The brand’s English founders Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig both studied at the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London, where they met. In 2004 they became partners and launched their own brand, which they named Marchesa, in honour of the eccentric Italian aristocrat Marchesa Luisa Casati, a true celebrity of the early 20th century. The designers have chosen Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week to unveil their Marchesa Bridal Couture Spring 2020 collection along with a selection of evening gowns from their Ready to Wear line during Barcelona Bridal Night, the gala evening, to be held on 24 April.
Currently, Chapman and Craig are based in New York and their brand has become a celebrity favourite with many stars such as Blake Lively, Nicole Richie, Cameron Diaz, Emily Blunt, Julianne Hough and models Rhea Durham and Petra Nemcova have all said “I do” while wearing a Marchesa dress. The actress Scarlett Johansson has recently joined this long list for the Met Gala in May 2018, as has Vanessa Hudgens, for the première of her latest film this summer, and Cindy Crawford, who dazzled in a Marchesa black dress at the British Fashion Awards last 10 December in London.
Chapman and Craig say they feel “Incredibly honoured to be showing during Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week this coming April and couldn’t be more thrilled to unveil the Spring 2020 bridal collection exclusively on Barcelona Bridal Night, allowing guests an intimate opportunity to view the collection”.
According to Estermaria Laruccia, director of BBFW, “with Marchesa we take a further step in our commitment to fashion, design and creativity with an international impact, once again putting Barcelona in the focus of the world’s attention. Being able to share our stage with Georgina and Keren means not only dedicating our energies to the fashion world, but also putting our faith in two women leading their brand and lives with courage and determination, and who continue developing a project with a great future ahead. These are two women who have given their designs the perfect blend of sensuality and feminine strength so in vogue today. We are proud of adding Marchesa to the already packed schedule of shows in the upcoming edition, which we will soon reveal.”
Marchesa becomes yet another of the greats to have be seen on the runway in recent years on Barcelona Bridal Night, joining Reem Acra, Ángel Sánchez, Naeem Khan, Galia Lahav and Houghton. Coming to BBFW has often meant the first fashion show in Europe or Spain for these brands and have helped shine the world’s spotlight on Barcelona for bridal and evening wear, thus generating new market opportunities for all the national and international brands around the world.
BBFW 2019 will take place from 23-28 April 2019, at the Montjuïc venue of Fira de Barcelona. Over the first four days, the show will welcome the 2020 collections of some 30 brands on its catwalk, and from 26-28 the trade show will be held with the fashion proposals for brides, grooms, the ceremony and accessories, featuring around 400 brands, 70% of whom are international.
Barcelona, December 2018