Can I Mail Clothing from USA to Italy?

Just got back from my local post office here in the States. I was mailing a box of goods to a friend in Italy. Filling out the customs form I was honest and wrote there were a couple t-shirts in the box. (I valued the shirts at way lower than what I paid though.) Guy at the post office takes one look at my form and proclaims, "nope, can't mail any clothing to Italy".

We had a nice brief chat about it and I said "just mail it anyways" which he was cool with. I've mailed clothing to friends in Italy in the past and never had a problem. Perhaps this new rule is new-ish? The list of prohibited items is insanely long for Italy.

I set it up so that if customs denies my box they will mail it back to me (at my cost).

Would like to hear from others if they had any recent experiences with this. Thanks.

This is what he showed me:

"Haberdashery and sewn articles of any kind, including trimmings and lace; handkerchiefs; scarves; shawls, needlework including stockings and gloves; bonnets, caps, and hats of any kind."

Here is the entire list of restricted items to send to Italy. Insane if you ask me.

If it even gets mailed back to me, maybe I'll try with FedEx and bullshit the entire customs form. This is stupid. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for this. It gives me a little relief.

I filled it out at the post office. Next time (if my last package makes it to Italy) I mail something I will do this. I'm assuming if you fill it out online you list the items on that form and when you print it out the man at the post office isn't privy to seeing what you listed for customs?

Hilarious.

He's a weirdo this guy. I've dealt with him before. He looked at my customs form and yelled out immediately, "Take it home. Nope. No way clothing is getting to Italy."

I froze for a second because I spent the money for my friends to get them the stuff and then I was going through the trouble of putting the package together and of course mailing it to Italy. I just said, "look, just send it and I'll deal with whatever is the result".

If the package gets there with no issues, I'll mail them some clothing during Xmas. We'll see. No shoes of course.