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ACCESSORIES EVENT: A MASCULINE
ARIA
Pitti Immagine Man, Child, Fibers and Home: the various
of the Pitti Immagine 4-part event detail the basis of what has become
an important international forum for the exchange of ideas and information,
in addition to goods and services.
The men's section of the 60th Pitti Immagine exhibition
and its supporting program hosted by Florence's Stazione Leopolda
from June 20 - July 15, was centered around shoes and bags, belts,
gloves, glasses, backpacks and shoulder totes, hats and umbrellas;
in short, those more or less functional odds and ends of fashion that
permit a personalised touch to the often regimented world of men's
fashion.
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The Entertainers, or the Power of the Accessories is an interesting
presentation blending exhibition regimen with show biz - much to the
delight of those attending the Pitti Immagine Uomo held June 21 -
24.
Pitti Immagine presented the accessories exhibition in a setting created
by creative use of stage scenography and wunderkammer tecnology,
truly the first of its kind. 
The exhibition is the project of Vogue director Franca Sozzani and
architect Italo Rota. No less than 800 objects are displayed, including
many a legendary piece and a number of very modern myths produced
by some of the industry's biggest names. Many were presented in the
context of their connection to celebrities of the past and present.
Others reflected innovative or unique construction and / or workmanship,
contain surprises and a hint of irony representing roller coaster
to metal detectors, wet city streets to baggage claims, from robots
to fake sky scrapers.
 The
Entertainers forms part of the initiative organized by Pitti Immagine
in 2001 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Italian fashion
show, held on February 2, 1951 in Florence. Ever since that first
show, accessories have proved one of the most universally respected
and admired products of Made in Italy creativity and manufacture.
Some 598 companies furnished the Pitti Immagine Uomo with 693 brandnames,
among them 222 foreigners. New entries and some old favorites on hand
were Converse, Corneliani, Coca-Cola Ware, Us Roads, Carshoe, Puma,
Testoni and Closed.
The next edition is to involve itself with "a new way of working,
that follows the rather hysterical course of market trends",
has commented Pitti Immagine President, Mario Boselli. The calendar
has already been sparked by other red-letter appointments: the Children's
fair (June 29 - July 1), Home (September 21-23), Wovens (July 4-6)
and a brand-new sector featuring leather, Moda Pelle, (September 27-28).
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