Beginning this week, Florence’s annual international fashion show, PITTI UOMO, takes the stage through Friday, January 16.

The “Pitti” Fashion Week dates back to the early 1950’s, embodied at the time by small, local dressmakers and tailors who were crafting quality fabrics into elegant and original men’s and women’s clothing, and takes its name from the Florentine Pitti Palace as it was housed in those beautiful halls in its beginning. Pitti is now a brand in its own right.

Like La Marzocco, Pitti has earned worldwide fame and belongs to the artisan sphere of high-end “Handmade in Italy” craftsmanship and is an active advocate of community engagement, socio-educational commitment and making the difference.

This week, PITTI UOMO opens a cross-industrial global platform, indeed an exciting multi-dimensional stage for “contemporary lifestyle” followers.

The scope of the Pitti brand ranges from the promotion of culinary trends (including the Pitti managed TASTE, March 2015), well-being, arts and culture and, of course – through this event – fashion. This week’s edition of PITTI UOMO combines fashion, food, design, and sports by unique and original means – including a bike cart serving top-quality coffee from local roaster Ditta Artigianale at the foot of the venue’s principal runway.