The 080 Barcelona Fashion breaks a new attendance record with the focus on the new generations

The Barcelona catwalk show has established itself as an essential event on the fashion calendar. Held from April 9 to 12 at its usual venue, the Sant Pau Modernist Complex, the 33rd edition of 080 Barcelona Fashion ended in style with a record attendance of 16,000 participants from all over the world, including press, influencers and specials. guests. With a budget of 2.15 million euros, the efforts of this session were especially focused on attracting new generations and serving as a catalyst for social change.

This edition of the event focused mainly on creating “new formats of relationship and expression in fashion” to involve new communities and younger generations through various offers beyond the catwalk, explained Marta Coca, director of 080 Barcelona Fashion, in an interview with FashionNetwork.com. One of the most notable initiatives of this season was “Aesthetics 080”, a multidisciplinary center for artists and creators from different domains dedicated to digital art, music and technology.

A growing “phygital” event

Continuing with its digitalization strategy initiated during the Covid-19 pandemic, the runway event has successfully transitioned to a fully hybrid event. This approach has been well received by brands, who, according to the director, “want it all: they want to experience the moment of the live show, but also the digital part, since it has a more lasting impact.”

Although 080 Barcelona Fashion had already undertaken an internationalization strategy by including foreign brands in its programming, now the event is seeking greater local participation, at a time when the catwalk is more consolidated and these synergies “occur more naturally.” .

However, the manager emphasized that “the platform is open to any interesting proposal that can contribute positively, so international brands could still join.” This was evidenced by the participation of the Colombian brands Jnorig, by Javier Girón, and Velásquez, by Mateo Velásquez, which, despite being based in Catalonia, are deeply connected to their native country.

Balancing established and emerging brands

Throughout the four days of fashion week, the Barcelona catwalk hosted shows by several veteran local brands such as Escorpion, which kicked off the first day with a vibrant parade of knitwear that mixes present and future to redefine fashion. ; Lola Casademunt de Maite, who presented a catwalk full of life, bright colors and animal prints; and Custo Barcelona, ​​​​with the aim of redefining contemporary fashion with innovative technological fibers, resulting in a futuristic and feminine avant-garde show.

Among the established brands, Dominnico also stood out, a young brand that has already made a name for itself on the international scene by dressing celebrities such as Beyoncé and Rosalía. This season, the Alicante designer Domingo Rodríguez Lázaro has revealed his designs for next winter, with an eclectic and vibrant collection inspired by the marine world and rich in details such as rivets and metal pieces.

The event also marked the Barcelona catwalk debut of women's fashion brand Hoss Intropia, part of the Tendam Group, following its initial appearance on the 2022 catwalk during the 75th Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid. Under the creative direction of designer Alejandra Valero, the brand presented its “Holi” collection, a tribute to the Hindu national holiday.

080 Barcelona Fashion also had the participation of some emerging brands eager to repeat their experience on the catwalks in the Catalan city, such as the Valencian Compte Spain, which in its second participation unveiled a collection dominated by quilted fabrics and crochet, made in collaboration with the designer and the mother of the founder Santi Mozas, inspired by “the happy endings of fairy tales, or not always so happy, playing with the duality between death and sex.”

404 Studio, based in Valencia, also presented its new line inspired by the 1995 Japanese animated film “Ghost in the Shell.” Made with materials such as wood, metal and alpaca wool, the collection ventures to explore what will happen in 100 years when we are no longer fully human. According to its creative director Anaïs Vauxcelles, “at that moment, what will connect us with humanity will be craftsmanship and art.”

In addition, the event marked the return to the catwalks of the Catalan brand Sita Murt, which celebrated its centenary with a commemorative collection that reflects the essence and heritage of the brand, marked by the integration of cutting-edge technology.