Made in Italy 5.0. Knitwear Design Within the Fifth Industrial Revolution

Starting from an examination of the fifth industrial revolution phenomenon applied to the Made in Italy clothing sector, this paper aims to investigate the present and future scenarios that Industry 5.0 opens up in the world of knitwear design. Unlike other design sectors, the convergence between physical and digital environments, which is at the center of the Fashion Industry 4.0 debate, is an established feature of the practice of knitwear, which still carries within it the craftsmanship of handmade techniques and the automation of the most up-to-date machinery and software. However, in the archetypal narrative of most Made in Italy sectors, the technological aspects tend to be neglected in favor of a communication based only on craftsmanship and manual skills, and knitwear is no exception to this phenomenon. In this scenario, craftsmanship also recalls a sustainable way of working through a savoir-faire traditionally attentive to the impact of its processes and a high-quality product that is ultimately more durable and more responsible towards the planet. Stemming from these premises, the authors of this investigation identify knitwear as an archetypal case study of Made in Italy, analyzing how far this narrative reflects reality and how the advent of Industry 5.0 can fit into this context.