Made in Italy and the Luxury Market (Routledge Studies in Luxury Management)

Made in Italy holds a highly significant position in the global luxury market, as an economic, cultural, and social phenomenon, and the textbook example of the country-of-origin effect. Whilst in the past luxury was conceptualized as an exclusive benefit of the few, it is now a highly diversified ecosystem with disruptive challenges to its identity and authenticity, led by new customer segments. This book – through an analysis of diverse cases – answers the key issues in the industry of the new Made in Italy luxury, with a particular focus on sustainability.

The book provides an in-depth view into luxury Made in Italy, from historical roots, heritage, and tradition to major forces of change and innovative, entrepreneurial adaptations in the 21st century. It situates Made in Italy in the broader global context of change, with regards to the call for sustainable manufacturing and consumption. Written by an international pool of academics and experts in luxury brand management, the book presents a series of case studies to explore how the industry is responding to new consumer expectations and demand to maintain competitive advantage.

This unique collection will be of interest for academics, scholars, and upper-level students across the fields of luxury management and marketing, brand management, consumer behavior as well as sustainability.

Serena Rovai, PhD, is Senior Professor in Luxury Brand Management and Chair of the Luxury BRaND Lab at Excelia Business School, where she created and directs the luxury and fashion specializations. She is Visiting Professor at Stanford University in Luxury and Fashion Management among others – IULM, ISCTE, Bocconi, Polimoda, Curtin University, Università degli Studi di Firenze.

She has more than 25 years of international experience in higher education in academic and executive roles, business consulting, and directing programs in Luxury and Fashion Brand Management – Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chinese Ministry of Education, and World Bank. She conducts research on fashion and sustainability in Made in Italy and her work has been published widely in scientific journals.

Manuela De Carlo, PhD, is Full Professor at IULM University in Milano, where she founded and directs the M.Sc. in Hospitality and Tourism Management (dual degree with the University of Central Florida). She has a Master’s degree in International Tourism and Hospitality and graduated with specialization in Luxury Hospitality and Client Experience.

Manuela has published widely in the areas of collective capabilities development; technology adoption in luxury hospitality; service personalization and customer centricity; and place image formation and evaluation. She has conducted numerous consulting and applied research projects and provided advice for OECD, Italian Ministry of Tourism, and Italian Ministry of University and Research.