Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger Join January 2026 Pitti Uomo

MILAN — American powerhouses Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger have been added to the schedule of the upcoming Pitti Uomo, slated for Jan. 12 to 15.

Over 700 confirmed exhibitors were confirmed as of this week.

Calvin Klein is making its official debut at the leading menswear trade show, taking over the Sala delle Colonne venue at the fairgrounds and focusing on the denim part of its fall 2027 collection. It hosted an off-fair event in Florence in 2006, but never showed at the fairgrounds.

As for Hilfiger, which is also part of PVH Corp., January marks its return to the trade show following previous appearances in 2017 and 2025. For its third time as an exhibitor, the brand will unveil its preppy-imbued designs at the Sala Ottagonale and Cortile delle Monumentali venues.

Among the other American brands returning to Pitti Uomo are Gant, Rag & Bone and Original Penguin. A total of 25 U.S.-based exhibitors have been confirmed for the show.

The 111th edition of the fair — centered on the seasonal theme “Pitti Goes Wild” — will feature three guest designers and a couple of special projects. About 44 percent of exhibitors are coming from abroad. And organizers said the trade show has seen a 28 percent increase in the number of brands applying.

Despite a slower-than-expected recovery and still uncertain prospects for the fashion sector, Ivano Cauli, chief executive officer of the trade show’s parent Pitti Immagine, said that a couple of optimistic signals are emerging in the lead-up to January’s event.

“Our exhibitors are showing real dynamism and finding ways to navigate the market. We want Pitti to be more than a menswear fair: it should also be a place to listen, network and work together. By bringing entrepreneurs and the broader industry together, we can explore new paths through this period of change and create new value,” he said, singling out the positive performance of Italian men’s fashion in the first half.

According to figures provided by Confindustria Moda, exports of Italian menswear inched up 0.9 percent in the first seven months of 2026 to 5.4 billion euros, supported by both European and extra-European markets.

Overall, France, the U.S. and Germany were the top three importers of Made in Italy menswear last year, the former two growing 5.5 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively, the research said. Germany declined 4.3 percent and was followed by China, which was up 6.7 percent year-over-year.

“The first seven months of 2026 have been extremely challenging. This is no longer a crisis; it’s the new reality. As business leaders, we have to keep refining our strategies. We need to approach each market differently … while staying true to our identity,” said Antonio De Matteis, chief executive officer of Kiton and president of Pitti Immagine.

“That’s what gives us an advantage across markets. Quality, innovation and personal relationships, all values we champion, are essential right now,” he offered. “The exhibitor numbers show that Pitti Uomo is at the heart of menswear. It has earned a role recognized by companies across the industry. We’re also seeing young brands eager to take part, which tells us we’re doing good work,” De Matteis said.

Headlined by British sartorial brand Dunhill, which will unveil its fall 2027 collection at 5 p.m. CET on Jan. 14 at the baroque Palazzo Corsini overlooking the Arno River, Pitti Uomo produced a roster of three guest designers for the January edition.

They include Kartik Research, the Indian brand established in New Delhi in 2021 by designer Kartik Kumra, which is presenting its collection at the Marino Marini Museum on Jan. 13, with a still-undisclosed format. And Raxxy, the outerwear brand founded by William Shen, will create an installation at the fair showcasing its down jackets that blur the lines between fashion, mathematics and sculpture.

Although not characterized as a guest designer, French up-and-coming talent Martin Sallières, a graduate of the Design Academy Eindhoven known for his experimental approach to footwear, is also making his debut at the fair. Informed by his background in automotive design, as well as chemistry and physics studies, Sallières established his namesake label in 2025 and already counts Dover Street Market London among its stockists.

In keeping with its research approach, Pitti Uomo is spotlighting a cluster of niche brands from different corners of the world through “A New Wardrobe,” a curated section taking over the attic floor of the Fortezza da Basso’s main pavilion. The roster of brands involved has yet to be revealed.

Pitti Uomo will be organized around the usual five sections, such as Fantastic Classic, Futuro Maschile, Dynamic Attitude, Superstyling and I Go Out. The latter section, dedicated to outdoor activities and activewear, will be again curated in partnership with specialist magazine Vanish.

The HiBeauty space, introduced last January and dedicated to fragrances, a reflection of the growing demand for the category within fashion, is to return this season.

Pitti Uomo also confirmed its collaborations with key institutional fashion associations globally and will reprise its sections Code Korea, now in its fourth edition; China Wave; the Promas and ICEX areas, dedicated to French and Spanish labels, respectively; as well as J Quality and J Leather for Japanese ready-to-wear and leather accessories brands, respectively.

Japan has frequently been on the agenda of Pitti Uomo organizers and January’s show won’t be different. The trade show had linked with the country’s retail institution Beams for “Expedition Club,” an exhibit curated by Shigeru Kaneko, chief buyer of Beams Plus, the group’s Americana-inflected menswear line.

Based off Kaneko’s “Outdoor Expedition Book 99,” the show, which already traveled to London and Tokyo, retraces the history of outdoorsy fashion through vintage parkas and other archival outerwear pieces from the buyer’s personal collection alongside historic catalogues from the Outdoor Recreation Archive of the Utah State University. WP Lavori in Corso’s owner Cristina Calori and creative director Andrea Canè have contributed to the project.

Teasing the 50th anniversary of the Pitti Filati textile trade show that will be held Jan. 20 to 22, a labyrinth installation titled “The Thread as the Labyrinth” and curated by Edward Buchanan will welcome Pitti Uomo visitors at the entrance to the fair. The celebrations will culminate later in the month at the textile fair with “The Sweater as the Portrait,” an exhibition bringing together 50 sweaters that encapsulate pivotal fashion moments over the past five decades.