Between 18th and 22nd February, Hall 14.1 at Feria de Madrid hosted the staging of the most comprehensive overview of the world of Spanish fashion creation and design, based on the staging of the fifty-seventh edition of MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK MADRID (MBFWM), an event organized by IFEMA.
Throughout its five-day duration, this grand event sought to promote Spanish fashion and its creative diversity, welcoming a total of 40,322 visitors to its fashion shows, whilst also introducing them to the latest new features from the leading fashion brands and publications taking part at CIBELESPACIO, the stands area located alongside the two catwalks.
The two catwalks located in Hall 14.1, which are known as Mercedes-Benz and, as a new feature, Bertha Benz, provided the setting for the presentation of the Autumn/Winter 2013-14 Collections of 42 of the most important established and up-and-coming designers of the moment. These creators were complemented with around twenty young up-and-coming designers, who, as is habitual at each edition, presented their collections at the EGO Showroom located within the framework of CIBELESPACIO, featuring direct sale to members of the public.
On this occasion, the fashion shows took place between Monday and Friday and did not include the weekend, as has been customary in recent years. In spite of this, the calendar presented a similar structure to that of previous years. Thus, the fashion shows of the established designers took place between Monday and Thursday, whilst Friday was devoted entirely to the young designers at EGO.
A New Award for Younger Designers at EGO
Furthermore, this edition of MBFWM marked the commencement of a collaboration promoted by the different fashion shows that Mercedes-Benz sponsors throughout the world, one aimed at presenting a prize at each edition to the best young designer at the EGO Forum, complete with international promotional measures.
The first edition of this new prize, known as the Mercedes Benz-Fashion Talent Award, went to the Valencian designer, Pepa Salazar, who, thanks to this award, will have the opportunity to present her collection next season at Fashion Week in Mexico. Similarly, next September, a young foreign designer who has been granted this award in another country will present a fashion show as part of the EGO Programme, alongside other up-and-coming talents from Spain.
Rabaneda, Etxeberría and Moisés Nieto: New Participants on the General Programme
Another of the new features at this edition of MBFWM consisted of the incorporation of the young designers, Rabaneda, Etxeberría and Moisés Nieto, into the General Fashion Show Programme. The presentation of their collections alongside a number of established designers was warmly received by the critics. In all three cases, these are designers whose meteoric professional careers have provided sufficient evidence of their fashion talent.
Fashion Show Schedule
The first few days of this fifty-seventh edition of MBFWM, which took place between Monday 18th and Wednesday 20th February, were devoted to the designers belonging to the Fashion Designers Association of Spain (ACME). Thursday 21st was set aside for the designers who do not form part of this Association, as well as those taking part in the double Fur Fashion Show, whilst Friday 22nd February was devoted to the five double fashions shows of the young designers at EGO.
The firm, Aristocrazy, staged its second fashion show at MBFWM, effectively presenting its new fashion jewellery collection at a truly spectacular event.
Furthermore, on Wednesday 20th, Mahou presented a new fashion show concept, an actual fashion catwalk, under the heading of the Mahou Urban Collection by Bimba, which took place outside IFEMA in Hall 16 at Matadero Madrid.
Through the auspices of Bimba Bosé, Mahou Cinco Estrellas, the organiser of this fashion event, sought to capture the essence of the styles that can be seen on the streets. The singer and model, who is one of the best-known faces within the world of Spanish fashion, sought to reflect on the catwalk all of the styles that are worn throughout the city, making up the freshest and most authentic fashion look.
The double fur fashion show organised by Miguel Marinero and Jesús Lorenzo concluded the programme of established designers at this edition.
EGO
As far as EGO is concerned, the presentation of the collections from up-and-coming designers in Spain took place entirely throughout the course of the day on Friday 22nd February. As is customary, the programme was structured around five double fashion shows featuring the collections of 10 young talents from the world of Spanish fashion. Out of the total number of participants, two had already presented their collections at previous editions of EGO (Leyre Valiente and Valdnad), whilst the remaining eight participants (Pepa Salazar, POL, Manemane, Heridadegato, HOWL by Maria Glück, Eugenio Loarce, Pablo Erroz and Ssic and Paul) were taking part for the first time.
With fifteen editions behind it, including this recently concluded edition, EGO has brought together more than 100 young designers since the initiative was set up by IFEMA back in February 2006. Specifically, six of these designers have gone on to be included on the General Fashion Show Schedule at Madrid Fashion Week. Thus, the names of the young designers, Maria Escoté, Martín Lamothe, Sara Coleman and Maya Hansen were complemented at this edition by those of Etxeberria and Moisés Nieto.
As far as the EGO Showroom is concerned, this part of the event maintained the new philosophy that was introduced at last September's edition, which represents a key development regarding the event that has been organised in previous years. Thus, in addition to a new approach in terms of the decoration and design of this space, the EGO Showroom focuses exclusively on the exhibition and on the sale of these clothing collections by twenty new designers to the public.
In addition, MBFWM February 2013 featured an Off-Site Programme, including three fashion shows by designers at different venues throughout Madrid.
