In the world of fashion, January means menswear. This time last year, after a weekend of shows in London, we made the journey to Florance, Italy, to attend Pitti Uomo. As the likes of Telfar, Jil Sander and Stefano Pilati’s Random Identities descended on the city as guest designers for the season, it appeared men’s fashion in 2020 was set to flourish.
*Insert global pandemic* and the Pitti Uomo today couldn’t be more different. The 99th edition of the annual trade show is the first to be held solely online, yet organisers are hopeful they can stage some physical events between February 21-23, if restrictions permit.
The action kicked off this morning with a collection preview from Brunello Cucinelli. The Italian menswear titan debuted its autumn/winter 2021 collection via a live broadcast from the brand’s headquarters in Solomeo. Alongside a surprise cameo from the Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, mannequins and real-life models showed off this season’s collection.
Like the Brunello man, each garment is designed to look better with age, with the main source of inspiration coming from an “allure that thrives over time.” The official release spoke of the collection being “the fruits of years of research,” meaning Mr Cucinelli wasn’t set on using the Covid-19 crisis as an opportunity to shift gears. People want normality, they crave the life they once lived. Cucinelli aims to bring comfort to his customer by sticking to what he does best: immaculate tailoring and elevated everyday staples produced to the highest Italian standard.
The designer spoke optimistically over the livestream that he believes the fashion industry will come back stronger in a post-Covid world; a kinder more compassionate place for all sectors involved. It was a message of hope that set the tone for another season of digital shows.
Photography courtesy of Brunello Cucinelli.
