The Rush of Pitti Bimbo 82 Kids Fashion Week

After three days of working on an adrenaline rush at Pitti Bimbo 82 in Firenze Italy, I finally have a chance to blog about my personal experience at Kids Fashion Week Italy. Yes, I’ve experienced many trade shows over the years and several kids’ fashion shows, however, Pitti Bimbo feels a bit different. Over the 82 editions, Pitti has created an action-packed kids’ fashion week experience that gave me a real feeling for the kids’ fashion industry.

Visiting Pitti Bimbo Kids Fashion Week

Il Gufo FW16 Fashion Show Pitti Bimbo 82

As a first-time visitor, the mere size of Pitti Bimbo is a bit overwhelming. It felt a bit like an amusement park for kids fashion lovers. When I walked towards the Fortezza da Basso fairgrounds, I got my first glimpse at the physical size and flow of people visiting Pitti.

Pitti Bimbo is spread out over different buildings, each catering to a different market segment

Pitti Bimbo: largest area with big brand fashions to the new luxury infants’ clothing.

Apartment: 20 handpicked sophisticated international brands.

KidzFIZZ: 70 creative brands experimenting with shapes & materials.

Sport Generation: 60 big names in sports and activewear.

Superstreet: 40 streetwear for juniors and teens.
Ecoethic: 10 best green brands located in the main Pitti Bimbo area.

MIMISOL Circus Booth Pitti Bimbo 82

In the middle area of the Fortezza da Basso fairgrounds there are a number of buildings specially decorated by designers give it an amusement park feel – a funhouse, circus, bubble wash house, play the piano by jumping and more.

Silvian Heach Kids Funhouse Pitti Bimbo 82

I strongly suggest before arriving at Pitti Bimbo to create a game plan on what fashion events and brand booths to visit. There are so many exhibitors and events going on that it’s easy to lose focus on what you came to see at the show.

Sport Generation Pitti Bimbo 82

Beyond the size of Pitti Bimbo, it was exciting to a real feel for the huge investment made both in the capital and human resources. Kid’s fashion is by no means a niche market in the fashion industry. Pitti Bimbo includes approx. 450 big and smaller brand exhibitors from around the globe, produces professional fashion shows and features elaborately designed booths and launch parties. Around the city of Firenze “Pitti Bimbo” seems to be in the air with advertisements on buses, designers hosting showrooms in nearby hotels, and fashion events throughout the city.

Dolce & Gabbana Kids Launch Party Fall Winter 2016

One of my favorite events during Pitti – the Dolce & Gabbana Fall Winter 2016 Preview Launch Party at the Firenze boutique.

Pitti Bimbo 82 Fashion Week Invites

Third and the most exciting part as a fashion blogger is the fashion show element of Pitti Bimbo that gives it a real fashion week experience. There’s nothing quite like watching a fashion show with mini models. During Pitti Bimbo I sat front row filming fashion shows in the Sala della Ronda building during the day and more fashion shows at night in Firenze.

Monnalisa Kids Fashion Show Fall Winter 2016

It was such a rush to sit front row at the Monnalisa FW16 Runway Show! Simply gorgeous collection and stunning catwalk production on the level of Milan Fashion Week!

For me filming these kid’s fashion events and interviewing designers at their booths in between was a huge rush. I have enough material to blog about for the next 5 months until Pitti Bimbo 83 which will take place on June 23-25, 2016!