New York, London, Milan, and Paris are known as the four fashion capitals of the world. In Italy specifically, Rome and Milan are known as fashion capitals. These are cities where trends are created and major fashion brands exist. In recent years, Florence appears to becoming a fashion capital as well. Florence has held multiple fashion events, brought notice to many designers, and it is the birthplace of several fashion powerhouses. These luxury powerhouses are Emilio Pucci, Roberto Cavalli, Gucci, Ermanno Scervino, and Salvatore Ferragamo. There are also new interesting designers popping up in small local stores. There are small shops that sell amazing handmade items and I have seen some of the best vintage stores around the city. If you are interested in fashion, you will find very diverse stores here. You will find items that are luxurious, vintage and handmade. You can even find stores that sell an abundant amount of one type of fashionable item. For example, I found a store that only sells hats.
Florence has been dubbed as the fifth fashion capital of the world. It may even be giving Milan a run for its money. When you think about Italian fashion, you probably think of chic central, Milan. However, "Made in Italy" actually has its roots in Florence. Tuscan executive Giovanni Battista Giorgini organized the first Italian fashion show. He gathered US and Canadian buyers, journalists and distributors at his home in 1951. He was challenging French fashion. After that, some unknown labels such as Simonetta, Pucci, Fontana and Cuppucci became very successful and Giorgini replicated the shows a year later in a grand hotel. Eventually, they became a permanent feature at the magnificent Pitti Palace. Under the Pitti's glass chandeliers, brands such as Gucci, Schiaparelli, Ferragamo , showed off their creations until the 1980s. This made "Made in Italy" a saying for the best quality and most desirable fashion. Now, this city succeeds as a fashion leader by upholding local artisanship and operating in partnership with Prato. This is the country's leader in providing fabrics to the ready-to-wear industry. Florence contains historical gems such as the Antico Setificio Fiorentino. This is a silk factory that was founded in 1786. It produces jacquard weaves and damasks on looms that used to belong to the city’s most famous families. The city's traditional skills are still present thanks to fashion schools like Polimoda. This school is ranked among the top 10 fashion institutes in the world.
Florence is known for its history of famous fashion designers. In the late 1920s, Salvatore Ferragamo started to become famous for designing personalized and hand-made shoes. The styles of the shoes were groundbreaking. His fame continued to flourish when he was asked to design exclusive shoes for famous movie stars like Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, and Marilyn Monroe. Ferragamo had wooden molds of the feet of each of his famous clients. This was done so each pair of shoes could be specifically designed to fit the individual’s foot. Today Ferragamo’s shoes are seen as art. You can tour the Ferragamo Museum on Florence’s main fashion street, via dei Tornabuoni. At this museum, you can see some of his most well known shoes and the wooden molds of some of his clients.
Fashion historians say that the modern Italian fashion industry began in 1952. The first Italian runway show occurred during the same year in the sala bianca of Florence’s notable Palazzo Pitti. Italy was viewed as a creator of high-quality, stylish clothing that could strive and be successful in an international bazaar with other well-known fashion capitals. The start of a strong fashion industry in Italy helped the country during a time when Italy’s economy greatly suffered. This was during the years after the war. The fashion show contained clothing designed by a famous designer native to Florence, Emilio Pucci. This brand is still a very notable brand, and it is known for its bold colors and abstract patterns.
With its streets full of luxurious stores and amazing fashion trends, Florence is becoming a new favorite for shoppers. Luisa Via Roma is a street that contains more than 600 luxury retailers, including Burberry and Jimmy Choo. High-end brands can also be found at Via Tornabuoni. In the streets nearby, there are also stores that sell leather. Tourists that are looking high-end chains should go to the streets that branch off the Piazza Repubblica. If you are looking to witness the latest collections from the leading designers, you can try to attend Florence Fashion Week. This is held in April and it is now one of the important events in the industry calendar.
Both locals and tourists are seen at Via Tornabuoni. There is no other street like it in Florence. You can find every high end store you could think of on this street. If you are looking to make a big purchase during your trip to Italy, this is the place to do it. A tourist named Melanie said, “I love walking through this street because all of the stores have such beautiful items, but there is amazing, fashionable stores all over the city”. Another tourist named Rebecca said, “This street definitely makes Florence look like a fashion capital, but we should not forget about all of the handmade items here in this city”. Many high-end brands are also placed behind hotels. This is done to attract the visitors. If you are interested in visiting these stores, you could find a hotel that is very close by.
Florence’s fashion legacy is still present today. Pitti Immagine was founded in order to pay tribute to all of the history made in Florence during the 1950s. It also continues to signify Italian brands that are apart of the international market. Creating annual shows and exhibitions does this. The most famous one is Pitti Uomini. This Italian Fashion Week focuses on menswear. Florence should not go unnoticed when it comes to fashion. I greatly believe it is a fashion capital, and you will notice it as well.
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