Behind the scenes with a fashion buyer at Florence Pitti
Join fashion buyer Joe Strider of renowned Edinburgh boutique Dick's, as he travels to Florence, discovering brands, meeting friends, and finding a peaceful base at The Hox.
Photographs: Uli Schade
Words: Danielle Radojcin
Every January and June, the world of menswear converges on Florence for Pitti Uomo, one of the industry’s biggest trade shows. Among the crowd this season was Joe Strider, General Manager of Dick’s Edinburgh, who checked in to The Hoxton, Florence for a buying trip full of new discoveries, old favourites – and a few negronis.
After working in retail for nearly 10 years in New York, Joe moved to Edinburgh and began managing Dick’s in 2023. Located in the Stockbridge area, Dick’s is a carefully curated destination for menswear, womenswear and homeware. Its ethos? Buy less, buy better—championing independent brands that prioritise quality, craftsmanship and thoughtful design. As someone who travels regularly between Edinburgh and Florence – where The Hoxton has opened an outpost in each, respectively, in 2025 – we were keen to get Joe’s take on The Hox experience.
Scouting the Season
Joe was in town to buy pieces for the spring 2026 season, using Pitti as a chance to view the upcoming collections from brands already stocked at Dick’s, while also keeping an eye out for new labels to bring to Edinburgh.
“It’s an exciting biannual trip for us. We’re there to order and discover. Original Vintage Style, an incredible Italian brand which incorporates iconic vintage designs into contemporary pieces, was one of our more recent finds at Pitti. As was Albeni – an Italian brand from 1905 that originally made the linings for Italian flags, but now makes incredible merino wool pieces.”
Room with a View
“The Hoxton is an oasis,” says Joe. “Florence in midsummer is sweltering, so it was a breath of fresh air after long, hot, busy days – high ceilings, arched windows, ceiling mouldings… a calming space in soft tones.”
He stayed in Room 231, overlooking the leafy courtyard. “It had three tall windows and a gorgeous standalone bathtub. I’d go for a morning run, then soak before heading out.”
From Buzz to Bar
Mornings started with breakfast on The Hoxton’s buzzy outdoor terrace, where familiar faces from the industry gathered en route to the Fortezza. “It’s one of those spaces where you just run into people – friends from other stores also doing the rounds.”
After a long day of appointments, the hotel became a base to decompress. “I’d come back to catch up on emails and finalise orders from the day. Then it was time for a negroni from the bar – classic aperitivo hour.”
From the Ponte Vecchio to the polished showrooms of Pitti, Joe’s Florence highlights were matched only by the peaceful moments back at The Hox – proof that even the busiest buying trips can come with a touch of downtime.
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