Since 2019, I’ve poured my very own time, cash, and expertise into supporting Pitti Uomo, the world’s greatest menswear occasion. I’ve lined it relentlessly for MenStyleFashion, championing rising manufacturers, artisans, and giving worldwide visibility that prices nothing to the organizers—besides possibly a thanks and, dare I say, a heat meal.
You’d suppose, as accredited press, I’d be handled like the remaining: with entry to parking, the press room, and the notorious press restaurant. However apparently, I’m the exception.
Gracie Opulanza will get the press move, sure. However in the case of the press restaurant—all of the sudden the system breaks. The second I request entry, the gatekeepers level fingers.
“Ask Illaria,” they are saying each single 12 months. And each single 12 months, I do. And yearly, the reply stays the identical: silence, fogging, deflection.
Let me introduce you to Illaria. Assume The Satan Wears Prada, however with out the wit, heat, or appeal. One golden rule in press relations: by no means mistreat or starve your media. Hungry press can flip bitter, and I’ve been made to really feel like a beggar reasonably than the media skilled I’m.
After I requested to talk with Illaria once more this 12 months, she turned her again on me. I raised my voice. She whirled round with disdain, dismissing me in entrance of employees and fellow journalists. Her excuse? “Safety. We serve 3,000 journalists.” As she appeared me up and down, she determined I wasn’t there to work—I used to be there without cost meals.
What she failed to say was that yearly, after difficult her, my title finally seems on the record. So how does that occur? Did safety all of the sudden really feel safe sufficient? Or did somebody lastly cease taking part in video games?
She then claimed she’d by no means heard of MenStyleFashion—a blatant lie. I’ve had this actual dialogue together with her earlier than. She’s properly conscious of who I’m. Nevertheless it’s simpler to discredit somebody than admit to a double-standard.
This Is Discrimmination
i’ve lined @pittiuomo_official for years, supporting designers and types with worldwide attain—with out being paid, with out asking for favours.
However once I dared query why I’m all the time left off the press restaurant record, I used to be insulted, dismissed, and now… threatened with exclusion from future occasions.
That is discrimination.
That is bullying.
That is style’s ugly fact.
I’ll proceed to talk up—not only for me, however for each impartial journalist and inventive who’s been shut out for not taking part in the sport.
Enter William from France, her sidekick, who rocks as much as the press workplace at 1pm. He too “has by no means heard of me.” Odd, contemplating I’m standing within the press room with a legitimate press move issued by Pitti Uomo itself. I requested him how I bought accredited if no one is aware of who I’m. He dodged the query.
As an alternative of fixing the difficulty, he targeted on my assertion: “I gained’t be returning to Pitti Uomo.” He clung to it like a toddler to a balloon. “Then there’s nothing I can do,” he repeated gleefully. That one line gave him all of the permission he wanted to do completely nothing.
Let’s be clear. At any level, Illaria or William may have typed my title right into a spreadsheet and added it to the record. However this wasn’t about guidelines. This was about energy, ego, and punishment.
I’ve labored in style for years. I do know fear-based administration once I see it. The employees appeared terrified, frozen, not sure of whether or not to defend me or run for canopy.
One even whispered, “What’s the large deal? Why gained’t they only add your title?” Precisely.
This isn’t about meals. It’s about discrimination. It’s about accountability. It’s about bullying in an area that claims to rejoice creativity and variety however fails miserably at fundamental professionalism. And sure, as an Italian, I’ve by no means been denied meals. Till now.
This sort of elitist gatekeeping displays a deeper rot in style. It’s not about what you contribute. It’s about who you realize. It’s about whether or not you match their concept of press. It’s about punishing individuals who converse up, who don’t toe the road, who refuse to be silenced.
Trend has all the time been political. However when it turns right into a playground for egos who get off on excluding others, it stops being inspiring. It turns into a farce.
To Illaria and William—your energy performs don’t scare me. However they need to fear everybody who cares about honest therapy and actual press freedom on this business.
And to Pitti Uomo—I’ll be watching the way you deal with this. As a result of actual management isn’t about who you let within the restaurant. It’s about who you let be heard.
Official Response from Lapo Cianchi, Head of Communication and Deputy Normal Supervisor of Pitti Immagine:
Good morning,
I’m Lapo Cianchi, head of communication and deputy common supervisor of Pitti Immagine. I reply your request for particulars concerning the press restaurant.
The press restaurant is a service that we attempt to provide to as many journalists and friends as attainable, however it’s clear that admissions are restricted on account of house points and that, because of this, we should select, taking into account numerous facets of the publications and their relationship with Pitti Uomo. Standards that I cannot record now, however that are these usually adopted on events reminiscent of these.
Any attainable shortcoming on our half, any attainable mistake, any obvious inconsistency on our facet in making the choice doesn’t justify impolite reactions and verbal aggression reminiscent of yours.
For that reason I’ll grant you the meals move for in the present day and tomorrow, however ranging from the following version you’ll not be a welcome visitor and we is not going to even concern an accreditation to the occasion.
Finest regards,
Lapo Cianchi
