Budget Stores in Italy

Q: I will be visiting Italy this summer and would like to do buy some Italian designer wear. I believe that there are some "warehouse-style" stores where you can get the latest fashions for a fraction of the price charged in the boutiques in Milan and Rome. Do you have any idea where I could find details of these factory shops? - Julia

A: I am sure you will be able to find out the location of these stores when you are in Italy. They are not a secret, but they do have strange locations in obscure industrial parks, on poorly marked roads and at very unfashionable malls. Here are some details to get you started. Near to Florence, Prada and Miu Miu have outlets in a building marked only "Space" at 68 Località Levanella, Montevarchi (Tel: 39 055 91 901). Here you will be able to find bags, shoes and clothes with discounts of up to 75 percent. The Mall, which is located at 8 Via Europa, Leccio (Tel: 39 055 865 7775) is an open-air retail complex 40 minutes southeast of Florence. It sells classics like Fendi and Yve St Laurent, Yohji Yamamoto and Alexander McQueen. The Serravelle Designer Outlet is located about an hour's drive from Milan at 1 Via della Moda, Serravalle, Scrivia (Tel: 39 0143 609 005). Here you will find goods from Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and other big names. Another major outlet near Milan, FoxTown, is actually located in Switzerland at 18 Via A. Maspoli, Mendrisio (Tel: 41 91 630 08 03) You can get discounts of around 50 percent on items by Prada, Ferragamo, Gucci, and Missoni. Rome's best-known outlet is Castel Romano Outlet Center, located only 10 minutes outside of the city at Via Ponte di Piscina Cupa, Castel Romano (Tel: 39 06 50 500 50). For an extensive listing of designer warehouse stores in Italy, go to the www.factory-outlet-italy.com website. (1/8/10)