The ceramic and cosmetic sectors were the protagonists of the National Day of Made in Italy, celebrated every April 15, coinciding with the birth of Leonardo da Vinci. Between both sectors, they generated 17 billion euros in 2024, which highlights their importance for the Italian economy.
Ambassador Giuseppe Buccino stated, while presenting the event “Forms and Fragrances – Ceramics from the Amalfi Coast and Perfumes from Capri” at his official residence, that “celebrating ceramics and fragrances means recognizing the intelligence of hands, the strength of our roots, and Italy’s ability to transform tradition into the future.” And, in this sense, he added that “talking about Made in Italy evokes the Italian ability to combine aesthetic beauty with technical precision.”
The Italian ceramic sector has nearly 3,000 companies, with a strong artisanal component, which generated a turnover of 450 million euros in 2024. Of these, 62.4% was exported, with an added value of 182 million euros. On the other hand, the cosmetic sector of the transalpine country confirms itself as one of the most dynamic and resilient of Made in Italy, with results constantly growing both in the domestic market and in international channels. The total turnover in 2024 was 16.55 billion euros, with an increase of 9.1% compared to the previous year.
The ambassador also highlighted that both Amalfi ceramics and artisanal perfumery from Capri are “two emblematic excellences of the Italian cultural and productive heritage“, stating that “in an increasingly competitive world, the uniqueness of the artisanal and the quality of our crafts represent a decisive advantage.”
After the ambassador’s presentation and the interventions of Nadia Carboni, director of the Italian Association of Ceramic Cities; Juan Jesús Padilla, president of the Spanish Association of Ceramic Cities; and, Oriol Calvo Vergés, director of the European Group of Territorial Cooperation Cities of Ceramics, a round table moderated by Paloma Leyra Fatou, journalist for Elle magazine, took place.
The debate featured Francesco Raimondi, master ceramist and creator of the workshop Ceramica l’Archetto; Silvia Solimene, representative of Ceramica Artistica Solimene; and, Gianluca Piccarreta, sales director of Carthusia, who emphasized the importance of combining tradition, technical rigor, and iconographic innovation, highlighting the central role of Made in Italy in the economic and cultural projection of the country.
This year, the celebration program was completed with a exhibition of works and fragrances, a tasting of gastronomic products from the Amalfi Coast and Capri, and a masterclass for the students of IED Madrid by Raffaele Avallone, export manager of Carthusia – I Profumi di Capri.