The 88th edition of Pitti Bimbo once again proposes itself as an extraordinary container of ideas and novelties, a ‘surprise box’ to open with each new season for presenting children’s lifestyles and fashion in a new and interesting way.
Looking at the numbers of the edition that is right around the corner, with more than 550 collections, including 360 from abroad (63%), the Show is ready to welcome almost 6,900 buyers for a total of 10 thousand visitors.
This journey in the discovery of fashion and accessories for children will once again feature ‘dedicated’ sections and an even more precise segmentation: among the Pitti Bimbo Big Brands, we will find the sportswear-freestyle of Sport Generation and the urban spirit of Superstreet, but also the areas influenced by Research: Apartment (exclusive collections with a sophisticated spirit), KidzFIZZ (a mix between research and experimentation), EcoEthic (sustainable brands), #ACTIVELAB (sports inspiration and active mood) and The Nest (an incubator of emerging brands), with the latter two to be moved to the Archives area. There is then the Lifestyle planet, with Fancy Room dedicated to furnishing accessories, homewear, gadgets, toys, etc., which will double its exhibitor numbers to 74 brands.
The attention on quality and research is more complete than it has ever been before, with the presence of designer labels and historic fashion brands for kids, but also emerging brands and special projects, including C.P. Company, Roberto Cavalli, RRD, Sophia Webster, Yves Salomon Enfant, Oilily, Vingino, Liu Jo Girl, MSGM Shoes, Clarks Kids, Sprayground, Bjanko, and Theophile & Patachou.
There will also be the collective Pitti Immagine fashion shows of Activelab, Apartment and KidzFizz, which will be joined by the fashion shows of the Spanish brands in the Children’s Fashion From Spain area, the catwalk presentations of Stefania and Miss DM, and the Monnalisa runway-event on 17 January.
Among the celebrations will be the 60th anniversary of the doll-icon par excellence, Barbie, with a commemorative show to be held in the Polveriera area, and the 45th anniversary of Hello Kitty, which has become the protagonist of the new edition of Fashion Comics curated by Alessandro Enriquez: on show, in the Main Pavilion, is a project developed in collaboration with Sanrio, featuring a selection of capsule collections for kids inspired by the most famous kitty around the world and presented by Monnalisa, Melissa and MC2 Saint Barth.
Enriquez will also stage the Kid’s Evolution project dedicated to Mini Me capsule collections with a high creative potential.
As far as debuts are concerned, there will be that of TOT, the collection launched by the Belumbury Fashion Group, which will see the entrance of Au197Sm, the brand-patent that revolutionised luxury streetwear with the introduction of high-tech technologies, into kidswear.
Pitti Bimbo will also see the return of the special area Nice Licensing, realised in partnership with Bologna Licensing Trade Fair and Bologna Children’s Book Fair, with the participation among others of National Geographic, Miffy, Felix The Cat, Ugly Dolls, Ghostbusters, Parental Advisory, L.O.L. Surprise, Pokemon, Heidi Bienvenida, Popeye for its 90th anniversary, Subway Surfers and Jojo Siwa (Viacom).
The main theme for the season, The Pitti Box, is interpreted by Pitti Bimbo through an ‘in-and out of the box’ journey, with a series of ‘box experiences’: from INFINITY BOX, the special video art gallery, to PARK BOX, dedicated to sharing food, ideas and moments of relaxation; from the SHOW BOX with talk shows and photo sets, all the way to the fun RECHARGE and SILENCE BOX.
Finally, on the occasion, Pitti Bimbo will open itself up to the city of Florence with a new edutainment project: free laboratories and workshops dedicated to children and realised in partnership with the most important museums in Florence.
