14 <strong>fairs</strong> Première Vision Pitti Filati
Where’er you go… Paese che vai... fiera che trovi <strong>fairs</strong> you’ll find di Matteo Grazzini <strong>Prima</strong> Moda tessuto’s brief stint can be considered long gone, as Pitti Filati takes <strong>the</strong> lead as <strong>the</strong> only fair representing Florence and Tuscany on <strong>the</strong> textile production scene, with <strong>the</strong> inauguration of its packed salon calendar, which will end this September in Paris. The refrain is <strong>the</strong> same as <strong>the</strong> last few years, dealing with various issues like spinning and how it risks becoming <strong>the</strong> basic missing link in <strong>the</strong> textile chain. As usual, it will also spotlight entrepreneurs who represent <strong>the</strong> excellence of Italian production; <strong>the</strong>y continue to spare no effort when it comes to participating in <strong>the</strong> fair, intent on presenting new avant-garde products. It’s a salon that continues to successfully offer <strong>the</strong> market’s best. And despite all difficulties, it remains a truly dynamic event. Figures surrounding <strong>the</strong> 71st edition are comforting; in some cases, <strong>the</strong>y reach three digits, like <strong>the</strong> 100 brands scheduled to be presented (24 of <strong>the</strong>se are from abroad). The ‘Fashion at Work’ segment will showcase 25 exhibitors. One historical piece of data serves as a starting point: 5,250 buyers registered for last <strong>summer</strong>’s edition, which was linked to Moda <strong>Prima</strong> Tessuto. Almost half of <strong>the</strong>se participants (2,350) arrived from abroad, confirming <strong>the</strong> importance of markets like Germany, Great Britain, France, Switzerland, <strong>the</strong> United States, Spain, Japan, Holland, Turkey, China, Austria, Denmark, Russia, Sweden and Hong Kong, for <strong>the</strong> textile industry. The seventeen returning companies, or ‘prodigal sons’ include Australian Wool Innovation, Bobble, Bond-in, Code, Datatex, Eisaku Noro, Filitaly – <strong>La</strong>b, Inca Tops, Julia Pines, Kyototex, Michell, Peclers-Sax & Co, Puntoart, Sato Seni, Steiger Fashion, Theme and Feel <strong>the</strong> Yarn. Speaking of Feel <strong>the</strong> Yarn, this edition foresees a creative contest featuring forty students from <strong>the</strong> most prestigious international fashion and design schools. The contest’s <strong>the</strong>me is: ‘From material to immaterial’. Students will create several outfits Data ormai per archiviata la parentesi di <strong>Prima</strong> Moda tessuto l’unica fiera a rappresentare Firenze e la Toscana nel panorama della filiera tessile è Pitti Filati, che inaugura il lungo calendario dei saloni che si chiuderà a settembre a Parigi. Il refrain è sempre lo stesso degli ultimi anni: la filatura che rischia di essere un anello mancante basilare per la filiera, gli imprenditori che rappresentano l’eccellenza della produzione italiana che continuano a battersi per essere in fiera ed esserci con prodotti nuovi e all’avanguardia e un salone che continua a offrire effettivamente quanto di meglio si possa trovare sul mercato, che pure resta difficile ma vivo. I numeri dell’edizione 71 sono confortanti e, in alcuni casi, a tre cifre, come il 100 che indica i marchi presenti, 24 dei quali provenienti dall’estero. 25 invece gli espositori all’interno di Fashion At Work. Si parte dal dato “storico” dei 5.250 buyer registrati all’ultima edizione estiva, l’ultima con l’abbinamento a Moda <strong>Prima</strong> Tessuto: quasi la metà (2.350 esteri) era arrivata dall’estero, a confermare l’importanza che hanno per i filatori mercati come Germania, Gran Bretagna, Francia, Svizzera, Stati Uniti, Spagna, Giappone, Olanda, Turchia, Cina, Austria, Danimarca, Russia, Svezia e Hong Kong. Tra i diciassette nuovi entrati o “figliol prodighi” che tornano ci sono Australian Wool Innovation, Bobble, Bond-in, Code, Datatex, Eisaku Noro, Filitaly – <strong>La</strong>b, Inca Tops, Julia Pines, Kyototex, Michell, Peclers-Sax & Co, Puntoart, Sato Seni, Steiger Fashion, Theme e Feel <strong>the</strong> Yarn. Ed a proposito di Feel <strong>the</strong> Yarn, il contest creativo che vede coinvolti quaranta studenti delle più prestigiose scuole di moda e design <strong>fairs</strong> 15