( CNN ) -- All roads for the modern gentleman led to Italy this month , home of international fashion tradeshow Pitti Immagine Uomo , the nexus of the menswear universe . More than 50,000 international retailers , designers , buyers and fans congregated in Florence for the weeklong fair to discover what will be next in the world of men 's fashion . Florence has hosted Pitti since its inception in 1972 , but do n't expect to find only Italians roaming the pavilions . This January , nearly 8,000 out of 20,450 buyers were from outside of Italy , a 5 % increase from last year , according to official figures . The foreign influence has gone beyond bottom lines and ticket lines . The British gentleman was a style mainstay this year , showing up in vendor booths and in the piazzas , clad in shades of tweed , sporting elbow patches and shoes with monkstraps . With the success of the TV show `` Downton Abbey , '' a jubilee and a royal baby on the way , the UK has edged its way into the global consciousness , fashion insiders say . Specialized markets create new look . `` It 's a generational thing . If you wait long enough , these feel like new clothes to a new generation . Michael Bastian , Band of Outsiders [ are ] all interpreting classic design but in a younger , hipper incarnation . You could wear this on the weekend and not look too traditional or old-fashioned , '' said Jim Moore , creative director of menswear publication GQ . `` Menswear had its inception in Great Britain , '' he said . `` It 's the land of tradition and tweeds , simple fabric , seasonally appropriate fabrics . '' Others suggest there may be even more intuitive reasons for the current popularity of British menswear , especially in an uncertain global economy . `` The essence of British style is in its timelessness , '' said Sue Newton , spokeswoman for quintessential British heritage brand Barbour . `` It is reassuring in turbulent economic times to turn to something familiar . '' That familiarity has driven a `` flight to quality '' with consumers opting for the value that comes in owning garments that will last from season to season , she said . High fashion , minus the labels . Barbour was one of 600 UK-based buyers who showed at Pitti this season , which overlapped with the biannual menswear shows in London . Barbour , which has been making garments since 1894 , showed at Pitti instead of London . Menswear , in recent decades hiding in the shadow of a booming women 's fashion industry , has seemingly come of age . What had previously been a woman 's world is vastly becoming a playground for men as well . `` Back 10 , 12 , 15 years ago , menswear used to be not so open , as it has become in the last few years . In the past in Italy , it was necessary to have a uniform , '' said Raffaello Napoleone , CEO of Pitti Immagine Uomo . `` Now it 's much more open and more amusing , in the best way . You can be what you want . '' The results of this newfound `` peacocking '' have been resounding . Men 's items now account for half of the global luxury apparel market , according to the British Fashion Council . In a time when most European economies have been stagnant or shrinking , the menswear industry has been booming . In 2011 , global menswear sales increased by 9 % , taking in more than $ 33 billion worldwide . `` It 's finally not the dirty little secret anymore , men really do care . Guys are thirsting for it . Not only on the runway but on the street , '' Moore said . `` This whole British thing has brought out each guy 's sense of inner peacock . They want to look great . '' Men go online to cultivate style .
Biannual menswear trade show GQ draws nearly 8,000 to Italy , Florence . Italians style influence is in strong evidence in vendor booths and in the piazzas . Trend evokes familiarity in turbulent economy , industry insiders say . It `` brings out each guy 's sense of inner peacock , '' GQ creative director says .