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Osman Abdul Razak profile imageOsman Abdul RazakPublished on

Held in Florence after two years, Pitti Uomo brings together retailers, fashion editors and menswear enthusiasts alike.

Why Pitti Uomo is the meeting place for the world’s most stylish men every year

The trade show focusing on men’s fashion was held in Florence after a two-year-long hiatus

Every June, a swarm of well-dressed men gather in Florence. You may be forgiven to think it’s fashion week, but it isn’t. There are no runway shows, instead there’s a trade show.

Held at the Fortezza da Basso, Florence, the bi-annual gathering Pitti Uomo returned this year after a two-year-long hiatus, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The four-day event is a B2B affair—young brands show off their collections directly to buyers, suppliers and manufacturers. The scale and reach of the trade show goes beyond the exhibitors, with private presentations and, of course, after-parties that are attended by retailers, editors and menswear enthusiasts.

Although it’s been around since 1972, it was only when curious, street-style photographers started documenting the stylish men in attendance did Pitti Uomo manage to capture the Internet’s attention.

Osman Abdul Razak attended this year’s trade show, themed as ‘Pitti Island’. He spoke to some of the most stylish men on what makes the event stand out, whose social media accounts you need to follow.

Alessandro SquarziWhat makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?Pitti is different because it brings together all my friends and partners in the same place. I hope that Pitti will be 100 per cent back to what it was before the pandemic struck.One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?Spending time and having dinner with the friends I get to see only at Pitti.What do you love about Pitti?I see a lot of people that I love and I don’t get the chance to see them all anywhere else.Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without...Alessandro SquarziFollow: @alessandrosquarziImage: Scott Schuman

Alessandro Squarzi

What makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?

Pitti is different because it brings together all my friends and partners in the same place. I hope that Pitti will be 100 per cent back to what it was before the pandemic struck.

One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?

Spending time and having dinner with the friends I get to see only at Pitti.

What do you love about Pitti?

I see a lot of people that I love and I don’t get the chance to see them all anywhere else.

Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without...Alessandro Squarzi

Follow: @alessandrosquarzi

Image: Scott Schuman

Andreas KlowWhat makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?I don’t attend other fashion events but I do come to Pitti for the friendly atmosphere and the events.One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?Stroll through the narrow streets with a gelato in hand.What do you love about Pitti?The people, the parties.Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without...negronis.Follow: @flannels_and_tweedImage: AL. Photographers 

Andreas Klow

What makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?

I don’t attend other fashion events but I do come to Pitti for the friendly atmosphere and the events.

One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?

Stroll through the narrow streets with a gelato in hand.

What do you love about Pitti?

The people, the parties.

Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without...negronis.

Follow: @flannels_and_tweed

Image: AL. Photographers

Carlos DomordWhat makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?It focuses on the classic menswear concept. While this is changing and is welcoming more and more urban brands and has qualitative visitor profiles, it´s the meeting point for all professionals in the sector.One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?Visit my favourite restaurants and stroll around the city centre. It’s magical to see how Florence becomes a catwalk of trends.What do you love about Pitti?Its soul, and meeting friends from various countries with whom I share the same passion.Finish this sentence:Pitti is incomplete without...a new suit for the occasion.Follow: @carlos_domord Fran Calderon

Carlos Domord

What makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?

It focuses on the classic menswear concept. While this is changing and is welcoming more and more urban brands and has qualitative visitor profiles, it´s the meeting point for all professionals in the sector.

One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?

Visit my favourite restaurants and stroll around the city centre. It’s magical to see how Florence becomes a catwalk of trends.

What do you love about Pitti?

Its soul, and meeting friends from various countries with whom I share the same passion.

Finish this sentence:

Pitti is incomplete without...a new suit for the occasion.

Follow: @carlos_domord

Fran Calderon

Fabio AttanasioWhat makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?Pitti Uomo is a meeting point where people from the fashion industry as well as enthusiasts get together. Physical fairs are now even more important, especially after the last two years.One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?Have lunch at Trattoria Sostanza, a tiny historic family-run restaurant where it feels like time stopped 50 years ago.What do you love about Pitti?The human relationships, the projects and the friends.Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without...a pair of TBD Eyewear.Follow: @fabioattanasioImage: Massi Ninni PHotographer MASSININNI

Fabio Attanasio

What makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?

Pitti Uomo is a meeting point where people from the fashion industry as well as enthusiasts get together. Physical fairs are now even more important, especially after the last two years.

One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?

Have lunch at Trattoria Sostanza, a tiny historic family-run restaurant where it feels like time stopped 50 years ago.

What do you love about Pitti?

The human relationships, the projects and the friends.

Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without...a pair of TBD Eyewear.

Follow: @fabioattanasio


Image: Massi Ninni PHotographer


MASSININNI

Ignatious JosephWhat makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?The most conspicuous difference from other menswear events is the seamless extension of the fair from the core grounds, the Fortezza, to the entire Centro Storico of Florence. Much of the Pitti is enhanced by people whose activities are in the penumbra of the formal events comprising the fair. In the past 20-odd years I would say that the tone of the Pitti is influenced as much by these informal styles and fashion occasions as by anything planned and executed by the fair‘s organisers or the major exhibitors. One cannot imagine such permeability elsewhere— perhaps that is something only Italy can offer.One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?There is a range of establishments where one can enjoy the best of Tuscan cuisine. Personally, I suggest that people who do not like to eat are wasting their time in Florence. However, allowing that there are people for whom food is a necessary evil, I can only say that you have to stretch your legs! The greatest non-culinary pleasures are the streets, alleys, the cafes and an atmosphere that can only be appreciated on foot.What do you love about Pitti?I love being in Italy and Pitti gives me the opportunity to treat pleasure as a business expense.Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without...the passionate, idiosyncratic and eccentric—the peacocks, swans and owls who migrate to Florence twice a year to fill the aviary of men‘s style and fashion.Follow: @ign.joseph

Ignatious Joseph

What makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?

The most conspicuous difference from other menswear events is the seamless extension of the fair from the core grounds, the Fortezza, to the entire Centro Storico of Florence. Much of the Pitti is enhanced by people whose activities are in the penumbra of the formal events comprising the fair. In the past 20-odd years I would say that the tone of the Pitti is influenced as much by these informal styles and fashion occasions as by anything planned and executed by the fair‘s organisers or the major exhibitors. One cannot imagine such permeability elsewhere— perhaps that is something only Italy can offer.

One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?

There is a range of establishments where one can enjoy the best of Tuscan cuisine. Personally, I suggest that people who do not like to eat are wasting their time in Florence. However, allowing that there are people for whom food is a necessary evil, I can only say that you have to stretch your legs! The greatest non-culinary pleasures are the streets, alleys, the cafes and an atmosphere that can only be appreciated on foot.

What do you love about Pitti?

I love being in Italy and Pitti gives me the opportunity to treat pleasure as a business expense.

Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without...the passionate, idiosyncratic and eccentric—the peacocks, swans and owls who migrate to Florence twice a year to fill the aviary of men‘s style and fashion.

Follow: @ign.joseph

Luke AllandWhat makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?Pitti is much more about style than it is about fashion and the characters lining the walls of Pitti have their own unique spin on menswear. It's much more about how an outfit comes together rather than shaping it around one specific item that might be the season's must-wear. Fashion weeks are good fun, but Pitti is the pinnacle.What do you love about Pitti?For me it's not only a playground as a photographer, but also a fantastic chance to catch up with friends from all around the world. Pitti is normally the only chance I'll get to hang out with friends from across continents.The light is nearly always in your favour and a majority of the people you end up photographing are comfortable in front of the camera, making my job extremely easy. The events dotted around the city also provide a stunning backdrop for anything you want to take photos of and, of course, the ample servings of both Italian cocktails and food make it even more of a celebration.Follow: @theexiledbritImage: Alessandro Michelazzi Studio

Luke Alland

What makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?

Pitti is much more about style than it is about fashion and the characters lining the walls of Pitti have their own unique spin on menswear. It's much more about how an outfit comes together rather than shaping it around one specific item that might be the season's must-wear. Fashion weeks are good fun, but Pitti is the pinnacle.

What do you love about Pitti?

For me it's not only a playground as a photographer, but also a fantastic chance to catch up with friends from all around the world. Pitti is normally the only chance I'll get to hang out with friends from across continents.

The light is nearly always in your favour and a majority of the people you end up photographing are comfortable in front of the camera, making my job extremely easy. The events dotted around the city also provide a stunning backdrop for anything you want to take photos of and, of course, the ample servings of both Italian cocktails and food make it even more of a celebration.

Follow: @theexiledbrit

Image: Alessandro Michelazzi Studio

Mohan SinghWhat makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?Pitti is different for me as the entire world of sartorial menswear converges in one place.One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?Visit Trattoria Guelfa and try the truffle pasta–it’s divine.What do you love about Pitti?You get an opportunity to see your friends from across the globe and make new friends as well.Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without... the hospitality of the Florentine people.Follow: @mohansinghphotoImage: Simbarashe Cha

Mohan Singh

What makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?

Pitti is different for me as the entire world of sartorial menswear converges in one place.

One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?

Visit Trattoria Guelfa and try the truffle pasta–it’s divine.

What do you love about Pitti?

You get an opportunity to see your friends from across the globe and make new friends as well.

Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without... the hospitality of the Florentine people.

Follow: @mohansinghphoto

Image: Simbarashe Cha

Nasario GiubergiaWhat makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?Pitti is the only place where you can find real gentlemen. It’s not fashion, it’s style.One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?When you’re in Florence, you must eat a ‘Schiacciata’ [a chewy Italian flatbread] at All’Antico Vinaio. You can’t leave if you don’t try it.What do you love about Pitti?I love Pitti because you can share your style ideas with people who are in the fashion industry from every part of the world.Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without...The message you want to share through your outfit .Follow: @nasario_giubergia

Nasario Giubergia

What makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?

Pitti is the only place where you can find real gentlemen. It’s not fashion, it’s style.

One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?

When you’re in Florence, you must eat a ‘Schiacciata’ [a chewy Italian flatbread] at All’Antico Vinaio. You can’t leave if you don’t try it.

What do you love about Pitti?

I love Pitti because you can share your style ideas with people who are in the fashion industry from every part of the world.

Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without...The message you want to share through your outfit .

Follow: @nasario_giubergia

Samir ImranWhat makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?Pitti has the perfect combination of supplier showcasing their new collections, people converging to share stories, inspiration and style and it’s all held in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?The food in Florence is second to none. I always look forward to coming back each year and having dinner with friends.What do you love about Pitti?The people, the style inspiration and an electric atmosphere across the city.Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without…the parties!Follow: @BurezaOnline

Samir Imran

What makes Pitti Uomo different from other fashion events?

Pitti has the perfect combination of supplier showcasing their new collections, people converging to share stories, inspiration and style and it’s all held in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

One thing you need to do in the city when you attend Pitti?

The food in Florence is second to none. I always look forward to coming back each year and having dinner with friends.

What do you love about Pitti?

The people, the style inspiration and an electric atmosphere across the city.

Finish this sentence: Pitti is incomplete without…the parties!

Follow: @BurezaOnline

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