Sociology of Made in Italy. A social history of an Italian phenomenon

Made in Italy is a multidimensional phenomenon which is capable of creating a clear, effective and immediate perception on consumers worldwide. It’s a multifaceted concept which refers directly to the peculiar Italian historical and social background and to the production practices determined by those conditions. The importance of an industrial model such as that of small and medium enterprises (SME) is usually highlighted as one of the central themes in the approaches to the study of Made in Italy. The role of the Industrial Districts has been portrayed as the natural framework of a process which has been able to convert history and culture into business through creativity.The article reconstructs the historical evolution of the concept of Made in Italy, from the narration of the "myth of continuity" that reconnects the Renaissance with the industrial production of the post-war period to the role of the avant-garde in the path of Made in Italy.