Discover British brands at Pitti Uomo (13th – 16th June 2023)
02/06/2023
UKFT will accompany a group of 46 British brands in June at Pitti Uomo, with the support of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). British heritage and craftsmanship will be a major focus this season amongst the British exhibitors, which will be celebrated on the first day of the show at a networking reception co-hosted by UKFT and DBT for buyers, the press and British exhibitors.
To find out more about UKFT’s activity at international trade shows, visit UKFT Global Brands.
The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) has announced that it will accompany 46 UK brands to the June 2023 edition of Pitti Uomo in Florence (Italy), where the UK will be the largest international group after the host country. Renowned globally for being the largest menswear show of its kind, Pitti Uomo celebrates sartorial excellence, craftsmanship and heritage fashion. The show is a key platform for the UK menswear industry and British manufacturing heritage is at the heart of many brands exhibiting in Florence.
UKFT is supported by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), enabling it to coordinate and promote the strength of British heritage and designer menswear and accessories as part of its Global Brands campaign, which will also be showing in Paris and Chicago this year.
Most companies which showed in January will return in June, including: Bluebuck, Carl Friedrik, Elizabeth Parker, Fox Umbrellas, Hardy & Parsons, Invertère, John Smedley, Johnstons of Elgin, Kangol, Leathersmith London, Only the Blind, Peregrine, Rapport London, RH45, Tateossian, The Cambridge Satchel Company and Walker Slater. Twelve footwear brands will be part of the group, including Edward Green, Cheaney, Loake’s, Tricker’s, Barker England and Denson Shoes.
New British exhibitors joining Pitti Uomo this season include Abtany, Charles Tyrwhitt, Elliker, Gusari, Heron’s Ghyll and Hikerdelic. These companies are looking forward to presenting their collections to Pitti Uomo’s international buyers from across the EU, the USA, Canada, Japan, Korea and the rest of the world. The luxury menswear brand Sunspel will also return.
In addition to being a great source of luxury menswear, the UK leads the way in ethical, sustainable and traceable supply chains. Three UK brands exhibiting at Pitti Uomo are officially signed up to the UN’s Race to Zero campaign (John Smedley, Johnstons of Elgin, and Peregrine), working towards zero carbon recovery to create a more peaceful, inclusive and sustainable planet.
On the first day of the show, UKFT and the Department for Business and Trade will co-host a networking reception for buyers, the press and British brands at the Grand Hotel Baglioni to celebrate the strong British presence at Pitti Uomo, as well as the importance of the British group at the show and its significance to the UK economy. The event will provide the opportunity to highlight the close relationship between the UK and Italy and a number of the UK’s key export markets for fashion and textiles.
UK highlights at Pitti Uomo this season:
150th anniversary of footwear brand Sanders & Sanders:
“Heritage holds profound significance for the Sanders brand. We are proudly owned and guided by the fourth and fifth generations of the Sanders family. We have an unwavering commitment to tradition, craftsmanship and the enduring values of quality English shoemaking. We pride ourselves on our family legacy, our timeless expertise, and a dedication to producing footwear of exceptional quality which define the brand and have made it internationally successful and relevant for over 150 remarkable years.”
Simon Tennant, Sales Director
Quintessentially British collaboration between accessories label The Cambridge Satchel Co and outerwear brand Gloverall:
“This limited-edition collaboration is a perfect example of what happens when two British heritage brands join forces to create a collection that truly encapsulates their values: Simplicity, handcraftsmanship and longevity. Cambridge Satchel x Gloverall combines two iconic, quintessentially British pieces that form the foundations of each brand – the Satchel and the Duffle Coat – and expands upon them to create alternative styles blending Gloverall’s handcrafted check fabrics and duffle coat toggles, and our timeless colours and buckle closures. A timeless combination to be paired with the Gloverall coat of your choice.”
Sandra Duke, Communications and Marketing Director
Scottish wool and cashmere specialist Johnstons of Elgin recently received B Corp status:
“Johnstons of Elgin’s dates back to 1797, and over the centuries, we have established a reputation for producing some of the world’s finest wool and cashmere products. We are committed to working with ethically sourced natural fibres and using traditional techniques to create products of exceptional quality and beauty, and British Heritage is central to our ethos. To Johnstons of Elgin, British Heritage is about honouring and preserving craftsmanship and skills passed down through generations and taking care of the planet we all share.”
Ffion Thomas, Sales Director
Tateossian presents its SS24 collection, ‘Mechanics of Majesty’:
“Embodying a fusion of mechanical innovation, royal heritage, vibrant symbolism, and prehistoric enchantment, Tateossian’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection, “Mechanics of Majesty,” is a testament to exquisite craftsmanship and design. The range spans from sophisticated pieces featuring interactive mechanical designs and royal tributes to protective amulets and fossil-inlaid cufflinks, each telling a captivating narrative. Our brand is fully committed to the principles of sustainability and innovation. As part of this commitment, we use thread made from recycled plastic bottles, transforming potential waste into elements of beauty. Furthermore, we are proud to share that a majority of our silver comes from reused sources, demonstrating our dedication to responsible sourcing and reducing our environmental footprint.”
Tateossian team
Promoting British brands at Pitti Uomo
UKFT is looking forward to meeting buyers and press wishing to connect with UK exhibitors and businesses on its industry stand supported by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the GREAT campaign in Salone M, on the lower floor of the central pavilion. UKFT will be showing a video of UK menswear brands and can help buyers to find new British products, including quality British textiles used by brands in the UK and around the world. The stand features chairs upholstered with distinctive fabric, including from Harris Tweed Hebrides.
Paul Alger MBE, Director of International Business at UKFT, said:
“The UK has been at the forefront of quality menswear for centuries, with London’s Savile Row as home of the first men’s suits and Jermyn Street as the birthplace of shirt making. The UK menswear industry is currently building on this impressive heritage, with a contemporary outlook and the same quintessentially British approach to style. The sector is dynamic and committed to exports, supported by quality textile manufacturing throughout the UK.
UKFT is proud to bring a strong and diverse group of British menswear and accessories to Pitti Uomo, supported by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and DBT Italy, as the international menswear collections for SS24 are launching.”
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