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Dedicated to the heritage of American shirt making, Gitman presents a refreshed interpretation of the past. Delving into its rich archives, the brand deftly reinterprets classic Americana silhouettes via fresh fabrics and endearing designs. Its collections are formed from vintage fabrics, tweaked with experimental dyes and reworked patterns.
For SS23, Gitman returns with playful prints and its renowned made in the USA authenticity. We spoke to brand president Chris Olberding about the concept behind the new collection, how the brand has developed over the years, what makes Gitman stand out from the crowd, and more.
Please tell us more about the concept behind the SS23 collection.
The concept is to be found somewhere between the amusement of visual culture found in our prints and the play of texture found in our solids.
Can you expand on how you ‘communicate the lush character of spring and summer’?
By showing you our abundant range of Oxfords in sixteen coloured solids and stripes, followed by our exuberant prints in over 12 different designs, ending with our richly hand woven jacquards.
How has the Gitman brand evolved over the years, can you talk about how the aesthetic has developed?
What started as a select quotation from our archives with brief forays into print, has now evolved into a continuous, season-in, season-out aesthetic. It blends the classic with the quirky and the expected with the surprise, in equal measure.
What makes Gitman’s designs stand out from the crowd?
Our unique prints, for sure. And also the obvious: we’re still made in the USA.
If you had to choose somebody from pop culture (past or present) as an ambassador/muse for this collection, who would it be and why?
Maurizio Cattelan. Not only does he wear our shirting well, but he gets our sense of humour and blends that with a certain flair and seriousness. Call it joco-serious sprezzatura.
What inspired the colourways for the collection?
Rainbows.
What key pieces from this collection are you most excited about and why?
For Spring/Summer, the key pieces are always the prints. Whether it’s our collaboration with Kahala: Hawaii’s oldest continuous fabric maker, or our exploration of Stars: the vintage Black & White of Hollywood.
Talk us through a key/unique design element from the collection that excites you.
Either our 'Aloha Quilt' print, which has multiple vintage 'Aloha' fabrics quilted together, replicating the same design into one poplin print. Or our remake of the 'Palio' design created by Alexander Girard in 1964, which draws its motifs, colours and name from the famous horseback race held in Siena, Italy. The eight motifs include combs, fringes, flames, spikes, checkerboards, and coronets. They are based on the emblematic banners and flags of Siena’s city districts.
What are you looking forward to at PITTI?
Simply being back in Firenze and in front of customers, after two and half years. PITTI was the first trade show we did in Europe, and is still our favourite.
What's next for the brand?
AW23, alpine inspiration and a little knitwear.
Great, thanks for your time!