Pitti-Milan, together for the challenge of January

«With the greater culture that we have today on Covid we must do everything we can (green pass, distancing and buffers) to work safely at a time when we can not block the economy». Thus, in a joint interview with MFF, the president of Cnmi, Carlo Capasa and Raffaello Napoleone, ceo of the Florentine show, take the floor in view of the events scheduled from January 11 to 13 in Florence and then in Milan from 14 to 17 with 23 physical shows. «All the events in attendance are confirmed. We have already demonstrated before they left the vaccines to be able to hold activities with spaced audience in scrupulous respect of the health of all». Institutional security measures will be taken in consultation with the Ats-Health protection agency and the Red cross. The axis between the Tuscan and Lombard capital is therefore strengthened at a time when global menswear is increasingly choosing Italy, with the presence of international brands making their debut, such as Ann Demeulemeester in Florence or JW Anderson in Milan.

Will Pitti and Milan in January go ahead as planned, despite the restrictions on travel from abroad?

Absolutely. We had the experience of last summer, when with the necessary precautions everything went very well. Today there are more tools to defend ourselves. Our experience puts us in a position to manage the issue of buffers and, above all, we can now facilitate the arrival and departure of operators: press, guests, buyers, brands.

What message do you want to give to brands and to those who are called to participate in your events?

The real economy, those who create, those who produce and those who represent it, need certainty and Pitti immagine and Cnmi-Camera nazionale della moda italiana cannot give signals of uncertainty. We stick to what the government and the authorities decide to do. Since we want, as Mario Draghi also said, the economy to continue to grow and develop following this positive figure of +6% GDP, we are one of those gears that must give this kind of peace of mind.

Are Italy and the government teaming up for fashion and fashion events?

From Giorgetti with Mise to Maeci with Di Maio to Ice, there is attention. All the indications of the government will be applied. Pitti with the Italian Red cross and Cnmi with the Ats have organized themselves to offer maximum safety with rapid, molecular swabs calibrated to the needs of each operator. It is important to support the production system and maintain leadership in man.

To curb the Omicron variant, Palazzo Chigi could enact new restrictions....

The concept is that with the virus we have to live with it, we don't know for how long. Today we have weapons of defense, there are certainly vaccines, controls, and spacings. We have to use weapons to live with the virus while respecting people's health and also respecting the activities of our industry. If the government takes more stringent measures, of course we will comply. But everything in our intentions and press, buyers and brands heard, is in the direction of moving forward. Safely, but forward.

Has anyone been concerned about the conduct of business? What requests are you receiving from abroad and from Italy?

We have a positive history because in these seasons we have proven that we want to protect people first of all. We are the ones who want to do or not do events in certain ways depending on the real possibility. There is a relationship of great trust between the Chamber of fashion, Pitti and the buyers and journalists who come to Milan and Florence. They know we put them in the best condition. This is the premise.

Will the events in Florence be concentrated in Fortezza da Basso?

We have tried to make the most of Fortezza da Basso, as it is a place already well controlled to defend itself from Covid. All the organization of the events, if it had been in charge of the companies, would have had a burden and a commitment certainly greater. The man takes all the physical real estate and for the child we had to create two new ephemeral pavilions.

What kind of attendance do you expect? Do you have any estimates yet?

In Florence, last summer the man, the child and yarns put together 10 thousand people and they were overlapping in one day with the yarns that could not anticipate. We hope and think we can pass the ten thousand and get to 12 thousand. In Milan the calculation is different but the responses are positive and of great quality. After all, it is confirmed that the one that starts on 11 January is one big Italian men's fashion week that unites two cities until 18 January. (rights reserved)