Florence is the capital of men’s fashion
In this exclusive interview, Gaetano Marzotto, President of Pitti, unveils the new edition of Pitti Uomo now underway at Fortezza da Basso. 
The leitmotiv of the January edition of Pitti Uomo is Pitti Generation(s): how will you convey this concept? Pitti Generation(s) tells how the dominant concept in today's fashion and styles is the simultaneity of many different generations, of a world where age is increasingly a state of mind rather than a birthdate, with mature men wearing jeans and t-shirts and young men sporting Victorian beards and hooked on vintage. A project that, within the Fortezza da Basso, will be represented in different ways and in various key points. Who will be the Designer Project of Pitti Uomo 89? How will he be celebrated? The first special guest of our special events comes from Korea: Juun.J, who will present his men's collection for the first time in Florence with a one-of-a-kind event at the Leopolda Station. What are the macro-trends for men that will premiere at Pitti Uomo 89? For AW 2016, the male wardrobe speaks a language that combines tradition and innovation at the same time. It is the soul of the contemporary craftsman, one of the fundamental drivers of today’s market. Collections of exclusive pieces made by hand and limited editions, a point of arrival in the research of the extraordinary manual skills of new makers. And we target these new makers precisely with Make, the section dedicated to the research and luxury craftsmanship. The latest collections that supersede the concept of gender are also attracting more and more attention, and with Open, one of the latest in our sections, we seek to intercept precisely this perspective. There is also room for the contemporary and genderless style that interprets a new concept of luxury, more underground, that we present in the Unconventional section. But the focal point of the upcoming winter season will be also the concept of travel, both regarding the models proposed by different brands and for their comfort and inspiration. This year you will host – as usual – the Eye-Pop area. How do glasses fit into your context and in the world of fashion? Undoubtedly glasses as accessories are always an essential element in defining the style of a person: a sort of imprinting capable of outlining a look. And with a view to an event like Pitti Uomo, which explores all aspects of the men’s fashion and lifestyle universe, there just had to be a focus on the eyewear planet. Every new edition of Pitti Uomo remodels its own geography, targeting products and styles that are the driving forces behind today's market, and certainly eyewear and glasses have proven to be a dynamic sector with an enormous impact on the market. Born of a synergy between MIDO and Pitti Immagine, Eye- Pop has succeeded in presenting to a professional public the charm of the world of eyewear with trendy proposals and with companies boasting excellent craftsmanship, studying the link between eyewear and fashion under the sign of quality, attention to design, and stylistic research. But also by meeting the buyers’ demands, on one hand, as they want to expand the selection offered in their stores and are always more attentive to the world of accessories; and on the other hand, the eyewear companies’ demands, that are seeking important and stimulating synergies with the world of fashion. And I must say that, since its debut in June 2014, Eye-Pop has met with the approval of the general public and sector operators alike, confirming the increasingly decisive and fundamental role played by eyewear accessories.
The leitmotiv of the January edition of Pitti Uomo is Pitti Generation(s): how will you convey this concept? Pitti Generation(s) tells how the dominant concept in today's fashion and styles is the simultaneity of many different generations, of a world where age is increasingly a state of mind rather than a birthdate, with mature men wearing jeans and t-shirts and young men sporting Victorian beards and hooked on vintage. A project that, within the Fortezza da Basso, will be represented in different ways and in various key points. Who will be the Designer Project of Pitti Uomo 89? How will he be celebrated? The first special guest of our special events comes from Korea: Juun.J, who will present his men's collection for the first time in Florence with a one-of-a-kind event at the Leopolda Station. What are the macro-trends for men that will premiere at Pitti Uomo 89? For AW 2016, the male wardrobe speaks a language that combines tradition and innovation at the same time. It is the soul of the contemporary craftsman, one of the fundamental drivers of today’s market. Collections of exclusive pieces made by hand and limited editions, a point of arrival in the research of the extraordinary manual skills of new makers. And we target these new makers precisely with Make, the section dedicated to the research and luxury craftsmanship. The latest collections that supersede the concept of gender are also attracting more and more attention, and with Open, one of the latest in our sections, we seek to intercept precisely this perspective. There is also room for the contemporary and genderless style that interprets a new concept of luxury, more underground, that we present in the Unconventional section. But the focal point of the upcoming winter season will be also the concept of travel, both regarding the models proposed by different brands and for their comfort and inspiration. This year you will host – as usual – the Eye-Pop area. How do glasses fit into your context and in the world of fashion? Undoubtedly glasses as accessories are always an essential element in defining the style of a person: a sort of imprinting capable of outlining a look. And with a view to an event like Pitti Uomo, which explores all aspects of the men’s fashion and lifestyle universe, there just had to be a focus on the eyewear planet. Every new edition of Pitti Uomo remodels its own geography, targeting products and styles that are the driving forces behind today's market, and certainly eyewear and glasses have proven to be a dynamic sector with an enormous impact on the market. Born of a synergy between MIDO and Pitti Immagine, Eye- Pop has succeeded in presenting to a professional public the charm of the world of eyewear with trendy proposals and with companies boasting excellent craftsmanship, studying the link between eyewear and fashion under the sign of quality, attention to design, and stylistic research. But also by meeting the buyers’ demands, on one hand, as they want to expand the selection offered in their stores and are always more attentive to the world of accessories; and on the other hand, the eyewear companies’ demands, that are seeking important and stimulating synergies with the world of fashion. And I must say that, since its debut in June 2014, Eye-Pop has met with the approval of the general public and sector operators alike, confirming the increasingly decisive and fundamental role played by eyewear accessories.
