Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week most international edition ever

Barcelona (ACN).-Renowned Catalan designer Rosa Clara was chosen to open the catwalks of the 27th edition of BBFW at the Barcelona’s Fira exhibition center. More than 25 leading national and international bridal fashion firms participated in the catwalk shows and presented their collections of wedding dresses and accessories, groom’s attire and ceremonial wear for 2018 to numerous influencers and the media. Among the most distinguished names were Studio St Patrick of the Pronovia Fashion Group, Jesús Peiro, Sophie et Voilà Collection, Yolan Cris, Isabel Sanchís, Jordi Dalmau and Matilde Cano, Galia Lahav, Cymbeline, and Morielee Madeliner Gardner and Demetrios, two American firms, that presented their collections at BBFW for the first time.

The Catalan brand Pronovias closed the catwalks, which were followed by the professional trade fair. During the trade show more than 300 brands from 25 countries presented their collections to more than 800 key buyers from 70 countries. Italian designers Alessandra Renaldo, Nicole Spose, Pat Maseda or US firms like Justin Alexander, Morilee, Demetrios, Maggie Sottero, and Sachin & Babi, David Fielden, Charlie Bear and Ellis from the UK, Marylise from Belgium, Leila Hafzi from Norway, Reha Costa and Ersa Atelier from Ronania, and Atelier Zolotas from Greece were among the most well known exhibitors.

Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week has become the center of attention of the bridal fashion industry worldwide. In the last three years alone, organizers recorded a 13% increase in the number of participating firms. In this year’s edition the numbers went up by 15% compared to 2016. The 800 key buyers have doubled in number compared to 2016. Of the 300 brands, of which 78 took part for the first time, 65% were international labels from 25 different countries such as the United Kingdom, USA, Italy, and France. According to the event’s organizer, the Fira Barcelona, this is the largest number of international firms in the show’s history.

According to a study commissioned by the BBFW to IESE Business School professor José Luis Reno, the bridal sector in Spain is responsible for a turnover of around 1.3 billion euros, which represents almost 13% of the textile sector. Spain is the second exporter after China, with Catalonia accounting for 41.6% of the total. However, the event’s organizers also pointed out that the “huge impact of the digital revolution on the retail channels” will be one of the sector’s future challenges” and they will have to adapt “to the tastes and new search and shopping habits of young millennials”.