Attendance at the first restriction free edition of Pitti Filati in Florence almost reached pre-Covid numbers, which pleased the organisers. The opportunity to restart and renew contacts was obviously very welcome to exhibiting spinners and international visitors entering a colourful fair. 

Colour is a major factor in the season, evident from the first sight of the stands. Yarns are bright but refined and colours unusually mixed, with blues, lime green, and pale yellow with various degrees of shine and melange. Fancy crochet effects and irregular constructions give an extra decorative, sometimes punk look.

Nearly all yarns came with eco credentials. Natural fibres were to the fore for summer; fine wool, alpaca, cashmere including cashmere with silk or cotton. Certification is routinely expected with assurances about manufacture and the re-use of natural resources in the brochures of most companies.

The major descriptor of yarns this season is colour, emphasising the progress made in sustainable dyeing techniques and circularity of systems. There is a mixture of interesting blends of natural raw materials and bright and shiny yarns, sometimes with recycled manmade fibres. Natural biodegradable fibres included silk, European flax, linen, Merino, RWS wool, GOTS cotton and Bemberg Cupro and animal fibres.

Read the full report on Knitting Industry Creative