Digital Pitti January 18, 2011
Posted by SCAD Fashion Department in : Careers, Industry News, Manufacturers, Organizations and Associations, Retail, Trade Shows, Trends , comments closedLeave it to the Italians to surprise you. In a country known for it’s strong grip on tradition, the modernization of their fashion industry has never been a focus. In fact, many of the most fashionable houses have seemed to consciously resist technological advancements. That is, until now.
The Pitti fair, arguably the world’s preeminent menswear fair, has taken place in Florence since 1972. Now it has gone digital.
Annually hosting over 1000 brands and more than 23,000 buyers from around the world, the fiar is a great way to see a variety of apparel and accessories offerings from numerous vendors. The difficulty for buyers is remembering everything they saw.
Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune recently interviewed Francesco Bottigliero who has been tasked with creating a digital platform to showcase the goods on display in Florence each year. According to Mr. Bottigliero “research shows that the typical buyer stays at Pitti for a couple of days, visits about 50 stands in depth and leaves with a few fashion impressions and ‘pockets full of business cards.’”
His aim? To recreate the Pitti fair in a virtual environment. “The idea is to offer attendees a second or third look, using their screens to “visit” stands that they did not have time to see and to compare and contrast products, materials and prices.”
The online fair will launch at the next edition of Pitti, but some sample images are online now. Be sure to read Ms. Menkes’ article and visit the online edition of the fair e-Pitti to get a sneak peak at the possible future apparel buying.
- Tiffany Horton
Scott Antique Market This Weekend! February 8, 2010
Posted by SCAD Fashion Department in : Design Resources, Inspiration, Local Sources, Trade Shows , comments closedThis weekend in Atlanta is the monthly return of the Scott Antique Market
February 12 – 14: 9 am – 6 pm
[flickr by StGrundy]
Two cavernous buildings are filled with displays of antiques and collectibles with over 2800 exhibitor booths making this the largest series of indoor antique shows in the world. This place is a great source for design inspiration, vintage fur, apparel, and accessories, as well as old magazines, post cards, and other great images.
Atlanta Expo Centers
3650 Jonesboro Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30354
3 Miles East of Atlanta Airport
1 mile East off I-75 on I-285 at Exit 55 (Jonesboro Rd.)
The Atlanta Expo Centers split I- 285, so a right or left
turn off of the Exit ramp onto Jonesboro Road will get you there.
Admission $5 for the whole weekend (click here for a coupon for $1 off admission.)
If you only have an hour or two to spend, absolutely do not miss a visit to Love Train Antiques:
[images via Giannetti Home]
Permanently housed in a separate building just in front of the expo center (3640 Jonesboro Rd), this place is full of inspiration and is an excellent place to study interesting proportion, color and texture. It isn’t open on the weekend – just on Friday which is, really, the best time to go to the Scott Antique Market, anyway.
- Tiffany Teague
Pitti Uomo January 13, 2010
Posted by SCAD Fashion Department in : Careers, Industry News, Inspiration, Manufacturers, Organizations and Associations, Trade Shows, Trends , comments closedFor people in the menswear industry, Florence is the place to be this week. Yesterday marked the beginning of the biannual Pitti Immagine Uomo fair where retailers from around the world come to buy from Europe’s notable and emerging menswear brands (there are numerous non-European brands represented, as well).
This 77th edition of Pitti Uomo marks the debut of the new menswear line by Lars Nilsson. The Mr. Nils F/W 2010 collection is entirely Made in Italy.
Each season the Hackett pavilion gets more and more popular as buyers recognize their customers desire for heritage and elegance. Suzy Menkes, from the International Herald Tribune, discusses the rise of Jeremy Hackett from a guy scouring vintage clothing bins on Portobello Road to outfit himself, to opening a vintage clothing store that sold to the likes of Ralph Lauren, to launching a brand of clothing that has a vintage feel.
To find out who else is showing their collections this week, be sure to check out the Pitti Uomo website. It’s a great place to start if you are interested in working in the menswear industry and looking for a European brand that might just want to take advantage of your American aesthetic and expertise.
- Tiffany Teague
Amazing Trend Resource October 2, 2009
Posted by SCAD Fashion Department in : Careers, Design Resources, Illustration, Industry News, Inspiration, Manufacturers, Museums and Exhibitions, Organizations and Associations, SCAD, Textile Resources, Trade Shows, Trends , comments closedYesterday, the SCAD Library announced their recent subscription to the Stylesight website. I am certain that you will find this resource incredibly helpful as you search for inspirational images, design graphics and prints, and research retail, street, and runway trends.
Click HERE to access the site.
- Tiffany Teague
Travelling this summer? May 27, 2009
Posted by SCAD Fashion Department in : Careers, Design Resources, Industry News, Inspiration, Local Sources, Manufacturers, Organizations and Associations, Textile Resources, Trade Shows, Trends , comments closedGlobal Fashion Calendar
If you plan to travel this summer, be sure to check out this calendar to see if there are any fashion trade shows that you can attend. Not only are these trade shows GREAT places to make contacts, but you can also learn a ton about the industry and get lists of suppliers that you can use when you set out on your own and see the huge variety of products and brands that are available.
Some of the best trade shows are described here.
How to get in:
- Check out the website and/or call before you go to find out if there is a day that is reserved for students (the last day of Premiere Vision in Paris is always set aside for students to attend) or if students are allowed (students are prohibited at the Pitti fairs in Florence). If students are allowed, bring your student ID and have fun exploring.
- If students are not allowed, then be sure to get some professional business cards made with your name on them and the name of your business.
- Keep in mind that most trade shows where brands are displaying their apparel and accessories are off limits to designers (they don’t want anyone running around with a sketchbook copying their products) – so if you want access to one of these, find a friend who owns or works at a boutique and ask if you can say that you are representing them at the show. If you plan to ever open a store – have business cards made that indicate the name of your future business.
- Opposite thing goes for fairs where you can purchase raw materials (fabric, leather, zippers, trims, etc.) This is where designers are welcome – so have cards made indicating your name, title, and the name of your fashion line.
- Keep in mind that getting into these fairs can sometimes be tricky, but stand back and watch how the process works before you approach the registration counter. If you can’t get in the first day, go back the second – you may find a nicer face opposite the desk who might just be willing to let you in.
The Mother of all Fashion Websites May 21, 2009
Posted by SCAD Fashion Department in : Art Supplies, Careers, Design Resources, Illustration, Industry News, Inspiration, Local Sources, Manufacturers, Museums and Exhibitions, Organizations and Associations, Professional Portfolios, Sewing and Workroom Supplies, Textile Resources, Trade Shows, Trends , comments closedFashion.Net
- This link comes to us from Professor Bruno Lima. It is like a warehouse of great links for all things fashion. It has well edited lists of links for everything from super-hip stores to inspiring artists to modeling agencies to cutting edge magazines. If you need to find a fashion resource, this is definitely the place to go.
- One excellent aspect of this site is the search feature – which will search across all of their recommended websites for your keyword. So, for instance, if you type in the word “Givenchy” Fashion.net will bring you links to articles on Style.com, Elle, ShowStudio, HintMag, Wallpaper, etc. THAT is really, really helpful.
- As Professor Lima says “This is one my favorites fashion web sites. Please check it out!”
Milan Design Week May 7, 2009
Posted by SCAD Fashion Department in : Careers, Design Resources, Industry News, Inspiration, Museums and Exhibitions, Organizations and Associations, Trade Shows, Trends , comments closed
Image courtesy Foto Rosario @ Flickr
- As you know, the worlds of architecture, design, music, art and fashion are all closely linked and continually influenced by one another. The world’s biggest design event happens each spring in Milan, Italy. It is called the “Salone Internazionale del Mobile.” Literally, it’s translated as the “International Furniture Fair” but is more frequently referred to as “Milan Design Week.”
Image courtesy Foto Rosario @ Flickr
- During this week, the city is transformed by the world’s greatest and most notable designers. There are endless parties and events and many fashion houses get in the mix by sponsoring renowned artists or launching their lines of home products.
- Why does this matter? Well, you need to know what’s happening outside of Atlanta, but you also need to be aware of the influences that are coming through the design world. Check out this blog for photos from the latest home lines from some major design houses.
Image courtesy of _maçã @ Flickr
Fashion Trade Shows January 14, 2009
Posted by SCAD Fashion Department in : Careers, Industry News, Manufacturers, Organizations and Associations, Textile Resources, Trade Shows, Trends , comments closed- Premiere Vision – 50,000 Fashion professionals descend on Paris twice a year to see the work of more than 700 companies represented at each edition of this textile show. In addition to the textile fair in the main halls, there is a leather fair called Cuir a Paris, a fair for independent textile designers called Indigo, and Modamont, a fair for accessories such as zippers, buttons, closures, embroidery, labels, ribbons, trims, and everything else you can imagine. Each of these fairs under the Premeire Vision group produce their own trend reports and online you can find an exhibitors list with contact details which will be helpful for you when you begin designing professionally or manage a fashion line.
- Pitti Imagine – An Italian trade conglomerate which organizes apparel shows for men, women, and children, the most famous of which is Pitti Uomo, the world’s premier menswear fair. Here is where the most notable Italian menswear companies and many prominent international designers present their collections to buyers from around the world. (Note: if you want to work in the Menswear industry in Europe, this is a great place to go to meet people and make contacts – or just look online to see the variety of companies available.) They have recently launched a womenswear fair, which was developed to show designer pre-collections and other brands that do not show on runways in Milan.
- Pure – The premier womenswear fair in London. The brands on display represent the middle to high end market . . .
- Magic - WWD MAGIC represents the full fashion spectrum where womenswear is concerned. Buyers come from around the world come to this biannual fair in Las Vegas to find womens sportswear, junior, contemporary, casual lifestyle, lingerie, swim, accessories and footwear presented by thousands of exhibitors . . .
- Milano Unica – Italy’s answer to Premiere Vision.
- Linea Pelle – Biannual Italian leather and leather accessories (buttons, zippers, metal hardware, etc.) fair in Bologna