“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller, author 

The flag stands high on the tower of Fortezza da Basso. It is the banner of the union, the bastion of fashion for men. It is a conscious fashion that will be offered from January 7th to 10th in Florence on occasion of the 97th edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo. It is a global (rather than globalized) fashion, stratified and sensitive to the socio-cultural (and ecological) changes of our time.

Obviously, the protagonists are the designers, companies, start-ups united in the attempt to create (at least for this four-day fair) an ideal network – “temporal and spiritual” – designed to enhance, tell, explore the fashion itself. Pitti is a peculiar, multi-faceted experience in its rhythmic rhythm.

The nearby winter edition is coloured with special projects from the international scene that stand out for their creativity, respect for tradition and a gaze to the future. Its more and more precise sections offer a selection of labels that responds in a timely manner to the market wishes. The schedule of special events and projects is enriched with prestigious protagonists.

As usual, we have developed our guide for informed participation in the four days of the exhibition.

 

JIL SANDER 

The German fashion house will be the Guest Designer of the season.

Lucie and Luke Meier – co-creative directors for Jil Sander since spring 2017 – will present the new menswear collection of the brand famous for its minimalist style at a special event in Florence, on Wednesday – January 8th, 2020.

 

TELFAR 

The revolutionary unisex brand TELFAR will be the second Special Project of Pitti Uomo 97. Telfar Clemens– who founded the brand in New York in 2005 – will bring his concept of fluid and ‘simplex’ (simple + complex) fashion to Florence with a special event.

He has been promoting with tenacity an idea of inclusive and accessible fashion and business, with a project in which there is an unexpected blending of aesthetics, art, genre identity and functionality.

Telfar’s collection incorporates unisex designs with the principles of comfortable sportswear and “simplexity.” Presented in partnership with Slam Jam.

 

STEFANO PILATI FOR RANDOM IDENTITIES

Random Identities, the first independent venture by Stefano Pilati, will be the third Special Guest of Pitti Uomo 97. The collection which was unveiled for the first time by the designer in 2017, will be the protagonist of a special event in Florence on Thursday, January 9th.

First revealed in 2017, the fashion designer Stefano Pilati’s newest project is Random Identities, a collection of ready-to-wear primed for our digitized era. Channeling the lessons of a dizzyingly comprehensive career across top fashion houses, among them ArmaniPradaYves Saint Laurent, Pilati brings a unique expertise in design, tailoring, and silhouettes to bear in his contemporary work.

 

BRIONI’S 75th ANNIVERSARY

Pitti Immagine invites Brioni to celebrate its 75th anniversary with a special presentation to be held in Florence during the opening day of Pitti Immagine Uomo 97 on January 7th 2020.

The event – curated by Olivier Saillard – will present the Fall/Winter 2020/2021 collection through a unique installation which will pay tribute to the brand sartorial heritage.

The show will mark Brioni’s return to Florence where the House sealed its reputation by hosting the first ever men’s fashion show at the Sala Bianca of Palazzo Pitti in 1952.

 

OTHERWISE FORMAL

On the occasion of the 97th edition of Pitti Uomo, the magazine of fashion and contemporary culture DUST Magazine will stage a show-event at the Fortezza da Basso on January 8th 2020. A new project that chooses to explore what could be considered one of Pitti main contributions to menswear: expanding the boundaries of what formal wearing is and the rules of dressing elegantly. This continuous exercise throughout the editions has managed to bind together oppositely charged elements, such as fine tailoring and the codes of the most classic styles, with casual attire and sportswear. These are the aspects of the everyday-wear for everyday men that the magazine through its point of view will celebrate in a show, which will consist in a selection of garments and looks from Italian and international brands walking out from the fair stands into the open space of Fortezza da Basso. An immersive experience and a new outlook, which engages the public with a question: “What is the new formal today?”

 

SERGIO TACCHINI SPECIAL EVENT 

An Italian sportswear brand founded in 1966, Sergio Tacchini will join forces with Pitti Uomo to showcase a retrospective celebrating the brand’s heritage as well as highlighting the newest collection under the new ownership and the Global Creative Director Dao-Yi Chow on January 8th 2020.

The legacy tennis lifestyle brand that has dominated since its inception has reinvented itself and is poised for a huge revival globally. Tacchini penetrated the traditional tennis genre but quickly became central to culture and a style mainstay worn by everyone from BiggieJay Z and Nas, to the greatest tennis champions of all time.

 

LARDINI BY YOSUKE AIZAWA 

Lardini  style, know-how and history: meet up with the innovative soul and technological attitude of Yosuke Aizawa. A collaboration in the spirit of high-profile contemporary design. An ultra-modern line combined with the sartorial expertise of an unmistakable style create a “unique” proposal that offers elegance, comfort, functionality, and wearability at the same time. A product with classic features on the outerwear panorama and a clearly technical background in terms of fabric choices and garment construction.

Lardini proposes a selection of 8 outerwear items and 3 sneakers in different varieties, designed with meticulously selected technical materials for a maximum comfort. The products arrive from the idea of combining the experience of the Japanese designer with the sophisticated and genuine style of Marchese’s brand; which, despite its origins of classic tradition, manages to adapt itself with flexibility to change. Not just a solitary design garment but also a strong presence that naturally integrates itself into the Lardini FW 20/21 collection.

 

FALKE CELEBRATES 125 YEARS

The German brand Falke, known for its high-quality legwear, socks and clothing, will celebrate its 125th anniversary with a special presentation at Pitti Uomo 97, honouring its heritage with a view to the future.

 

TRAILBLAZER BY CHIARA BONI

TRAILBLAZER Chiara Boni, the first Chiara Boni’s menswear collection makes its official debut at the brand’s new store in Florence during the 97 edition of international men’s wear trade show Pitti Uomo. A capsule of 4 must-have pieces: a jacket, two shirts and a pair of pants. The essential wardrobe of a trendsetter, a traveller, an innovator.

Launched at Pitti Uomo 97, the men’s capsule is crafted from the brand iconic fabric, which is machine washable and wrinkle-free even when clothes are crammed into a suitcase. The collection is entirely produced in Italy and the traceability of its supply chain guarantees the quality and authenticity of a fully sustainable manufacturing approach. Chiara Boni exclusively uses Sensitive® Fabrics, which are patented by Eurojersey, an Italian textile company which in the past ten years has been focused on the development of a rigorous program to promote environmental sustainability.

 

BOSCO

Bosco, the Russian Bosco di Ciliegi group brand – known for its strong Olympic background and its competitive sports clothing – will premiere at Pitti Uomo with a special location in the Main Square of Fortezza da Basso: a curling rink that will reflect the brand’s focus on the active lifestyle.

 

JAPAN CREATIVITY NOW!

Always working at the intersection between tradition and innovation, Pitti Uomo 97 will spotlight the legacy and the future of the Japan knit manufacturing industry in the Tokyo Knit special area at the Top Floor of the Central Pavilion. Bringing together the century-old Samurai craftsmanship and Tokyo high-speed technology and cutting-edge production, the Tokyo Knit group will also introduce a collaboration with ANREALAGE’s visionary Kunihiko Morinaga. Known for integrating technology into avant-garde clothing, the Japanese designer and 2019 LVMH Prize finalist will debut at Pitti Uomo with the Tokyo Knit x ANREALAGE capsule collection, inspired by and championing the spirit of contemporary Tokyo.

 

TRIBUTE TO KARL: THE WHITE SHIRT PROJECT

Karl Lagerfeld returns to Pitti Uomo with a “A Tribute to Karl: The White Shirt Project.”: the exhibition curated by Carine Roitfeld, Style Advisor of the fashion house, will feature a bespoke edition of the late designer’s iconic white shirt silhouette created by a group of artists, actors, models, designers and friends, including Cara DelevingneLewis HamiltonTommy HilfigerSebastien JondeauKate Moss and Takashi Murakami.

 

CELEBLUEATION BY RENATO BALESTRA

The anthological exhibition of 300 sketches, designs, and garments by Renato Balestra, personally chosen by the international couturier who has dressed queens, princesses, ladies and international celebrities with elegance, opens at the Fondazione Zeffirelli on January 8th.

The exhibition recounts the history of the legend, figure, and eclectic artist behind the Italian fashion house who has managed to keep family tradition alive, by combining it with a strong managerial structure.

Among the works on show, the designs created for famous theatrical productions like Rossini’s CinderellaStrauss’s Knight of the RosePuccini’s Turandot, and many others. (Opening on January 8th 2020)

 

TOUCH!

The most experimental and innovative brands can be found in the Medici Pavilion. Touch! is the venue that combines a cosmopolitan vision with stylistic research to propel it forward. The layout curated by Andrea Caputo Studio contributes to creating an ultra-contemporary atmosphere inhabited by designers with particularly eclectic personalities.

 

UNCONVENTIONAL

UNCONVENTIONAL streetstyle has multiple expressions: gritty design, luxury detailing, hyper-technical materials. The proposals at this venue interpret contemporaneity and its demands, transporting a fashion attitude to a topical, athletic-minded and gender-free dimension. Hosted in the Archivi with a set design by Storage Associati.

 

I GO OUT

A passion for the outdoors, high performance materials and ongoing stylistic research are combined in the I GO OUT project, a well-established meeting place at Pitti Uomo. It is a concentration of impeccably designed outwear collections, highly functional offerings that have a great aesthetic impact as well as clothing and accessories that are so versatile as to become must-have elements of the male wardrobe. Hosted at the Sala della Ronda, with a design by Andrea Caputo Studio.

 

MY FACTORY 

The always creative budding expressions of urban culture as they relate to technology, music, art and design have found fertile ground in My FactoryLocated in the Lyceum, it is the perfect venue to examine 2.0 youth culture and the liveliest laboratories in the urban and sportswear sector.

 

I PLAY

The international DNA for I PLAY, which sits inside the Cavaniglia Pavilion and a series of independent spaces, pushes the envelope when it comes to defining the borders of sportswear.  In the forefront, there are styles that creatively link ways of urban life to authentic sportswear outfits.

 

WHERE TO EAT

All’Antico Vinaio – Since 1991, the Mazzanti family has been passionately running the traditional Florentine All’Antico Vinaio, synonymous with quality and typical Tuscan cuisine, both nationally and internationally. Located in the Renaissance heart of Florence, a few steps from Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery, in Via Neri 65, 74 and 76, All’Antico Vinaio is now a must for anyone seeking for a gastronomic journey, with the best typical Tuscan dishes in a festive family atmosphere.

Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura – Placed in Piazza della Signoria 10 in Florence, the Awarded one star by Michelin Guide 2020 restaurant is the best place where to taste international excellent food in an evocative location. The Mexican Karime Lopez is the executive chef.

Regina Bistecca – For over 140 years the same address has been the location for the antiquarian bookseller Gonnelli, which has been in the same family for four generations and has now relocated. Although nowadays offering something different, the objective was to preserve and maintain the unique atmosphere of a historical place in which to offer a gratifying experience merging food, art and history. And so the partners, Simone Arnetoli and Matteo Perduca, have given the space the utmost respect, deciding to maintain as much as possible the original architectural elements of the bookshelves, gallery and the raised entrance features whilst collaborating with local Florentine artisans.

Badalì Osteria – The menu proposes the culinary roots of the past: traditions made of sowing and harvested in the fields, of slow cooking, of food to feed, of essentiality.

The chef Nicola Schippo and his brigade, in the open kitchen, are interpreters of this past trying to bring back to the mind and the palate, the flavors and tastes of the past. A continuous research and study of old cooking texts found around libraries and stalls.

 

WHERE TO DRINK

DOME – Conceived and raised by three guys, Dome was born in December 2015. Over the years, the need for simplicity has become stronger, through a long research journey. From the unique location to the exclusive use of quality raw materials, Dome starts from a great passion that is reflected in a never boring and careful attention to detail.

Le volpi e l’uva – Le Volpi e l’Uva was opened in 1992 by Emilio Monechi, Riccardo Comparini and Ciro Beligni with the intention of cultivating relationships with small wine producers and creating a club where wine is accessible to everybody. 25 years ago this approach was an entirely new way of buying, selling, and presenting wine in Florence.

La Ménagère – Let their barmen take you on a journey of flavors and unpredictable mixes that transform a drink into a unique experience to tell. Professionals with international experience will offer you the chance to taste original and always new cocktails, created with unusual ingredients. A real laboratory where they experiment with new alchemy and preparation techniques.

GAN – GAN was born from the idea of ​​bringing the real Plateau Royal back to Florence and with it all that revolves around. Flanked by a declination of raw and cooked dishes, wines and cocktails to create an experience, a project, a place, an emotion.

 

WHERE TO BUY

BJØRK FLORENCE – BJØRK is an independent store with a unique variety in the heart of the beautiful Florence. Opened in April, 2013 they offer a fresh range of selected clothing brands and international designers and a great selection of international contemporary magazines and reading material.

Fashion Room – Fashion Room is known by its customers as a valid support in the search for the latest trends. It picks the most important international fashion magazines, some of the most prestigious trendy notebooks, books focusing on the most interesting themes of the season.

GUYA – The original GUYA shop was founded by Anna and Luigi in Florence in 1970. In the beginning the store was focused on new, small designers from the local fashion district in Florence. During the eighties they opened a second space in via Calimala after being inundated by the rich and ongoing waves of creativity that characterized Florence fashion at the time.

In the nineties, with the arrival of daughters Benedetta and Guya, the stores expanded their brand selections with an eye towards international designers, trying to collect the most forward independent looks from all around the world into the two little retail spaces. Today the two stores are ‘uber-chic’ international brand laden boutiques, set in an amazingly unpretentious super Italian fun-loud-messy-family-style atmosphere.

Madova Gloves – Donnini family has been producing leather gloves since 1919.

In the last few years, the four heirs (Mauro, Franco, Andrea and Silvia) entered into Madova and have increased the business maintaining their family craftsmanship. A continuous research for new styles and colours has helped them offer a large assortment of leather gloves.

They export around the whole world, producing all kinds of leather gloves. In the catalogue (which is free of charge) you can find a small example of the production and if you ever have the opportunity to visit the shop, you will find a large assortment of different styles and colours.

 

Discover more details and get your tickets at www.pittimmagine.com