The 87th edition of Pitti Uomo opened with a moderate success with the public, but, above all, with good news for the entire fashion sector. The Deputy Minister for Economic Development Carlo Calenda, speaking at the opening ceremony at Palazzo Vecchio, announced the amount that will be allocated to the sector within the allocated funds, 261 million euros, for the internationalization of Made in Italy companies Italy.
The good news is in the amount itself, because the budget for fashion announced by Calenda will be 36 million euros, ten million more than forecast. However, the deputy minister accompanies the caresses, which are the most important thing, with a reproach: the assignment, in fact, depends on a condition, the one that the sector "knows how to demonstrate that it knows how to reorganize itself, following the vocations of the individual cities ”.
“The fashion system – Calenda continues – does not work like this. It doesn't exist that everyone does everything unrelated to one another, without thinking from a system perspective”. And again: “It is unacceptable that Milano Unica, the textile fair, is not the strongest in the world, given that Italy holds the record in the sector. Florence has shown that it knows how to organize a great fair and the government is ready to renew investments of 2 million euros over the next three years".
Among the cities to be relaunched, obviously, the case of Rome and Altaroma stands out, at risk until a few days ago and saved in extremis by funds from the Lazio region. Also in this case Calenda talks about investments conditional on change: “I spoke to Silvia Venturini Fendi (president of AltaRoma) and I told her that if the event is ready to take risks and become a showcase for young Italian talents and not then the government will undertake to finance it in full. We won't do it if it will be a container designed to please certain Roman environments". A clear message that could unlock new funds as well as leave AltaRoma to its fate.
Beyond the quality and style of the suits, jackets and coats, and the imagination of the stylists in the field, the four days of Pitti Uomo couldn't have started better.
