The role of fashion for tourism: An analysis of florence as a manufacturing fashion city and beyond

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to contribute to the academic debate on the fashion city definition and foster some economic implications for tourism. First, two main approaches in the debate are discussed: a supply-side perspective, which defines a fashion city as a ‘manufacturing fashion city’ based on its physical image and presence of a garment industry, and a demand-side perspective, which deploys the term ‘symbolic fashion city’ in line with its virtual image and new information and communication technologies. The city of Florence is then examined; traditionally defined as a city of art, Florence is also a creative city characterised by the presence of a significant fashion- and design-manufacturing cluster. Our analysis includes the re-emergence of Florence as a widely recognised major fashion city in both Italy and abroad. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the role the fashion industry plays in cultivating the image of the city, fostering local competitive advantage, and increasing its appeal as a tourist destination.