Buyers at the 95th edition of Pitti Filati, held on June 25-27, 2024, exceeded 3,500, of which more than 1,700 came from abroad (49% of the total, from over 50 countries), a slight increase compared to a year ago, with the number of Italian buyers remaining steady. Among foreign markets, the United Kingdom, United States, China, Turkey, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, the Netherlands, and Denmark are showing growth; however, numbers are slightly down from France and Germany.
"It was an excellent edition of Pitti Filati, especially compared to the corresponding edition a year ago, which had recorded record numbers and increases," said Raffaello Napoleone, ceo of Pitti Immagine. "The Italian spinning industry is experiencing a phase of adjustment after the physiological slowdown of 2023 following two years of growth and large orders."
"From this edition and the Fortezza, companies have told us that there are clear signs of a dynamic market recovery and good prospects for the sector in the coming seasons. Additionally, the increase in foreign attendance, even if it's just a few dozen buyers, is another important indicator pointing in this direction. We are also very pleased with the one-day advance in the dates of the exhibition, which worked very well and allowed Pitti Filati to experience a steady flow of visitors, spread over three days of continuous appointments and collection showcases."
The ranking of this edition's top 15 markets shows the United Kingdom in the lead, followed by France, the United States, Germany, China, Turkey, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, the Netherlands, Denmark, China-Hong Kong, Portugal, South Korea, and Belgium.
"Besides the commercial aspect, research, in-depth discussions, training, and knowledge exchange were also crucial in this edition," commented Agostino Poletto, general manager of Pitti Immagine. "The new Shield Research Area, curated by Angelo Figus together with Nicola Miller and Carrie Hollands, was highly appreciated, as always, as a must-see during the visit to the Fortezza. The second edition of the CFMI Academy, an operational deep dive into sustainable fashion creation for students from fashion design schools and academies, organized by Centro di Firenze per la Moda Italiana, Pitti Immagine, together with our main partner UniCredit, saw great participation. This June, the experience of Pitti Filati was also enriched by the Training Days, a new format with four appointments and the solutions of four companies, Electrolux Professional, Miele, Shima Seiki, and Stoll, designed for the professional update of the entire community of operators. Last but not least, the fashion show by students of the Master in Creative Knitwear Design from Accademia Costume & Moda and Modateca Deanna was a great success, presenting the artistic creations of 12 young international designers and engaging the audience."
