The origins of Buttons "Made in Italy": Fashion and Innovation in the Italian Manufacture of Fastening Accessories through the Centuries

In the twentieth century Italian buttons earned notable success on
international markets. These products, characterized by high quality materials
and a strong attention to design, are the result of a skilful combination of
culture and technology whose roots lie in a long-standing tradition. This
paper aims to highlight the stages that have led Italian buttons to become
famous throughout the world. The following pages highlight the evolution of
the Italian manufacture of buttons in the European setting of the early modern
era and early nineteenth century. The focus is thereafter directed towards
more recent cases and the developments that have characterized the
production of fastening accessories between the second half of the nineteenth
century and the twentieth century, especially in the northern regions of the
Italian peninsula, which contributed to the success of the Italian interpretation
of these products on international markets.