Pitti Uomo rocked by Zegna exit

Menswear exhibition Pitti Uomo has been hit by the departure of high-profile exhibitor Zegna.

The Italian tailoring business, which had a stand alongside Canali, Corneliani and Pal Zileri in the main hall, will not show at the next edition in Florence on January 9-11.

Zegna, which has shown at Pitti for 30 years, is pulling out because it is opening an 80,000sq ft showroom and head office in Milan next month, where the brand will show its collections during Milan Fashion Week.

The exit follows the departure of Pitti Uomo crowd-puller Hugo Boss in 2006. It decided the menswear show was no longer appropriate for its aspirations as a lifestyle brand.

Exhibition organiser Pitti Immagine replaced Hugo Boss with a raft of new and smaller brands. It also hosted a special section for Savile Row tailors called The London Cut.

The next Pitti Uomo will run alongside the new Pitti W Woman Precollection show, which will show pre-collections from about 40 international brands.