TIM COPPENS, PAUL SMITH NAMED GUEST DESIGNERS FOR PITTI UOMO 91

Tim Coppens
by Stephen Garner
Tim Coppens
Tim Coppens

Belgian designer Tim Coppens has been named the menswear guest designer at Pitti Uomo 91, which will take place January 10-13 in Florence. Coppens will be presenting his world that blends tailoring, craftsmanship and athletic wear, with references to street culture, by launching the European premiere of his fall/winter 2017/2018 menswear collection.

Paul Smith, an icon of British design and style who unites heritage, pop inspiration and eclecticism, has chosen Pitti Uomo 91 as the stage for a special event to launch his PS by Paul Smith collection. PS by Paul Smith, the designer’s contemporary line, offers a fusion of luxury design and performance characteristics, technical fabrics and ergonomic cuts. Paul Smith is the Pitti Immagine Special Guest for January and will be realizing a special fashion installation for the occasion.

Paul Smith
Paul Smith

Pitti Immagine has also named London-based menswear label Cottweiler as this season’s Designer Project. Designed by Ben Cottrell and Matthew Dainty, the label is challenging the boundaries between sportswear, fashion and streetwear. In Florence, Cottweiler will be presenting the premiere of its collaboration with Reebok: a new creative partnership with which Reebok confirms its relationship with the cutting edge strikers of international design.

Additionally, Golden Goose Deluxe Brand, the lifestyle label from Veneto region of Italy, will celebrate 10 years of its iconic sneakers with an installation event at the Stazione Leopolda as the Special Project @ Pitti Uomo.

“The program of special events for the next Pitti Uomo represents for us a further step in the process of moving beyond the traditional duality between trade fair and fashion week, and towards the search for new formats that combine stylistic research, communication and authenticity for the market,” said Lapo Cianchi, Pitti Immagine Director of Communications and Special Events. “This first line-up of protagonists, chosen in light of the new frontiers between fashion, sportswear and athleisure – a strong theme in fashion and contemporary lifestyle – will be joined by other guests and special projects about which we will soon be sending out more details; projects that illustrate other menswear worlds, also in a geographical sense, with new fashion design talents and big traditional brands that are projecting themselves into the future.”