Introduzione

Introduction to the book that explores the post-World War II cultural and commercial exchange between Italy and the United States, highlighting a pivotal moment in the shaping of the “designed and made in Italy” identity. In the years following the war, a series of initiatives—spearheaded by figures like Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti and Max Ascoli—played a crucial role in promoting Italy’s artistic, artisanal, and industrial production abroad. Through organizations such as CADMA (1945–1948) and Handicraft Development Inc. (1947–1956), these efforts gave rise to influential events like the exhibitions at the House of Italian Handicraft in New York, the traveling show Italy at Work: Her Renaissance in Design Today (1950–1953), and high-profile showcases in department stores such as Macy’s and Kauffmann’s. These initiatives not only introduced American audiences to Italian craftsmanship and design, but also helped construct a shared cultural identity—one that blended tradition, innovation, and aesthetic excellence, and would come to define the international image of Italian production for decades to come.