MILAN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - The winter sales for Italy's Mariella Burani Fashion Group (MBFG.MI) have started reasonably well after a good enough December but difficult November, Chief Executive Giovanni Burani said on Tuesday.

Mariella Burani fall-winter 2008/2009

"Sales didn't start off badly, I would say they went well enough even if it is mainly an Italian clientele, as the foreign clientele buys less during sales," he said on the sidelines of a foreign press event.

"We will see how the sales end. November was a difficult month and one of decline, while December went well enough."

In an article in Italy's Il Sole 24 Ore on Tuesday, Michele Tronconi, chairman of Smi-Sistema Moda Italia, which represents the textile and fashion industry, said recent data showed sales were going better than forecast.

Burani said the financial crisis would not halt investments.

"We plan to open 20 to 30 sales points in 2009, of which 60 to 65 percent will be in emerging markets like Asia," he said.

On Monday, the chairman and CEO of Italian luxury goods company Tod's (TOD.MI) said the company had very good trading in the latter part of 2008, boosted by Christmas sales. (Reporting by Cristina Carlevaro; Editing by David Holmes)