At Pitti Bimbo 98 with Raffaello Napoleone
CEO of Pitti Immagine since 1995. Since his tenure Pitti has developed a diverse array of shows from fashion to food, to fragrance. Here he devotes his time to kids fashion & lifestyle.
Italians are passionate about fashion & family. Is this an important part of Pitti Bimbo’s personality?
I would say yes. Pitti Bimbo is definitely integrated into the relationship that exists between family, boys and girls. It is a relationship that I’d define as indispensable, in which the family directs the children in their path of choices, the girls and boys try to affirm their position at the same time. In this sense, Pitti Bimbo tries to give itself guidelines to best direct and orient itself in this relationship between adults and children.
What do you personally enjoy most about the show? As it happens with all our shows, the most interesting part is the continuous and useful dialogue for operators, between the larger companies with a consolidated role on the one hand, and the companies that carry out research and innovation on the other . This dual channel of comparison which is active and vital, and which is then inherent in our company’s strategy. Our shows, and so Pitti Bimbo, give large brands as well as small ones the opportunity to have market opportunities, to promote themselves, to do research and create connections between the different souls of clothing, accessories, etc…
What creates a good relationship between:
Trade show and brand? The fact of creating an environmental situation – in terms of invited companies that participate in the shows – similar to each other, all motivated to develop relationships with Italian and international markets.
Trade show and buyer? And the same type of relationship is created between the fair and buyers, who know that at our shows they will find selected companies, sought-after brands, expressions of the highest quality, or rather essential elements to support their business. Good salons are those that do not waste time, which allow operators in the sector to return home richer, with information, useful contacts, possible connections, to develop their activities and their business.
" The fashion sector is certainly a sector in repositioning, in light of the geopolitical situation, of the great evolutions that characterize retail (from physical retail to e-commerce). However, we are optimistic about the creative and manufacturing capacity of our companies, and of the kidswear industry in all its facets."
Raffaello Napoleone
![Pitti Bimbo 98](https://pirouetteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/pittiBimbo_98_-uai-258x194.jpg)
Excluding the brands and visitors, how many people are involved in making Pitti Bimbo happen? The entire Pitti structure involved, from sales, to marketing, communications, IT, events, each of the company’s sectors, has a total team of around 50 people. More obviously, a network of external consultants, a machine of professionals coordinated by Pitti for the creation of each new edition.
Other than driving wholesale sales for the brands what are Pitti Bimbo’s objectives for the show? In addition to business, Pitti Bimbo’s objectives are to give signals of orientation, trust, input on prospects, on potential partnerships to be developed with the fashion supply chain. As I have already said, to return home enriched and more confident and convinced, determined on the choices to be made and the paths to follow.
The theme this season is ‘Pitti Time’. What is the process of choosing a theme and do you enjoy it? The theme of each edition is chosen trying to interpret the evolutions characterizing the fashion industry at that precise moment, which follow each other from season to season. Our desire is to choose the hottest interpretation each time, just as we have identified over time – with PittiTime – a very hot topic at the moment for fashion, which is characterized by continuous accelerations, constantly evolving timing. It’s a very rewarding challenge for us every time, it allows us to keep track of what’s happening on the market.
![Pitti Bimbo 98](https://pirouetteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0802_piottiBimbo98-uai-258x364.jpg)
How is the kids’ market performing currently, in your opinion? Like all industries, not only fashion but also other manufacturing industries, it is going through a complex phase, which manifested itself at the end of 2023, and which will also be strong for at least the first six months of 2024. The fashion sector is certainly a sector in repositioning, in light of the geopolitical situation, of the great evolutions that characterize retail (from physical retail to e-commerce). However, we are optimistic about the creative and manufacturing capacity of our companies, and of the kidswear industry in all its facets.
Some advice for labels exhibiting first time at the show? Having the perseverance and coherence to follow up – on an entrepreneurial level – to the dynamics of the child’s world. That is, always being hyper-curious about the stimuli that push children to be interested in a product or a trend, and those that push parents and grandparents, in turn, to buy a product. Knowing how to renew yourself by following, as they say in France, “l’air du temp”, the spirit of the time.
![](https://pirouetteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0802_pittiBimbo98-uai-258x364.jpg)
What can we all be doing in the kids fashion industry to produce growth or are we still consolidating post covid? Definitely pay close attention to all the phases that bring the product to the market. From the conception of the product, to sampling, at all levels and subsequent steps. Today more than ever it is necessary to form ever closer relationships, collaborate with the various actors, with distribution… it is crucial to integrate into the dynamics of the entire chain, it is the time to increase complicity between operators in the sector.
Finally favourite thing about Autumn / Winter? I see the outdoors, dressing for life in the open air as a rapidly growing stylistic trend, this applies to adult fashion but certainly also to children. So as a favorite thing I would choose the outdoors in general, the lifestyle that characterizes it, which is going very strong and increasingly characterizes the lives of children. I also say this as a grandfather of 7 grandchildren, aged 8 months to 11 years!
Katie Kendrick
Katie is a specialist in kids’ fashion and lifestyle, editor, consultant, content creator, and owner of Pirouette - a leading resource to the industry.
With a keen interest in both the business and creative aspects of the industry Katie has interviewed buyers, agents, stylists, designers, influencers, covered runway shows, produced trade show reports and curates thought provoking and engaging exhibitions.
She is passionate about good design, creativity and brands that manage to combine this with their environmental responsibility.
Subscribe to Pirouette's monthly Newsletter.
You might also like
August 27, 2024
What do you really need when planning the arrival of your first baby?
Izabela Minkiewicz founder of Blue Almonds Situated in London between South Kensington, Chelsea & Knightsbridge Blue Almonds is a beautifully curated boutique stocked with everything parents…
July 24, 2024
Playtime with Chantal Danguillaume
Interview with Playtime Show Director Chantal DanguillaumeShow Director Chantal Danguillaume explains what excites her about the trade season, how Playtime has evolved over the years and how the…
July 22, 2024
ESCADA, for all generations of women
Interview with Ioana de Vilmorin, Escada Global Creative Director Though the fashion industry is densely populated with women they become much more scarce the higher you climb, yet Escada is…
July 19, 2024
Children’s show – New York
Children’s show runs from the 29-30 July, describing themselves as ‘the elevated International baby and children fashion industry expo in New York city.’ Interview with show…
June 29, 2024
directory* picks at Playtime Paris SS25
Our directory* picks from the Playtime Paris show SS25 collections.
June 29, 2024
directory* zine – Playtime edition SS25
Paris plays host to more than the Olympics The Spring Summer ‘25 kids’ fashion & lifestyle selling season hits France just as the world’s focus goes Olympic in the beautiful city of Paris. A…
June 5, 2024
Innovation & determination, the making of DockATot
Interview with Lisa Kotsianis - DockATotLisa Furuland Kotsianis founded DockATot in 2007 and with it a whole new product category was born. Her passion for growing the business is supplanted only by…
April 8, 2024
Unduetrestella DESIGN WEEK
Kids PR agency Unduetrestella announces their design week 2024 Unduetrestella DESIGN WEEK is proud to collaborate for the first time with TOG Together To Go, on the occasion of the 2024…
February 27, 2024
The Little Red Planet
Mindi Smith talks to us about The Little Red Planet, her children's boutique based in Sag Harbor, New YorkLaunched online in September 2018, the first brick ‘n mortar followed in Dec 2018.…