Florence: the city where business meets pleasure

Fashion magazine Vogue described Florence as the ‘world’s fifth fashion capital’ earlier this year, and the magazine holds Vogue Fashion’s Night Out, an international event featuring parties, tours and dinners. Florence will host its third edition in September.

“Florence’s rich history in fashion dates back beyond the Renaissance to the Middle Ages,” says Panconesi. “Over the last century, the city has played host to a number of prominent designers. These designers’ contribution to the industry, as well as the city’s strong appreciation and continued celebration of true made in Italy craftsmanship, is what has cemented it as one of the fashion capitals of the world.”

Of course, Florence has also heightened its presence on the global fashion stage by hosting the bi-annual Pitti Immagine Uomo trade show, the event that gathers together the majority of buyers and editors to scout out the upcoming menswear fashion trends. Emily Norval, editor-at-large of fashion magazine WeAr, says Pitti Uomo is one of the major international trade shows opening the bi-annual fashion buying seasons. “For buyers this is a crucial opportunity to gain insight in what international menswear players are producing for the season ahead as well as a key networking opportunity for both brands and buyers.”

She also views Florence’s Pitti Uomo as a place to see and be seen. “It is renowned for its extremely well-dressed visitors and has become a major hub for men’s street style, showcasing current season trends and attracting international press and bloggers. Florence is also full of fantastic shops, such as Luisa Via Roma, many of which will set up window displays specifically for the event.”

The event helps boost the number of visitors flocking to Florence, which attracts around 16 million people every year, a huge number for a city which has a population of around 350,000.

Those who come to Florence for business must surely take time off to soak up the grandeur of one of the world’s most beautiful cities. After ticking off the wonderful museums, palaces, churches and some of the most coveted artistic treasures, visitors should hike up the hill to the church of San Miniato al Monte to catch a soul-stirring view of Florence. And if time permits, you’d be foolish not to hire a car and take a day trip or two and escape Florence and explore the sumptuous Tuscan countryside.