France remains top export market for Marche fashion industry
Fashion companies in Italy’s Marche region exported more than €340 million of leather goods and clothing to France between the second quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. France led the destination rankings for both leather goods and footwear and for apparel.
France leads two export categories
France remained the largest foreign market for the fashion industry in Italy’s Marche region during the latest 12-month reporting period. According to data from the Confartigianato Marche Research Office reported by ANSA, regional companies exported more than €340 million of leather goods and clothing to France between the second quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.
The figures cover a regional industry comprising 4,100 companies. They were presented during a meeting of the regional Fashion Board in Ancona, attended by Confartigianato Marche president Lorenzo Totò and, remotely, national Fashion Federation president Moreno Vignolini.
France ranked first in both product groupings detailed in the study. Exports of leather goods and footwear, excluding clothing, reached €203.6 million. Apparel exports to the French market amounted to another €138.8 million. Together, the two reported figures total €342.4 million, consistent with the study’s description of exports exceeding €340 million.
Germany is the closest competitor
Germany was the second-largest destination for each category, although its position relative to France varied considerably. Marche exported €169.1 million of leather goods and footwear to Germany, a gap of €34.5 million from the French market. In apparel, exports to Germany were €73.7 million, €65.1 million below shipments to France.
The United States ranked third in both tables. It received €99.7 million of leather goods and footwear and €42.3 million of apparel from Marche. China followed in the leather goods and footwear category with €72.4 million, while Spain was fourth for apparel at €25.7 million.
Hong Kong completed the five leading apparel destinations listed by the study, accounting for €20.1 million. The destination mix shows that Marche producers rely on several European and non-European markets, but France holds a clear lead across the two principal segments covered by the data.
Credit and investment enter the industry debate
The regional board discussed exports alongside access to credit, competitiveness and support for investment. These issues are particularly relevant to a sector spread across 4,100 businesses, where the ability to finance innovation and international sales can affect the position of smaller producers and suppliers as well as established exporters.
Vignolini identified strengthening, upgrading and promoting the industry as the main directions for its development. The board considered easier access to credit a priority for financing investment and innovation and for reinforcing internationalisation policies. The export figures give that discussion a concrete commercial context: France is the industry’s largest current outlet, while Germany, the United States, China, Spain and Hong Kong provide important diversification across products and regions.
