65% of brands come from 25 different countries
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week is sold out and sets record for international companies
Nearly two months before its start, Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week has already registered full occupation of the exhibition space for Hall 2 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía site. The event, which will take place from 25 to 30 April, will feature offers from 300 brands, 65% international brands from 25 countries, which will display the 2018 collections for bridal fashion and gowns. This represents a 15% increase in total companies and a 45% increase in international companies, consolidating the show as an essential event for increasing business opportunities in the sector.
The next Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week has already sold out of available exhibition space. From 25 to 28 April, the show’s catwalk will host 25 major fashion shows from national and international occasion wear and bridal fashion companies; the trade exhibition will take place from 28 to 30, which this year will feature 300 brands, of which 78 are first-time participants.
International brands account for 65% of the total, an increase of 45% compared to the previous edition, and from 25 countries, especially the UK, US, Italy and France. ‘This is the highest percentage and also the largest number of international companies registered in the 27 year history of this trade fair’, said Estermaria Laruccia, the event’s director. ‘This shows the success of our internationalisation strategy, which aims to turn Barcelona into the bridal fashion world capital, creating a key meeting point for brands, designers, buyers and opinion leaders in this field at a global level’.
The trade fair, which in the last three years has seen a 13% increase in companies has increased the number of brands by 15% this year with respect to the 2016 edition. ‘The demand for BBFW exhibition space continues to grow year after year and, as organisers, we are pleased to have achieved this primarily by giving priority to product quality’ says Laruccia.
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, organised by Fira de Barcelona, will also feature 18,000 visitors and the presence of 750 strategic buyers -a 15% increase over 2016- who have been contacted directly by the organisation. Key buyers come from 40 countries, especially the US and Europe and this year also from Latin America and Asia, mainly Mexico and Japan, for professionals to have the opportunity to expand their networks and explore new avenues of business also in these areas.
Ángel Sánchez presents his collection at Barcelona Bridal Night
Among the major companies that present their collections this year is Ángel Sánchez, the famous Venezuelan-born designer based in New York and a favourite of celebrities like Beyoncé, Meryl Streep, Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, Giselle Bündchen, Elizabeth Hurley and singer Thalía. Sanchez will present his creations as part of Barcelona Bridal Night, the show’s evening gala that will take place on Wednesday, 26 April at the Palau de Pedralbes.
The BBFW’s catwalk will again be the main stage for the latest from 25 leading national and international companies, who will present their 2018 collections of wedding dresses and accessories, groom’s and occasion wear and communion outfits to professionals, buyers and more than 600 journalists from all over the world.
Barcelona, 2nd March 2017