In recent days, a phrase from Minister of Economy Luis Caputo sparked a strong confrontation with figures from the world of fashion and the Argentine textile industry, within the framework of a broader debate on the opening of imports and the high local prices of clothing. The official publicly assured that “I never bought clothes in Argentina because it was theft”, when explaining why he, with the possibility of traveling abroad, chooses to purchase clothes abroad.
The statements of the head of the economic portfolio did not go down well with local fashion leaders. One of the first designers to respond was Roberto Piazzaknown for his closeness to the president Javier Milei. In an interview with La Nación +, the couturier described as “a phrase unfortunate of the Minister of Economy of Argentina“.”In the United States, the First Lady dresses with American designers, that is vindicating the national industry”, he stressed.
Another important name in Argentine fashion that joined the criticism was Benito Fernandezdesigner with experience in ready-to-wear. The specialist who dressed the queen Maxim of the Netherlands He was visibly upset by what he considered a unfair generalization against the entire sector. “It is not good that they call us thieves“, he stated, referring directly to Caputo’s phrase. The couturier insisted on the importance of the State accompanying the industry, “like all countries did”, and warned about the limitations of competing with subsidized imported products or with different structural costs.
The controversy also crossed the limits of the ateliers: the designer and businesswoman Marixa Balliwho recently went through the closure of his clothing store in Flores, described the economist’s statements as “offensive” in a television interview. The ex-girlfriend of the remembered singer Rodrigo maintained that, beyond Caputo’s personal circumstances, “You are a minister, you work in Argentine politics, you cannot say that you never bought clothes in Argentina”, highlighting the contrast between the reality of many consumers and their privilege of traveling abroad to purchase clothing.
For his part, Caputo chose to ratify his statements. In another interview, he explained that his choice to buy clothes outside of Argentina is related to his perception that local products have been “protected” for decades and, in his opinion, this harmed consumers. “There are 47 million Argentines who, for 40 years, have been paying two, three, four, ten times what it is worth in the world for textiles and footwear to protect this“, held.
The clash between the minister and the designers revealed a deeper debate, referring to the tension between the government’s vision of opening markets and the demands of a productive sector that demands policies to support local production. In a country where the textile industry is part of the cultural and economic fabric, the controversy brought to light the symbolic weight that clothing has as an Argentine identity and work.
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