The National Chamber of Italian Fashion was established in 1958. The first Milan Fashion Week was held that year. It's the second longest-running fashion week in the world, establishing a model for others to follow.
However, old business systems and family-run management prevented many big names becoming international industry giants. Gucci, Valentino, and other high-end brands had to be sold to foreign enterprises to keep themselves alive.
Boselli himself was a successful businessman. He had expanded his family-run silk business into overseas markets even before he became the president of the Chamber of Fashion. He thinks Italian entrepreneurs should be more innovative in their international marketing.
Mario Boselli was president of the Chamber of Fashion from 1999 until earlier this year. As Honorary President, he says he'd like to contribute more to the internationalization of the Italian fashion industry.
