ABSTRACT
The textile-clothing industry plays a fundamental role in the economy of both developed and developing countries. In the European Union the sector is largely composed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) frequently concentrated in a number of regions and geographically concentrated industrial districts and clusters (Hanzl-Weiß, 2004). For instance, in Italy, out of 199 industrial districts localized in the country, 69 (that is, 35 per cent) are primarily specialized in textile-clothing (Istat 1996).
