The works of jewellery by Michele Affidato and the ties, the scarves and accessories of the maison founded by Maurizio Talarico take the descent as absolute protagonists for a meeting at the Consulate General of Italy in New York dedicated to the handicrafts of the Mezzogiorno. The event concluded the mission of the association I Sud del Mondo ETS, organized on the occasion of the Columbus Day 2026, with a comparison on the work of the enterprises and on the support to their activity abroad.
Reliable has realized over the years works for different pontiffs, developing an artistic relationship with the Vatican for which it is also known as “the goldsmith of the Pope”. In his speech he spoke about the link between the trade and the culture of the territory from which he comes: “Every one of our works is born of a history, an identity and a tradition that we have the duty to guard. Bringing our art into the world means bringing with us the culture and values of our land, demonstrating how craftsmanship can become a universal language”.
Talarico instead told the experience of his maison, whose productions were also appreciated by representatives of governments and institutions. “The Italian craftsmanship is born from the attention to detail, passion and the ability to transform a tradition into a recognizable and appreciated product in the world. This is the strength of our work: to represent through every creation the elegance, culture and excellence of Made in Italy”. Two audiovisual contributions accompanied the testimonies, showing the work and retracing the history of the two activities.
The meeting was opened by the Consul General Giuseppe Pastorelli. On the margin of the appointment, at the microphones of the New Yorker, Pastorelli has resumed the theme of the relationship between Italian productions and the territories from which they are born: “I want to thank the association I Sud del Mondo, the honorary Galati and Dr. Torchia, who brought a piece of Italy here in New York. We had the honour to host the master Michele Affidato and master Maurizio Talarico to talk about Made in Italy, of craftsmanship and how our country can express, through the strength of its territories and its knowledge, a brand so strong in the world and for which everyone appreciates us. It is something that arises from the determination, vision and creativity of Italian entrepreneurship: all qualities very appreciated here in New York”.
The console then recalled the contribution of the Italian emigration to the city: “It is a city that has welcomed many Italians, many people who came from South Italy, also from Calabria in particular, and who have honored our land, the land of origin and our country. They really contributed, with their hands, with their hearts and minds, to build this city and to make it more beautiful: the New York that we now know”.
The role of associations in relations with communities abroad was at the heart of the statements collected by the New Yorker, always on the edge of the meeting, by the president of the I Sud del Mondo, Pompeo Torchia: “As an association I Sud del Mondo we are proud to be here in New York, at the headquarters of the General Consulate of Italy. We thank the consul Giuseppe Pastorelli for having welcomed us in this prestigious institutional seat. In our mission of internationalization we have dealt with various topics: the roots, the communities and the Made in Italy, with the crafts of the South, which contributes to creating conditions of economic and cultural development even beyond the ocean”.
Torchia added: “We are aware that associations must play an important role in support of the institutions, a leading role in supporting Italy in a cultural diplomacy that we need so much. It serves to strengthen Italianity in the world, so that this important sense of belonging to our nation is no less.
Giuseppe Galati, scientific manager of the association, insisted on collaboration with the diplomatic network. «I would like to thank the consul, because the action of the diplomatic network is very important for the affirmation of the Italian community and Made in Italy», he told the microphones of New York on the margin of the appointment. «The console has shown to follow this line: know how to interpret the needs and needs of the communities, but above all what Italy can bring».
“We are talking about a city that is a hub not only for the so much immigration there was, but also because it is the center of the world economy,” Galati continued. “I believe this is an important job: if there is a network system, Italy can be affirmed. We can certainly say that the console has interpreted and is magnificently interpreting this role”.
The meeting also attended the regional councillor Vito Pitaro, delegate of the president of the regional council of Calabria, who in his speech spoke about public support to the enterprises: « Calabria has an extraordinary heritage of entrepreneurial skills, traditions and talents that deserve to be supported and promoted. The commitment of the institutions must be to accompany the enterprises in the paths of growth and internationalization, creating new opportunities especially for young generations, so that they can build their own future by enhancing the resources and the potential of our land”.
In the previous days, the mission had also faced the relationship between migration and territories of origin. On October 11, in Piazza Italia, the book Donne del Sud by Pino Nano was presented. The meeting hosted testimonies of Italian American women on their personal and professional paths.
On the same occasion the association had presented for the first time at international level «Radici Connesse», a project dedicated to the tourism of the roots that aims to bring in relation to the small villages of the Mezzogiorno with the communities of Italian origin abroad. During the presentation, the first trailer dedicated to Badolato, in the province of Catanzaro, was projected.
On 12 October the delegation participated in the Columbus Day Parade. The mission programme also included the gala of the Italian Cultural Association of New York, during which the International Prizes I Sud del Mondo were awarded to Giorgio Marrapodi, permanent representative of Italy at the United Nations, and Tony Di Piazza, president of the cultural association.
L’articolo The South Crafts, told in New York proviene da IlNewyorkese.
