A total of 15 finalists have been announced for the 5 categories of the BBFA after considering the different aspects of bridal fashion, from the design of the collection to the graphic campaign, and assessing the creative talent, professionalism, and excellence of the firms in each specialty.
The awards ceremony taking place on April 20th will have an exceptional host: Randy Fenoli, the famous designer and star of the reality TV show “Say yes to the dress”, set in the iconic Kleinfeld Bridal shop in New York. The winners will receive awards designed by Laura Carmona & Carol Pascual of Cual studio in Valencia, which – in keeping with the event’s philosophy – is dedicated to combining the artisanal with the digital in the fields of art and design with the value added of being produced locally.
Albasarí Caro, director of BBFW, said the event will be “a unique opportunity to celebrate fashion in all its aspects, rewarding the talent of professionals who are passionately dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in their work.”
The names of talent
For the “Wedding Dress” category, undoubtedly one of the most coveted awards, Galia Lahav (Israel), Cucculelli Shaheen (USA) and Pnina Tornai (USA) have been selected finalists. One among them will receive the recognition for the most iconic and creative design, capable of setting trends among the brides for the coming season.
The “Bridal Collection” aimed at acknowledging the most visionary collection, capable of reflecting the woman of today and tomorrow, will go to one of these 3 brands: Ines Di Santo (Canada), Marco & Maria (Spain) and Sophie et Voilà (Spain).
Similarly, Luigi Bianchi (Italy), Lucas Balboa (Spain) and Mans Concept (Spain) have been nominated for the “Groom Collection”, which rewards innovation and versatility in men’s bridal fashion.
In the “Red Carpet Collection” category, the jury will choose between Jenny Packham (UK), Saiid Kobeisy and Georges Hobeika, both from Lebanon, who most represents sophistication, elegance and glamour in black-tie events.
Finally, Serravalle (Germany), Alexandra Grecco (USA) and Yolancris (Spain) are the three candidates for the “Campaign Image”, which highlights excellence in the visual impact and artistic approach applied to image and communication in the bridal world.
New in this edition, the public at large will be able to vote and choose the “People’s Choice” winner among the brands that walked the runway at BBFW 2023. In addition, two honorary awards will be presented: “Barcelona Brand” aimed at recognizing the local brand granting the most visibility to the city of Barcelona, and the “Lifetime Achievement” award to honor a designer who has made outstanding personal and professional contributions to the world of fashion over the course of his or her life.
Top-notch jury
The finalists have been selected by a specialized committee, comprised of Triana Alonso, Editor of the Fashion Network (France); Leticia García, Editor-in-chief of SModa (Spain); Charo Mora, Fashion consultant, Professor and Curator; and Albasarí Caro, Director of BBFW.
The international jury who will choose the winners is made up of 15 renowned fashion and design specialists, as well as Spanish and international communication professionals such as Ayuka Matsumoto, Editor of Elle Japan and Brides USA; Giovanni Sparacio, Editor-in-chief of Elle Spose (Italy); and María José Gonzálvez – Associate Fashion Editor of Vogue Mexico and Latin America.
The jury members coming from the Spanish media are Jesús María Montes, Director of the RTVE show Flash Moda; Carmen Catasús, Deputy Director of Hola Fashion and Hola Novias; Isabel Clarós, Fashion and Lifestyle Editor of La Vanguardia; Lucia Francesch, Deputy Director of Telva magazine; Paloma Herce, Fashion Consultant and journalist at Elle and Cool The Lifestyle; Patrica Moreno, Director of Fashion Now; and Virginia Cánovas, Director of Marketing and Communication at The Knot Worlwide – Bodas.net.
In addition, the jury will also include internationally renowned Wedding Planners Anna Francisco (Italy), Bruce Russell (UK), and Juan Pablo Partida (Mexico), as well as two representatives of design schools: Estel Vilaseca, Director of the Fashion Design Area at LCI Barcelona; and Andrea Marchesi, Director of the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) in Barcelona.
BBFW, organized by Fira de Barcelona with the support of the Catalan Ministry of Business and Labour, will be the epicenter of bridal fashion from April 17th to 21st at the Montjuïc venue. With 37 designers taking part in the catwalk shows and over 390 firms – 80% of which international – presenting their products at the trade show, the event strengthens its leadership as the main platform for business, internationalization and networking in the world of bridal fashion.
Barcelona, March 2024
Salvador Bilurbina – Mª Gloria Dilluvio
609 73 47 70 – 93 233 21 72
gdilluvio@firabarcelona.com