From January 9 to February 1 2008, Fortezza da Basso celebrates the international showcase for Italian fashion.

26,000 plus directors and buyers from the most prestigious fashion stores meet in Florence in the exhibition spaces of Fortezza da Basso. 3 different showcases, Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Filati, for a world preview of Fall-Winter 2008/2009 collections.

Pitti Immagine Uomo
Pitti Immagine Bimbo
Pitti Immagine Filati

9-12 January 2008 - PITTI IMMAGINE UOMO 73

Pitti Uomo is the place where business and creativity come together, but it is also the most faithful and up-to-date picture of international fashions: from the great showcase of men’s elegance in the Main Pavilion to the contemporary mix in the recently created Fashion District, via the young talents at New Beat(s) and the luxury collections at Pitti Rooms.

Pitti Immagine Uomo events:

• Pitti Rooms – Luxury Collections – in the elegant rooms of Villa Vittoria, across the road from Fortezza da Basso, you can find the essence of contemporary luxury design and the atmosphere of a 19th century grand ball.
   
• Axessories – a new project dedicated to the world of men’s accessories with a high stylistic content.
   
• Pitty Discovery – on 10 January, an absolute première of the Adam Kimmel Menswear Collection Fall/Winter 08-09.
   
• New Beats – the ninth edition of the area dedicated to debuts of new, upcoming designers.   The new layout, designed by Ilaria Marelli, is called “Cave”, and transforms the areas of the Lyceum into a cave pierced by beams of light.
   
• Welcome to My House – the exhibition project that interprets fashion influenced by street culture: a rapidly evolving market, both in Italy and abroad. 
   
• Pitti W _Woman Precollection - the new fair-event dedicated to women’s pre-collections.

18 - 20 January 2008 - PITTI IMMAGINE BIMBO 66

540 brands at the Fortezza da Basso show collections for children and teens from age 0 to 18. First-time exhibitors and returns on the part of big names in children’s wear – such as Replay.
 
The names on the runways include: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Alberta Ferretti Girls, Brooksfield, Lilica Ripilica, Miss Blumarine, Miss Grant and the collections of Altana and Dimensione Danza.

Pitti Immagine Bimbo events:

• New View – the section dedicated to independent firms specializing in sophisticated collections for an unconventional, audience that selects niche brands distinguished by research.
   
• EcoEthic – the second eition of the area reserved to firms that have opted for an ethnical and environmentally sustainable approach to fashion.
   
• SuperStreet – denimwear e streetwear section:  reflecting a real lifestyle, SuperStreet presents the young sounds, signs and attitudes through striking settings.
   
• Laura Biagiotti Dolls - Friday 18 January, Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna will present the new Biagiotti Dolls collection.
   
• Barbie at Court - on the evening of 18 January, the Commission for Fashion of the Province of Florence and Mattel will host a special gala: a collector Barbie dressed like Caterina de’ Medici will be the start of a dream ball in Palazzo Medici Riccardi.

30 January - 1 February 2008 - PITTI IMMAGINE FILATI 62

Collections of yarns for knitwear. The event is the reference for the creatives and designers from the major fashion houses and international fashion brands who come to Florence looking for creative stimuli.

Pitti Immagine Filati events:

• At the Water’s Edge – the Pitti Filati Spazio Ricerca is the observatory and experimental laboratory where the esthetic trends in international fashion are analyzed and launched. “A Filo d’Aqua” – At the Water’s Edge. This edition’s marine theme focuses on the most elegant, abstract, playful and colorful aspects of what goes on in, under and on top of the water.
   
• Eco-Luxe – an informative and entertaining project that puts the focus on the quality and value of natural, ecological and organic yarns.

For further information and the full program of scheduled events, visit the
» Official site of Pitti Immagine