Italian trade show operators breathed a collective sigh of relief this week when it was announced that Pitti Uomo and the Salone del Mobile international furniture and interior design trade show are both planning on returning to physical events this year.
On Wednesday, Pitti Immagine — the collective overseeing Pitti Uomo — released its final schedule of physical trade shows. This year Pitti Uomo will be held from June 30 to July 2, which is a day shorter than usual, but this move was more cost-effective. As a result, unlike previous seasons, Pitti Uomo will run after Milan and Paris Men’s Fashion Week – which are scheduled for June 18 to 22 and June 22 to 27, respectively.
Pitti Uomo was originally planned to take up its pre-fashion week spot of June 15 to June 17, and although the Italian government has greenlit trade fares to resume in June, organizers decided they needed more time to prepare.
“Being the first to return to the physical fair format, we are aware of our responsibility towards the entire fashion sector and the institutions that have shown great confidence in consideration for our work,” commented Claudio Marenzi, president of Pitti Immagine. “It is for this reason that our whole company structure is working non-stop to organize the fairs with maximum possible participation of exhibitors, buyers, and journalists. We aim to meet the Pitti standard in terms of the quality and the energy as well as the expectations of the companies and, thinking in particular of Pitti Uomo, it will be a 100th edition characterized by positivity and pride.”
Separately, on Wednesday, Federlegno Eventi the organizer of the Salone del Mobile trade show announced it had finally reached an agreement with exhibitors to confirm its upcoming event, running from September 5 to 10, as planned. A hybrid format, the Milan Furniture Fair will combine both IRL and virtual showcases to connect buyers and visitors on the ground with those unable to attend in person.
Salone del Mobile also teased that it had tapped a “leading international curator” whose name has not yet been revealed to set up thematic exhibitions inside the venue.
The Salone del Mobile, and the related Design Week, is one of the most important global furniture events and is particularly crucial to Milan as the international capital of design. For Italy, which was dealt a crippling blow by the Coronavirus, the return of these trade fares is a huge victory.
