As UK retailers continue to look beyond volume sourcing in favour of originality, craftsmanship and premium quality, Italy remains one of Britain's most influential fashion trading partners. Worth an estimated £3–4 billion annually*, UK imports of Italian clothing, footwear, textiles and leather goods continue to perform strongly, driven by sustained demand for luxury womenswear, premium footwear, leather accessories, sustainable textiles and high-quality fabrics. Against this backdrop, Scoop International's latest collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) reflects both the continuing appeal of 'Made in Italy' and the growing appetite among British buyers for distinctive international brands.
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| From Italy, clockwise from top left: Ripani, Serienumerica, Sayyou Credits: Scoop International |
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| Jewellery from Angela Caputi Giuggiù of Italy at SCOOP International Photo: Lucia Carpio |
Making its Scoop debut, the Italian Trade Agency presented an exclusive collective of 32 contemporary Italian designers and brands spanning womenswear, knitwear, accessories and lifestyle collections. With the majority of the exhibitors not yet represented in the UK, the showcase provided buyers with a rare opportunity to discover a new generation of Italian labels seeking distribution within one of Europe's most influential fashion markets.
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| Scoop International July 2026 edition featured a vintage circus themed for Spring/Summer 2027 showcase. Featured were fun-house mirrors, mannequins on rope swings, and a red-and-white striped Big Top Café. Entertainment was provided by live piano music and an onsite tarot card reader. Photo: Lucia Carpio |
The initiative also demonstrated Scoop's growing role as a gateway for emerging and family-owned Italian manufacturers looking to expand internationally. Many of these businesses produce collections distinguished by exceptional design, craftsmanship and manufacturing expertise, yet often lack the commercial infrastructure and distribution networks needed to establish themselves overseas.
The collaboration represents a natural evolution for Scoop according to Scoop founder and Creative Director Karen Radley. Throughout the show's history she has successfully introduced carefully curated Italian collections to the UK market, and the partnership with the Italian Trade Agency enables Scoop to showcase the depth and diversity of contemporary Italian creativity on a significantly larger scale. It also lays the foundations for an even stronger Italian presence at the show's Autumn/Winter 2027 edition, which returns to London's Olympia National from 7–9 February 2027.
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| From France, clockwise from left: Vanessa Bruno, Aurège and Zag Studio. Credits: Scoop International |
While the Italian contingent attracted considerable attention, it formed part of an increasingly international exhibitor line-up. French brands including Vanessa Bruno, Aurège, Zag Studio, Ma Petite Capsule, Travaux En Cours, Minuit Douze and Julie Sion exhibited alongside Spanish labels Dr Bloom, Sophie + Lucie and Rita Row, Scandinavian names Masai and A-View, together with British designers and brands from Australia and the United States. New exhibitors this season included JC Sophie, Resume, MRP Star, Alessandra Salvatore and Kore Collections.
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| Jewellery made in Paris by Julie Sion. Photo by Lucia Carpio |
The show's international appeal was reflected in the calibre of buyers attending. Retailers including Liberty London, Fenwick, Cream, The Dressing Room, Galeries Lafayette, El Corte Inglés and Printemps were among those searching for fresh collections and new brand discoveries.
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| Anna Berkeley hosted daily Style Spotlight presentations at Scoop. Photo: Lucia Carpio |
Alongside the buying opportunities, Scoop's content programme added further value for visitors. Stylist and former fashion buyer Anna Berkeley hosted daily Style Spotlight presentations together with her Behind the Curtain sessions, guiding buyers through key Spring/Summer 2027 trends and helping retailers translate seasonal direction into commercial buying strategies.
With its expanding international exhibitor base, influential retail audience and successful debut partnership with the Italian Trade Agency, Scoop has further strengthened its position as one of the UK's leading contemporary fashion trade events. The collaboration not only showcased the enduring strength of Italian creativity but also highlighted the growing importance of international partnerships in connecting emerging brands with new markets. Those relationships are expected to continue developing when Scoop returns to Olympia National for its Autumn/Winter 2027 edition from 7–9 February 2027.
*HMRC commodity data
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