News Type: Articles

The Milan fashion shows, which have joined forces in the #strongertogether
exhibition project, have decided to cancel the physical trade fairs planned for
March 20 through 24, 2021 at the Fieramilano Rho exhibition centre.

Out of respect for the participating companies, visitors, buyers and media
representatives, MICAM Milano (the international footwear trade show),
MIPEL (the international event for leather goods and accessories), TheONE
Milano (the women’s haut-à-porter show), LINEAPELLE (the showcase of
innovative leathers, fabrics, accessories and components) and HOMI
Fashion&Jewels Exhibition (featuring bijoux and fashion accessories) have
come to this decision despite all the organisers’ best efforts and
determination.

“For this reason, the organisers will be channelling all their efforts and investments into digital initiatives over the coming weeks; though virtual events cannot fully replace physical ones, this will offer exhibitors an opportunity to digitally present their collections and the results of their undeniable creativity.”

Pitti Immagine Uomo, which was supposed to take place on February 21 until 23 in Florence, has cancelled its physical event due to the Italian government tightening coronavirus restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

The winter edition will now be held solely as digital formats on the Pitti Connect platform, which will remain online with the contents of the current fair season until the beginning of April.

“In the last few weeks, the probability of being able to hold the fairs in a physical format had clearly decreased” comments Raffaello Napoleone, CEO of Pitti Immagine “but we had decided to keep the option open until the suspension was officially confirmed, because we were aware of the strong desire of our exhibitors and buyers to physically meet in person, despite the many problems that this could entail.  This was not superficial optimism, nor a kind of stubbornness in the face of clear evidence, but rather a determination to leave no stone unturned and possibly also offering a useful message for the coming months. The advice given by trainers to volleyball players comes to mind: even when it seems almost certain that you have lost the set, score as many points as you can, keep standing, this will be a sign to your rivals that you will be giving them a battle again in the next set. So, we will be playing the next physical set in the summer, but we want to continue to score points in the meantime. It is for this reason that, in this period, we have worked so hard on the digital dimension on which we are now concentrating all our efforts. For Pitti Uomo, we can already count on the participation of around 250 companies, all who will be accompanying us in the future. The live-streamed events which took place this week were a great success, combined with the many collections already uploaded on Pitti Connect”.

With the aim of being able to realise a physical event for the fashion industry in the Spring/Summer 22 season, the team of Munich Fabric Start Exhibitions GmbH worked flat out until the very end to organise the second edition of FABRIC DAYS. The organisers wanted to repeat what was proven in September 2020 with the sales-focused, concentrated business format: That efficient work is possible under the changed circumstances thanks to the highest hygiene and safety precautions.

Unfortunately, the situation in Germany and Europe has not changed fundamentally in recent weeks and thus the physical edition of Fabric Days has been cancelled.