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.