Barcelona recovers in-person bridal fashion shows

The bridal fashion industry eventBarcelona Bridal Fashion Week returns to Barcelona in person,after two years, to reunite with the main designers and actors of the sector. The latest trends will also be shown to the public, who will be able to follow the parades through an online platform. The stage will once again be in Montjuïc, in pavilions 1 and 2 of Fira de Barcelona, ​​organizer of the event together with the Departament d'Empresa i Treball.The salon will take place from April 20 to 24.With 32 years of experience, Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week has consolidated itself as a business hub and global trend platform for this sector. This is shown by the data forecast for this year:320 exhibiting brands, 80% of which are international and represent 27 countries; some thirty prominent designers; and a program of 20 fashion showsto present the new bridal styles. The organization hopes to recover or exceed the 22,000 visitors of the last edition in physical format, in 2019. The sector is going through a decisive moment two years after the coronavirus pandemic forced many weddings and celebrations to be postponed. Currently, most of the demand has progressively recovered, but the sector must respond to new consumer standards and customs. Therefore,the event will host values such as innovation, sustainability, diversity, and solidarity as main challenges,which should also be seen as opportunities for future growth, as recognized by the director of the competition, Estermaria Laruccia. Hence this year's slogan:Move to New. During the presentation of the scheduled activities, Laruccia specified that the bridal fashion weekreturns to in-person "with seriousness and a willingness to show the evolution of bridal fashion in an era full of innovation and creativity. Our goal is to evolve with these changes and face the challenges of the future hand in hand with the sector." There will thus be five days dedicated exclusively to fashionbridalandeveningwear, with the main brands and young talents who will present their 2023 collections within the framework of the event. As a meeting point and international reference, this year, the competition has been chosen by the firm of theDutch designers Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, with their brand Viktor&Rolf Mariage, for their world premiere in the world of bridal fashion.In their first parade in Spain, these innovative and transgressive designers will show the creations of the spring/summer 2023 season along with a careful selection of iconic garments from their haute couture collections and dresses from the Mariage line. It will take place on Wednesday, April 20, at the Xavier Corberó Center for Artistic Research and Activities, coinciding with the salon's gala evening.

Leading international brands

The main national brands, very well positioned in the international sphere, will also be present, with recognized firms in the world of bridal fashion such as Rosa Clarà, Jesús Peiró, Yolancris, Sophie et Voilà, Isabel Sanchis, Marco & Maria and Ramón Sanjurjo. Also present will be the new collections from Pronovias, with Atelier Pronovias, which will premiere its Versailles Collection; and the new proposals from its Nicole Milano brand, the result of its collaboration with Marchesa, the New York haute couture house, so valued by celebrities.

All of them will show new works that consolidate the sector as the second largest exporter in the world in bridal fashion, behind China. A good part of the success is due to the Catalan industry and creators; its internationalization is evidenced by foreign sales that represent more than 80% of production. Catalan brands account for 36% of exports from Spain as a whole, where other designers also stand out. In this year's edition, artists from Andalusia will debut on the runway, such as Moncho Heredia from Malaga, Nicolás Montenegro from Seville, Higar Novias from Cordoba, and Manila Novias from Granada. All firms will present creations for brides as well as other proposals for party dresses.

The Catalan bridal fashion industry exports 80% of its production

Among the international brands, they will also make their debut in the fashion showfrom BBFW the Italian designer Peter Langner, who will present his 2023 collection only in digital format; the Ukrainian Katy Corso; Vestal, from South Korea; the Polish Agnieska Swialty; and Modeca, from Holland. Other international brands repeat their presence such as Marylise & Rembo Styling, from Belgium; the American Demetrios; Julia Kontogruni, from Bulgaria; the Italian Carlo Pignatelli with his collection for the groom, and the French Cymbeline. On the other hand, ratifying its commitment to young designers, the BBFW runway will host the shows of emerging talents, with creations by Olga Macià, Lorena Panea, Poesie Sposa and Simone Marulli, and other designers present for the first time on the runway such as Andrea Lalanza, Mireia Balaguer and the Italian firm More.Digital platformThis year, to further boost the business and allow future brides to see the collections, the event can also be followed on a digital platform. Access will be open with an exclusive use area for participating brands and professionals, and another open to the general public, where the fashion shows can be viewed live or on demand and which will be active until the end of July.