Yay! I was back! Back in Florence and back at Pitti Bimbo. If you are hesitating or wondering if you should go in January, do it. It is great to catch up, to see the new collections in real, to enjoy a bit of Italian flair, because that really is the little secret ingredient.
So, Pitti Bimbo number 95 it was, with the theme of ‘Pitti Island’ – a physical and spiritual point. A lab that experiments, multiplies, and diversifies. An island of discoveries, explorations, and visions. My kind of island!
A place for meeting and being together before everyone sets out on their own journey. And that is exactly how I felt during my time in Florence. I am ready again to take away inspiration, colours, fabrics, designs, and ideas… for my own journey.
Yes, it was small. Smaller than usual. But selected and very fine. And it allowed time to meet and talk; to walk around and not run; to have a longer lunch and catch up with colleagues. It was lovely!
Top Buyers and key press attended, 211 brands in total, ranging from ceremonial (a section that is booming again), active wear, leisure, luxury, and contemporary. A total of 3 thousand visitors, with over 2,100 buyers, of which 40% came from more than 50 different countries.
It is also worth noting the great attention that Pitti Bimbo has received in the press and on social media, with almost 200 registered journalists, influencers, and media operators, and around 15,000 interactions achieved by the trade show social media channels.
Every little thing adds up to something big!
Now, what were my favourites? I will tell you:
The Apartment section is still my favourite of the fair, and it was a lovely presentation once again. And full of inspiration!
Stand out collections and new finds are:
Raspberry Plum – Aleksandra never disappoints, but this must be my favourite collection so far. Amazing prints, cool accessories, vibrant colour combinations, and a bit of glam. I will show you more of S/S 2023 here very soon.
Artemis & Apollon – NEW brand from Greece with a quality, cotton clothing range sharing Greek mythology. Margarita, founder, started the brand during covid inspired by her childhood loves, Greek mythology and sketching.
Tiny Beans – NEW brand from Berlin, Germany. Designing supersoft organic bedlinen for babies and children with a mix and match system. You can select covers, pillow cases, and sheets in any design you love and any size you need. No more sets!
Paade Mode – Linda, another superwoman that always delivers. Beautiful dresses, superb prints, and just such a cool mix and match of fabrics, colours, and designs.
Looks by Luks – new discovery. They are famous for their turbans, but they also presented some very beautiful and cool pyjamas. I will write more about them here very soon!
“In the Fortezza, among the stands, there was great and widespread satisfaction. And many exhibitors were positively surprised by the international turnout and attendance. They saw some of the best buyers in the kids wear world, motivated and willing to bring customers back to their stores and department stores. And who greatly appreciated the selection of collections, launches and special projects in the Fortezza. More and more oriented to tell the world of kids wear in a wide dimension, from design objects and accessories, to books and vintage.”
This time I want to share a few more ‘Coup de Cœurs’ with you. The ones I discovered outside the Fortezza da Basso. All with a vegan menu/offering, of course:
Shake Cafe – yummy shakes, smoothies, bowls, and more treats. They are all vegan and great ‘pick me ups’ after a day at the fair and high temperatures outside. They serve great breakfasts too, if you would like more than a croissant and a cappuccino. 4 locations around the city!
Santo Falafel – all-vegan, fast food restaurant specialising in falafel. It also serves various flavours of hummus, fattoush salad, soups and other traditional Middle Eastern dishes. I had a huge salad with falafel and various dips on arrival day, and it made me very happy. If you love falafel like me or just want to change a bit from Italian food…
Gelateria Edoardo il gelato biologico – another fantastic location. Piazza del Duomo. Dark chocolate and fruit sorbet flavours are common vegan options. Edoardo, however, has creamy options for vegans and they are sooooo good. Wednesday was so hot, even the Italians were moaning, I had to treat myself to a cool break. The almond is killer, and the salted pistachio is absolutely fab. Everything is organic too!
Le Luna – the last evening was spent under the stars, together with colleagues, vino, and plates of delicious food, including a vegan menu for me that was out of this world. Surrounded by nature, a view of Florence, and a perfect ending to my journey.
Thank you and see you in January!
