"International menswear show Pitti Uomo, held from January 7 to 10, 2020 in Florence's Fortezza da Basso, launched many new collections for F/W 2020-21. Though the show started on a slower note, its second and third days were busier and livelier, and hosted more number of visitors"

International menswear show Pitti Uomo, held from January 7 to 10, 2020 in Florence's Fortezza da Basso, launched many new collections for F/W 2020-21. Though the show started on a slower note, its second and third days were busier and livelier, and hosted more number of visitors. 

Bright and energetic hues such as orange, red and bordeaux tones along with blue and military green hues dominated the show which also saw a return of the military and workwear fashion alongwith traditional woolen fabrics such as checked, houndstooth or tweed effect fabrics. Sheepskin gained popularity as an inner layer or as coats and jackets particularly for brands like Ten C and Closed x Nigel Cabourn, etc. Mixed with technical and different surfaces, metallic hues, technical played an important part in the collections of brands such as Mackage, RRD, Fila, Blauer. The most innovative items displayed were the newly developed eco-friendly and sustainable items.

Jackets made with eco-friendly materials

Jackets made of graphene were one of the most innovative developments at the event. These jackets are known to last longer as graphene is a good conductor of heat and made from Carbonium, a heat resistant material. Brands using this material include Woolrich, which has launched a jacket made of graphene fibers and padded with it.  

Similarly, Italian brand Esemplare launched a zero signal jacket made with recycled nylon that is also padded with thermore thermal booster, a smart thermo-regulating padding. Newborn outer jacket brand Replumè launched jackets made with Pure, a padding made with recycled, sterilised-in-Italy and certified down. Swedish brand Houdini Sportswear launched a collection made with recycled, biodegradable and recyclable materials. Danish brand Knowledge Cotton Apparel presented a collection produced using 100 per cent sustainable methods and materials.

New manufacturing techniques on display

The show also launched Uyn, a unique 160-gram sneaker made by a special 3D knitting one-piece technique n 100 percent merino wool, and injected with a recyclable polyurethane sole.

Similarly, Lotto showcased new sneakers collection with H-Dry, a water-resistant breathable membrane, while Trussardi presented Beautiful Minds, a new course for the brand led by a series of new creative talents. United Standard launched a new collection inspired by workwear and reinterpreted its iconic greyhound logo.

The Closed x Nigel Cabourn capsule redesigned the items originally created by the Girbaud duo to add a new twist to its unisex, men's and women's collections.  

Eco-friendly denims on display

Denim brand Hand Picked launched eco-friendly products. Hand Picked launched a denim collection made from bio-cotton and recycled cotton along with stretch fibers obtained from recycled PET. Another denim brand Peppino Peppino launched a collection of rinsed denims with back labels in Viridis, a sustainable corn-derived material. In addition, the brand launched a ozone treated collection that is made without using permanganate or chemicals. 

Events at the show

The show also hosted many events such as celebration of the 20 years of Blauer and FGF’s launch in the European market. The brand, led by entrepreneur and designer Enzo Fusco, presented Human Landscapes, a multimedia installation curated by art director Felice Limosani.

Woolrich celebrated its 190th’s anniversary by presenting ‘The Ultimate Woolrich Experience’, an installation that showcased the evolution of the brand after its recent acquisition by L-Gam investment fund. Other events included the Rolf Ekroth & Terinit presentation which mixed a snowboarding culture with cyber punk, science fiction and military. The event, directed by Rolf Ekroth was presented by Swedish brand Terinit. Sergio Tacchini's event "Impossible Angle" also mixed the brand's tennis roots with the hip-hop theme from the '80s and '90s. The show ended with the K-Way fashion show which focused on reinventing its iconic windbreaker that is currently experiencing newfound success.