Italy is taking its homegrown fashion brands on the road for a U.S. tour that had its first stop in Los Angeles. Under very rainy skies, 29 small and medium-sized Italian labels showed their collections at two trade shows held March 13 to 15 during L.A. Market Week.

In the past, most Italian brands have focused their marketing on the East Coast and attended big trade shows like Coterie in New York. But there is a vast world beyond that for Italy’s small and medium-size brands to sell their collections.