, but the company is now considering shifting production abroad due to cost concerns. Mitsubishi Italia sees great potential in further cultivating this business.
During a meeting with Moncler (an Italian manufacturer famous for its down jackets), to make a presentation about fabrics, I also took the opportunity to promote our production facilities in Southeast Asia. Moncler then asked if Mitsubishi Italia could produce ladies' ski wear, which has a difficult production process. As it was a new challenge for the company, Mitsubishi Italia received support from Mitsubishi Corpotaion (Tiwan) Ltd. to help prepare a product sample. We were thrilled and relieved to win strong reviews about our sample from Moncler and Mitsubishi Italia is currently preparing additional samples to be used in exhibitions. Next, Mitsubishi Italia may also get the chance to work on men's ski wear—this looks like another promising opportunity for the company.
More and more people are finding out about the “Slow Food” movement, which originally began in Italy. The concept of slow food is driven by a desire to rediscover the joy of eating, to preserve local specialties and to embrace high-quality foods made by small-scale local producers. People in Italy tend to strongly cherish their family and hometowns, so it is really no surprise that these sentiments began to emerge here and develop further. With the idea of healthy eating now firmly in the minds of Italians, a type of health food store called an erboristeria has become very popular. Offering an array of health supplements, the local erboristeria always seems to be brimming with activity.
Located near Corso Como, one of Milan's most fashionable areas, is trendy bakery shop “Princi”, where you can get fresh bread, pizza, focaccia, cakes and cappuccino 24-hours a day. The place is informal but has a certain touch of class, with the waiters and waitresses wearing uniforms by Emporio Armani and the furniture and accessories by designer brands Poltrona Frau and Venini. It is a nice place for people to meet after work for happy hour while waiting for dinner or before going to the cinema.
During the summer, many people go to Princi for lunch because it offers a variety of fresh dishes and customers can enjoy the food outside under parasols.
|
