Pitti Uomo, foreign buyers up again

FLORENCE, ITALY – Positive signs for men’s fashion and, consequently, for Made in Italy products, from the 83rd edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo, currently being held (until today January 11st) at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence: buyer attendance has been very high over the first two and a half days – and, even more importantly, the buyers are all highly qualified.

A 4% growth in foreign countries has been registered which, in absolute terms, means that over 7,000 people have already set foot inside the Fortezza. So it looks like the figure for last January (7,400 foreign buyers) will be beaten.

This is the latest in a long line of increases recorded over the last few seasons. Japan (a regular benchmark for buyers open to fashion with a high stylistic content) and Germany (basically the only European country to display some, albeit slight, growth), are currently in the lead.

There are big increases from China, Russia, the United States, Turkey and South Korea. Most of the European countries are still doing well in terms of buyer quality and absolute values, but their numbers are down, with the exception of the United Kingdom (stable) and, above all, the very dynamic Northern Europe area (Sweden, Denmark, Norway).

The presence of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mexico and Brazil, as well as some African and Middle Eastern countries, is both interesting and comforting.