True to its commitment to internationalisation, Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week is once again the global hub for such famous designers as Indian-American Naeem Kham and Israeli Galia Lahav. These brands are joining the major Spanish fashion firms exhibiting their creations for the forthcoming Spring/Summer 2017 season on the catwalk.
Naeem Khan is an Indian-American designer based in New York who dresses international high society women such as US First Lady Michelle Obama, Queen Noor of Jordan, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Eva Longoria, Diane Kruger and Spanish celebrities Penélope Cruz, Isabel Preysler and Elsa Pataky, amongst many others.
Khan, who founded his firm in 2003, first launched his bridal range in 2013. In Barcelona he’ll be showing his bridal collection for Spring 2016 along with a selection of evening and party wear from his haute couture Autumn/Winter 2016/17 collection.
Born in Mumbai and resident in New York, Naeem Khan comes from a family of fashion designers who used to create garments for Indian royalty. He moved at a very young age to the United States where he collaborated with designer Halston, the creator behind many of the looks of Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Silvana Mangano and Liza Minnelli. In 2008 he was made a member of the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Today, Naeem Khan’s bridal collections are distributed through more than 100 points of sale across the world in luxury and high-end fashion stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Another exciting addition to this year’s edition is Galia Lahav, one of the most prestigious labels in the haute couture universe specializing in bridal dresses and occasion wear. Throughout the firm’s 30-year history, Galia, the label’s designer and creator, has dressed numerous celebrities such as Jennifer López, Australian model Dani Lawrence and singer Jana Kramer, helping them to shine at the altar or on the red carpets of the world.
The designer, originally from Russia and now settled in Tel Aviv (Israel), has many stores across the world. Her creations have an unmistakable style that combines the latest fashion trends with exceptionally luxurious detailing. She will be presenting her collection of bridal dresses known as ‘N.2 of GALA by Galia Lahav’ on the Barcelona catwalk, featuring an urban, romantic style. She will also be showing these new outfits and the ‘N.1 of GALA by Galia Lahav’ collection on her stand at the trade show.
BBFW continues to be committed not only to attracting designers but also buyers, journalists and distributors, especially from the USA and Europe. Estermaria Laruccia, the show’s director, confirms that ‘at present we are focusing on the USA and Western Europe to consolidate the show in these regions of particular interest to the bridal industry, which in turn attract other regions around the word, and later on we will be expanding our field of action. Our goal,’ adds Laruccia, ‘is to turn Barcelona into the international capital of bridal fashion.’
