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Good business deals at Pitti Immagine Filati
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The 58th edition of Pitti Immagine Filati (Florence, Fortezza da Basso, February 1st to 3rd, 2006), closed with positive results according to comments on the part of those representing exhibiting companies. They pointed out that some of the best purchasers in the sector were present and also confirmed that they could close good business deals. The weaving sector is undergoing what seems to be natural selection as to visitors. The long financial crisis has caused the number of professionals to decrease and this is of course inevitably reflected in attendance numbers. All in all, there were 5,269 purchasers, as compared to the 5,798 recorded for the February 2005 edition.
The February edition of Pitti Immagine Filati was also affected by serious trouble in the transportation sector. Services offered by Pitti Immagine were not enough to make up for the closing of the airport in Florence. In addition there was uncertainty as to Alitalia flights, and a strike by Paris air-traffic controllers (the city concentrates mostly passengers from the US and Japan) and 18 Eurostar trains in major Italian lines were cancelled.
The decrease in the number of foreign markets comprised three protagonists, making up 90% of recorded results: Japan, China and the US. This was due in part to the above mentioned airline problems and to the coincidence of celebrations for the Chinese New Year. All other remaining markets confirmed and even increased their participation: France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Russia and Spain.
Visitors greatly appreciated Spazio Ricerca, coordinated by Angelo Figus and Nicola Miller, combining the emotional and playful with the technical featured of weaving and knitting. Emotions, colours and creativity attracted press representatives and professionals in the new concept for presenting products and staging, conceived by Joann Tan. The presentation on flax by Ornella Bignami and Gherardo Frassa was also creative and positive. Flax, Merino wool, cotton and fine cashmere were the products evidencing the most positive evolution.
This edition revealed that efforts, dedication and good will on the part of all involved and seeking recovery for the sector made up for the atmosphere of uncertainty and worry in this sector.
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