Thanks to PIE (Pointers Internet Genealogy Associate)

The primary reasons for Italy's current Fashion Leadership is it's melding of Creativity, Craftsmanship, Quality, Technology, and Vertical Industry Integration.

For those who are not able to make it to NYC, for the Exhibit,
there is a VIRTUAL TOUR of the EXHIBIT on the FIT Site!!!!!

The Tour is VERY Worthwhile. Be patient it takes 1 minute to download at DSL speed. But it is User Friendly, brief, but well done.

FIT Italian Style Virtual Tour
http://www.fitnyc.suny.edu/flash/ItalianStyleTour.html
(If either these "shortcut" hyperlink or URL don't work,use the hyperlink
or URL for the Institute at the bottom of the Report.)

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Fashion, Italian Style
February 11 - April 12, 2003

The Museum at FIT aims to refresh America's appreciation of Italian fashion by dedicating the entire museum to the luxury and artistry of Italian style.

More than 100 examples of clothing for men and women will be displayed, together with yarns, fabrics, shoes and handbags, eyeglasses, and jewelry.

While concentrating on contemporary Italian style from A to Z (Armani to Zegna), the exhibition will provide an important historical context through the inclusion of iconic styles by designers such as Walter Albini and The Fontana Sisters.

Visitors will also see how Italy's tradition of fine quality and craftsmanship marries technological innovation through the uniquely Italian model of the fashion system, which is characterized by the vertical integration of production from fiber to finished product.

The exhibition is curated by Valerie Steele, acting director and chief curator, together with Lynn Felsher, curator of textiles, and students of the Department of Graduate Studies of FIT under Maria Ann Conelli.

Fashion, Italian Style is made possible through the generosity of the Italian Trade Commission.

Admission to the exhibitions is free.

HOURS:
Tues - Fri Noon - 8pm , Saturday 10am - 5pm. Closed Sundays, Mondays, and legal holidays

LOCATION:

Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Museum
Located on the Southwest corner of Seventh Avenue at 27th Street, the museum can be reached by subway: 1, 9, C, E, F, V, N, or R, and by bus: M10. Penn Station is close by at 31st Street for the Long Island Railroad, New Jersey Transit, and Amtrak. 

FIT
http://www.fitnyc.suny.edu/aspx/Content.aspx?menu=FutureGlobal:Museum:ExhibitionsAndSpecialEvents