The 66th edition of Filo, the International Yarns and Fibres Exhibition, closed at Fiera Milano Rho after two days of trading that organisers described as strong despite weak macroeconomic conditions across the European textile sector.

Paolo Monfermoso, Head of Filo, confirmed that buyer flow was high and exhibitor numbers held in line with the February edition — a result he said was not taken for granted given the geopolitical crisis and the resulting economic downturn. "The positive results of Filo 66 naturally reflect the high quality and innovative capacity of exhibitors, as well as a supply chain which remains strong and cohesive," he said.

The event ran on shared dates and exhibition space with Lineapelle, the international exhibition for leathers, accessories, components, synthetics and fabrics serving footwear, leather goods, apparel and furnishings. The co-location gave international buyers access to two adjacent tiers of the fashion supply chain — spinning and materials processing — in a single sourcing trip.

For yarn and fibre suppliers, the more consequential developments were on the internationalisation side. Filo continued its work with ITA, the Italian Trade Agency, which marks its centenary this year. That partnership brought a delegation of 20 buyers to Milan from France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Turkey and India — markets spanning both the EU core and two of the lowest-cost sourcing destinations competing with Italian spinners.

A second channel targeted the UK specifically. Through its collaboration with the Piedmont Region, Filo organised Buyers' Days under the region's Integrated Textile Supply Chain Project, funded by the 2021–2027 ERDF Operational Programme and implemented through Ceipiemonte. The initiative drew a significant UK contingent, reflecting the region's assessment that Britain remains a market of particular interest for Italian textile companies.

Sustainability programming continued but stayed tied to specific partnerships rather than standalone claims. Filo extended its collaboration with C.L.A.S.S., the eco-materials platform, including sponsorship of the InsideOut project, which traces the sourcing choices and supply-chain activities behind a new generation of clothing. Monfermoso flagged traceability and sustainability as recurring themes during the show's Opening Ceremony and Dialoghi di Confronto discussions, noting that both increasingly require companies to work across the entire value chain — a signal that upstream suppliers face growing demands for chain-of-custody documentation from brands further down the tier.

The show also made structural changes to how it presents product. The Trends Area placed yarn displays for weaving alongside those for knitwear for the first time, giving visitors a single view of participating companies' full ranges rather than splitting them by end use. The Made in Filo area — a fabric collection produced by Filo itself to demonstrate applications for yarns shown at the event — was expanded and redesigned, with Tessitura Zanello and Ricamificio Vanoni contributing as partner companies.

Monfermoso closed by thanking exhibitors, buyers, Lineapelle, supporting institutions, speakers and partner companies.

The 67th edition of Filo is confirmed for Fiera Milano Rho on 23–24 February 2027. Yarn suppliers and buyers planning 2027 collections now have a fixed date on the calendar, and those targeting UK or broader European accounts should weigh whether the ITA- and ERDF-backed buyer programmes offer a lower-cost route to those customers than independent market entry.