The Government takes the field at Pitti Uomo

The Government stands by the fashion industry and the constant investment in exports will be the key to growth in the coming years. That is the main concept that emerged yesterday morning during the traditional opening conference of the 103rd edition of Pitti Uomo, open until Friday in Florence with all the new fall-winter 2023/2024 menswear. «The Government blindly believes that only by re-energizing the trade balance, increasing exports, and enhancing the value of Made in Italy, we could give our entrepreneurial class a confidence boost to look at the future. Our presence at the fair testifies how much the Government really believes in the industry. Pitti Uomo is the temple of looking beyond the visible horizon of what is textile. Here are entrepreneurs who invest in human resources, in dreams, who believe in a project. We must start again from this point. Everything revolves around companies, and it is the entrepreneur who has a vision», Giorgio Silli, undersecretary of State of Ministry of foreign affairs and International cooperation, continued.

The Congressman recalled that the Ministry has made available 1.2 billion euros aimed at modernizing and digitizing SMEs to increase their competitiveness in foreign markets. «We are deciding, together with Minister Antonio Tajani and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, to devote as much attention as possible to Made in Italy, which also means more exports and therefore more wealth for the country that is not only entrepreneurial, but also cultural and political», he added, highlighting also that exports of Italian fashion system exceeded 72 billion in 2021, an increase of 21.7% over 2020. The first six months of 2022 confirmed the positive trend, with a value of 41 billion (+23%). Silli continued to explain that textiles are not just a way of doing business, but a modus vivendi. «The difficulty of doing business remains, but we continue to be on the crest of the wave, meaning that we are really good all over the world. The best tool across the borders is already represented by our culture and territory». He is echoed by the Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella: «Pitti is the time to take stock of the past months and see what lies ahead. I think that this type of fair is virtuous and unique in the world. The combination of public institutions and businesses is decisive as is the combination of art and fashion. The latter is a liaison that today is a reality, a unicum that belongs to the country’s heritage. And our fair speaks to that segment of companies that need to work with institutions and that have within themselves the culture of well-made and craftsmanship. The same segment that represents the base for which to create international excellence, to look strategically at what will happen in 2035, to offer models, styles and solutions that are always oriented toward the future». Nardella stressed the importance of the widespread training system, which serves to «find skills, pattern makers, tailors, cutters, not just stylists. We need real artisans who continue to work in companies, which we as institutions also need to promote».

Finally, the latest news concerns the restyling of the Fortezza da Basso: «We have awarded the works for the redevelopment of the Bellavista pavilion, agreed after the Pitti in the middle of the year, finished the design of the Machiavelli pavilion that will start in late summer, and approved the final design of the Cavaniglia pavilion with start-up in 2024. In addition, the Spadolini Pavilion has been finished, making a total of four containers in an advanced state». Claudio Marenzi, President of Pitti Immagine, then shed light on the fair’s expectations: «These have been very difficult years, but we have been the only fair to restart physically and digitally. We maintained our values, those of selection, research, quality, and balancing established and new brands, not forgetting our commitment to sustainability and innovation. Global issues, war, and pandemic, as well as possible tension in Asia and rising energy prices, are all factors that concern us. However, from the forecast it should be a very good edition with turnouts from all over Europe, the US, and the East, with logical misses from Russia and China». During the panel, the 2022 business for Made in Italy, which exceeds 100 billion euros, was mentioned. «Menswear is Pitti. Exports have grown almost everywhere by double digits, even in a condition of permacrisis», Sergio Tamborini, President of Sistema Moda Italia (SMI), remarked. «Ten thousand visitors are expected at the fair. ICE’s role is to make Pitti become more and more international, as we need to attract buyers from neighboring countries as well», Roberto Luongo, Managing Director of Italian Trade Agency (ICE), added. Antonella Mansi, President of Centro di Firenze per la Moda Italiana, finally concluded, «We come from a brilliant year of recovery for the sector. The attention is very high also for SMEs, as we are expecting an articulated 2023. We must have faith, there are many cards to play and always new challenges». (All rights reserved)