ONE of the world's most prestigious catwalk shows, the Mercedes-Benz Madrid Fashion Week, is now under way and features some of Spain's biggest names alongside brand-new, up-and-coming designers among its 48 exhibitors.
Day one, Wednesday, brought a brand-new collection from the Pedro del Hierro design house, the first to hit Madrid Fashion Week's catwalk since 2003 when the creator hung up his drawing board.
Del Hierro died on April 3, 2015 at age 66 from a heart condition he had been suffering for over 12 years and, although he sold the retailing rights of his colourful, classical and affordable clothing to high-street chain Cortefiel in 1989, was active in designing new ranges for the next 14 years.
Del Hierro's design house lives on under the auspices of Carmen March, who took over in 2012.
On the first day, catwalk parades were held at prominent parts of the city – Pedro del Hierro at the railway museum, Pilar Dalbat at the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Jesús Lorenzolo in the Hotel Santo Mauro, the brand Oteyza in the old abattoir building – now an exhibition hall – and the label Duarte in IKB 191 Studio.
Yesterday (Thursday) brought the minimalist designs with tassels and silk, blouses, skirts and trousers by Alvarno; a futuristic range with an abundance of lurex, flannel, sequins and patent leather 'in tribute to strong women' by María Escoté; whilst up-market high-street favourite Roberto Verino paid homage to Canary Island artist César Manrique, working underwater life patterns inspired by the latter's Atlantic Fauna series.
Other labels showcased yesterday were flamboyant streetwear brand Desigual with its Un-Dress range, Jorge Vázquez, Leandro Cano, ManéMané and Juan Vidal.
Today started with Andrés Sarda; The 2nd Skin Co, Hannibal Laguna and Ana Locking, with this afternoon bringing collections by Devota & Lomba, the psychedelic 'queen of colour and crazy patterns' Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada, Du Yos and La Condesa.
Ailanto, Ángel Schlesser, Ulisés Mérida, Malne, Juanjo Oliva, Teresa Helbig, Custo and Moisés Nieto are up on Saturday, whilst Marcos Luengo, Jon Fiz, Juana Martín, García Madrid, Miguel Marinero, Isabel Núñez, Shoop, and Palomo Spain – the latter famously picked by singer Miley Cyrus for a recent video – will step out on Sunday.
As every year, the Samsung EGO section presents new, young designers, all of whom are worth watching since their creations bought whilst they remain in relative obscurity will rise sharply in value if they become mainstream.
Zer – last year's Samsung EGO winners – Antonio Sicilia, Cherry Massia, Urde Studio, Paloma Suárez, Christián Simmon, Madridman So, Anel Yaos, Célia Valverde, Babu Khadia, María Martín Studio and Chromosome Residence will exhibit their new collections on Monday.
The photograph shows a scene from Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada's 'taster' parade on the first day.
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