California native Katharine Polk, the founder and designer of the contemporary ready-to-wear and bridal collections, Houghton will be the ‘guest star’ at the next edition of Barcelona Bridal Week, to be held at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via Exhibition Centre between 5 and 10 May.Regarded by fashion industry insiders as one of the most ground-breaking collections on the international fashion scene, Houghton will be presenting its 2016 Bridal collection along side six, custom-created designs made exclusively for the Barcelona Bridal Show catwalk, the leading event in its sector in Europe on May 8th , 2015.
Inspired by the style of Katharine Hepburn, Patti Smith and Bianca Jagger, all women with strong personalities, designer Katharine Polk launched Houghton in 2011 with both ready-to-wear and bridal collections. Following her debut in February 2012 at Lincoln Center during New York Fashion Week, she won instant acclaim from the press and fashion experts who identified the powerful emergence of a rising star in the easy-chic, pared-down, feminine lines of her creations. Indeed, Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) singled her out as the ‘New Designer to Watch’ and she was chosen by Style.com as ‘The Next Big Thing’ in 2014.
Houghton’s bridal collections are the epitome of impeccable elegance combined with transgressive touches. Designer Katharine Polk said, “I’m creating a collection of bridal wear for women who want to get married in something simple, sexy and timeless.” Born in Malibu, California, Katharine currently resides in the New York City and set up her atelier in the trendy Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan.
For Barcelona Bridal Week, Houghton will be presenting its Spring/Summer 2016 collection with a capsule of six styles designed exclusively for the Barcelona Bridal Week runway. The show will comprise of approximately twenty-seven looks inspired by the light and airy aesthetic of a Gypsy Bohemian bride crafted in silk linens, chiffons, eyelet laces and delicate embroideries.
Designer, Katharine Polk said, “It is a true honor to be Barcelona Bridal Weeks first guest designer and to showcase my Spring 2016 collection on a such a globally recognized stage.”
The USA, the guest country at the show
The US designer’s participation forms part of the internationalization strategy being rolled out by the event’s organisers, and this year the United States is the guest country. This initiative not only includes the presence of a ‘Special Guest Designer’ – in this case, Katharine Polk of Houghton – but also other firms, exhibitors, buyers, trade professionals and journalists from North America.
In this respect, the new president of Barcelona Bridal Week, Marta Raich, says: “It’s essential to put an emphasis on internationalization in order to strengthen the show’s branding and showcase the characteristic features of ‘Made in Spain’ bridal fashions worldwide. These include a blend of creativity and innovation in design, craftsmanship in creation, and competitiveness in the production and marketing of our bridal wear.”
The show’s director, Miquel Serrano, says: “This year we’ve chosen the USA as our guest country because there is absolutely no doubt that it holds tremendous strategic importance in the bridal market. But this is just the first step in making Barcelona Bridal Week a truly global event.”
The show, organized by Fira de Barcelona, will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and once again aims to provide a global showcase for bridal wear design. More than 20 well-known international firms will be showing on the catwalk while the trade show area features over 200 exhibitors, entailing the official presentation of some 12,000 dresses from the upcoming season’s collections. The catwalk show kicks off Bridal Fashion Week between 5 and 8 May, while the trade show takes place from 8 to 10 May.
Barcelona, January 2015
Mª Gloria Dilluvio – (+34) 93 233 21 72 – gdilluvio@firabarcelona.com
