Pitti Uomo 103 ushers in another season of celebrating the new

Editorial

Edition 103

20.12.2022

For the 103rd edition of Pitti Uomo this January, we celebrate The Pitti Way.

But what is the Pitti Way?

PITTIWAY underlines the many possible choices we must consider in order to exit from the complicated global gridlock. In this moment that is difficult yet also creative, innovative, and diverse, the Pitti Immagine shows will be a compass for defining new directions, conceiving possible pathways, and considering the possible choices to then restart. At the Fortezza, there will be routes, turn signals, curves, and U-turns for cruising at fast speeds. A sometimes-contradictory pathway that demonstrates an inexhaustible energy: the same that leads towards the new directions, which are all still possible, of the future.

— Agostino Poletto, general director of Pitti Immagine

For those that come back year after year, the PITTIWAY is also meeting familiar faces, a tradition in menswear, impeccable taste, and layers of style.

For those that will discover Pitti for the first time it's a celebration of style, it’s an exploration of fashion, and its new designers and brands.

In reality, it's all of these things. Pitti has always celebrated the future and what's to come. Searching and scouting for what's new and next and yet always respecting the past and honoring the legends that have graced the piazza through years gone by making the fair what it is today.

During Pitti Uomo 103, we will continue with the Fantastic Classic, Futuro Maschile, Dynamic Attitude, Superstyling, and S|Style sections whilst welcoming back old friends such as the I GO OUT section, beckoning new ventures with PITTI PETS and The SIGN and exploring Japan with J∞QUALITY FACTORY BRAND PROJECT and the Japan Leather Booth.

During the years, we have invited a plethora of talents as our guest designers of the season, many if not all have gone on to redefine fashion as we know it. From Grace Wales Bonner and Jonathan Anderson to Yohji Yamamoto and Telfar Clemens, the Pitti Uomo Guest Designer is always a must-attend. This year is no exception as we welcome Martine Rose to showcase her Fall/Winter 23 collection on Thursday, January 12. In recent years Martine Rose has tipped the balance from an ‘if you know you know’ to a ‘you must know’ designer.

From humble beginnings in shirting, Rose has gone on to build a brand that's now on the tips of everyone's tongues. This year alone Martine Rose has had internet breaking collections with Tommy Jeans, and Nike, whilst also collaborating with Kendrick Lamar, who said it was on his “bucket list to work with Martine Rose.” Rose is not one to watch, because Rose has already arrived. Taking cues from the real stories, heritage, and culture associated with the places and people that have surrounded the designer through her life Rose brings once underappreciated and hidden moments to the fore in her collections.

If that wasn’t enough, for this edition's Designer Project, we have Belgian designer Jan-Jan Van Essche hosting his first-ever show on Wednesday, January 11. Van Essche doesn’t like to work to the societal constraints put on fashion through history or those put on it by trends season by season. Van Essche only works on the notion of freedom. Freedom from gender distinctions, freedom from seams, and freedom from unnatural dyes and fibers. Everything is crafted for the comfort of the wearer in their confidence, style, and day-to-day wear.