APCOM

In a detailed news report, magazine Forbes draws up a sorting of the planet's ten best outlet stores and, not so surprisingly for those who know its fashion potentials, Milano turns out to be the only city housing two venues that shop-addicts can't miss. According to the article, the financial crisis which is affecting the western economy hasn't had any effects on the outlet world. In the US only, throughout 2007 these stores generated a 16.5 billion dollar turnover: their success lies in the high quality of goods and extraordinary discounts.

Italy and above all Milano are able to challenge the American huge convenient shopping poles. The most favorable outlet store, the magazine claims, is 'Marni', in the suburbs of Milano. Here bargain hunters will find the creations of the Italian designer Consuelo Castiglioni. The clothes, from just last season, are marked down 50% or more. "I am not a very patient shopper," says Christine Low, a well known fashion show director based in Beijing, "but every time I am in Milano I end up spending over two hours at the Marni outlet."

Forbes recommends other two Italian outlet stores. The first one, 'D Magazine', is once again in Milano, in the central Montenapoleone street, and offers the collections signed by the greatest Italian designers, from Armani to Gucci to Dolce e Gabbana. The last suggestion concerns Prada's factory outlet, in the Arezzo province. As for the rest, the US and the Far East lord the ranking, which includes the famous 'Woodbury Commons', outside New York, Hong Kong's 'Joyce Warehouse' and the 'Gotemba Premium Outlets', near Tokyo.