1500 companies in the towns of Carpi, Novi di Modena, Cavezzo, San Possidonio, Concordia, with sales of over 1.000.000 million euro, 40% of which are made overseas. These figures are enough to make (lie district of Carpi one of the most important zones in the international fashion system. This is an area-system with an exceptional wealth of knowledge, skills, experience, and infrastructure. The clothing industry, which gained importance here in 1950, is based on a tradition that was already rooted in Carpi's culture and society in the 16,h century, when families, in addition to working in the fields, would make straw hats. Over time, the art of "shaving" took on industrial features, and, bv the 1920s, straw hats from Carpi were being exported all over the world. In the 1950s, enterprising businessmen understood that thev could produce knitwear will the same organization used for hats. Thus began what with continuous growth would become a true industry. Since then. Carpi lias become synonymous with highly specialized production in the textile-clothing sector. Recent economic results have provided further confirmation of the district s principal role on the italian fashion scene, pointing out a trend of constant growth in exports, with concentration in the middle-upper range of the market thanks to a significant increase in the standard of quality.