Stefano Pilati to launch new menswear exhibition during June's Pitti Uomo

An exhibition documenting three decades of menswear as seen through the eyes of designer Stefano Pilati will be launched at next June's edition of Pitti Uomo.

Pilati, who has formerly headed up design for Yves Saint Laurent and Ermenegildo Zegna, has created and curated “EVOLUTION – INVOLUTION – REVOLUTION: Three Decades of Men’s Fashion as Seen by Stefano Pilati”, which is his personal reflection on contemporary fashion. It will launch during Pitti, which takes place in Florence from 12-15 June 2018, and will run until 21 October.

The global menswear show has described the exhibition as "neither an anthological pathway nor an academic interpretation. It is based on first-hand experience, passing through flashbacks, impressions, collaborations and rejections. Its aim is to immerse the visitor in the multifaceted reality of men’s fashion of the last three decades, depicting its dialectical relationship with a constantly evolving social context."

Lapo Cianchi, Secretary General of Fondazione Pitti Immagine Discovery, said menswear was a theme that had long been overlooked in Italian and international cultural circles and Pilati had been chosen to create the exhibition as "one of the leading protagonists in the sphere".

“But perhaps most importantly, [Pilati] interested us and we found his concept of the fashion system to be fascinating – it is eccentric, conflicting and almost cynical. It’s a precise point of view where the obsessions and reflections of a collector merge with those of a designer and an individual who believes in dressing well”.

"EVOLUTION – INVOLUTION – REVOLUTION" is the third event presented in a three-year exhibition initiative promoted by the Centro di Firenze per la Moda Italiana and the Gallerie degli Uffizi together with the participation of Pitti Immagine.

The exhibition takes place in Palazzo Pitti’s Museo degli Argenti and is supported by MiSE [Italian Ministry of Economic Development] and ITA - Italian Trade Agency, which has set aside state funds for Italy’s trade fairs.