Slowdown could give "Made in Italy" a cold -Tod's

MILAN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Italy's high-end manufacturing sector is not immune from an economic slowdown and could catch a "cold", the top executive of Italian luxury shoe and bag maker Tod's (TOD.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Tuesday.

"'Made in Italy' is not immune. The crisis could upset it," Tod's Chairman and Chief Executive Diego Della Valle told a news conference.

"It could give it a cold, but not pneumonia."

Slowing of the U.S. economy has worried investors and policy makers, and concerns have also surfaced that the U.S. downturn was spreading to the 15-nation euro zone.

Tod's, which is giving its Italian workers a bonus of 1,400 euros ($2,070) this year, reports 2007 sales on Wednesday.

Italy is world renowned for its luxury goods and fashion producers, including such famous names as designer Giorgio Armani and jeweller Bulgari (BULG.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).