Pitti Uomo – Where the world’s men’s fashion meets
Every year the who’s who of international menswear meets in Tuscany. This year Zink and Sons was there to take the pulse.Pitti Uomo may have started as a trade fair in Florence, open to Italian designers only, but the last 15 years have seen the event grow to become arguably the men’s fashion event of the year. Everyone who is anyone in the men’s fashion world is there to learn about the latest trends, to set the latest trends, and connect with the most important players in the men’s fashion landscape. This year Zink and Sons was lucky enough to be among the attendees.
From regular trade show to revered trendsetter
In the 70s, Pitti Uomo was not much more than a trade fair focused mostly on formal wear, aiming to attract buyers for Italian menswear designers. The foundations of Pitti Uomo Immagine as it is today were laid in 1989, when the event changed its name and opened its doors to international exhibitors, starting to position itself as a leading fashion event rather than a sidekick to Milan shows.Now almost half of the exhibitors are international and buyers in their thousands are flocking to the Tuscan festival to find out what’s what in the upcoming fashion season.This June’s event was a sign ‘of an entire industry that feels represented at Pitti Uomo and believes in the future, moving in harmony with all the big changes in communication, consumption and distribution, investing in research, materials and new technologies’, says says Raffaello Napoleone, CEO of Pitti Immagine.Not only that, but true to its Italian heritage, the event is much more than a simple exhibiting space. It is curated with utmost care, offering a diverse range of experiences for visitors: A brief novel of men’s fashion exhibition at Museo della Moda e del Costume, the stand-out catwalk shows from Givenchy and Salvatore Ferragamo, and debut launches from Sterling Ruby and Marco de Vincenzo were some of this edition’s year’s highlights. Overall a well-rounded men’s fashion experience for the connoisseurs.
What is an Australian tailoring business doing at Pitti Uomo?
Beyond the dazzling street fashion and the dandy peacocks (the brightly robed men crowding the streets, eager to be photographed), Pitti Uomo is the meeting place for all those small, family-run heritage labels from UK, Italy and the rest of the world. Craftmanship hundreds of years in the making. As a buyer you can connect directly with these manufacturers – and their passion for exquisite quality is key to buying decisions.Pitti Uomo is also where you find out who makes the most exquisite umbrellas, the most practical yet handsome weekender bags, the highest quality belts. We couldn’t help not bring some of these newfound treasures to Sydney, so soon you’ll be able to see these brands in our workshop:
It was hard to choose only a few, but their aesthetic and their longstanding dedication for high quality was best aligned with Zink and Sons.
Key take-aways from Pitti Uomo
Pitti Uomo is an absolutely incredible event to be part of and it’s hard to summarise everything that happens there in just a few words, but if we were to, these would be some of the take-aways.
Classic is hard to beat
We saw a flurry of styles and tastes at Pitti Uomo, but many had at least one foot in classic territory. Lesson: you just can’t go wrong with a classic piece. A tailored jacket, a well-fitting pair of trousers, an old Hollywood hat – you can pivot into different influences, but keep your look strong and timeless with at least one classic high quality piece. The street photography shows it best.
Dare to contrast
Sydney may not be the fashion playground that Pitti Uomo is, with peacocks at every street corner, clashing textures and colours. But a little contrast can go a long way to please the eye. A subtle clash of colour, of pattern, of texture, are our recommendations for your own fashion playbook.
Mix with the best in your industry
This last one is more of a business take-away than a style highlight. Being among those incredible heritage businesses felt exhilarating for us, and a great reminder of what we hold ourselves accountable to deliver to our clients: a unique bespoke experience worthy of royalty.If you’re after your own delve into luxury men’s fashion, book a consultation with us and start planning your bespoke pieces.