Regional Councillor BARBARA MAZZALI in Taormina to Honor the Excellence of Lombard Style at the TAOMODA AWARDS 2025.

The Councillor for Tourism, Fashion, Design, Territorial Marketing, and Major Events of the Lombardy Region, Barbara Mazzali, will be in Taormina, Sicily, on July 19 to take part in the 2025 edition of the TAOMODA Awards, a prestigious event celebrating the excellence of Made in Italy.

Article by Marco Lorè

On the occasion of the final gala of the event, Councillor Mazzali will present the Tao Award for Haute Couture Made in Italy to Antonio Riva, the renowned Lombard designer known internationally for his poetic and tailored vision.

This award, one of the most significant of the festival, was established to honor the creative talent and cultural legacy left over time by great Italian couturiers.

Lombardy, the beating heart of manufacturing and creative excellence, once again affirms its role as a protagonist on the international stage.

"Being in Taormina to honor a master of fashion like Antonio Riva," stated Councillor Barbara Mazzali, "means strongly affirming what we believe in: Lombardy is a region that not only produces, but inspires. Its skilled hands, its ateliers, its ability to blend beauty and precision are an integral part of the Italian identity worldwide.

With this award, we not only celebrate an extraordinary talent, but also reaffirm the cultural and economic value of signature fashion.

It is our institutional duty to support those, like Riva, who help shape an aesthetic vision that speaks the language of refinement and excellence."

Councillor for Tourism, Fashion, Design, Territorial Marketing, and Major Events of the Lombardy Region, Barbara Mazzali

Councillor Mazzali’s participation is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Lombardy and Sicily Regions, which began in April with Sicily’s presence at the 2025 Milan Design Week through the installation "The City of Ceramics." 

This virtuous dialogue between two regions with deep roots in craftsmanship and design culture is now taking shape through joint initiatives aimed at promotion and valorization.

"This alliance with Sicily," Mazzali added, "is a concrete example of how creativity can unite different territories, generating authentic synergies.

When two regions choose to cooperate through languages like fashion, design, and craftsmanship, they’re not just engaging in promotion—they are building a shared narrative capable of bringing growth and visibility to our communities and talents.

This is how we intend to create a system, in the spirit of Italian excellence."

The TAOMODA Awards thus represents not only an opportunity to celebrate high fashion, but also a strategic showcase to reaffirm Lombardy’s role as a hub of contemporary creativity.