Marbella to host huge flamenco fashion show featuring top designers

FLAMENCO fashion is a genuine concept in southern Spain, with accessories, costumes, and everyday prêt-à-porter outfits inspired on these retailed across the region of Andalucía – not just for performing artists and fiesta participants, but for the general public, too.

And designers, tailors, seamstresses and retailers have been hit hard by the pandemic, despite being a major source of employment and income in their area.

To give them a boost and show residents, tourists and visitors what they are missing, Marbella (Málaga province) launched an exhibition and fashion show last year, which is set to become an annual event.

The second of these will take place over Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14 in the Pecho de las Cuevas Park, reveals fiesta councillor Yolanda Marín.

'Marbella Flamenca 2022', a scaled-down version of the international Fashion Weeks held in Paris, London, Valencia and Madrid, but with a very southern-Spanish festival flair, will take over the town-centre gardens for two full days with top design houses showcasing their latest creations.

For those who are not sure they would be able to carry off flamenco gear, or that they would ever have the opportunity to wear it, the huge and colourful fashion show is still a great way to find out more about this ancient music and dance folklore and enjoy the bright, cheerful visual effects.

And 'flamenco chic' is not just about swirly, polka-dot dresses: Elegant, figure-hugging satin in single colours, bolero jackets for flinging on over summer clothes when the night gets chilly, black evening dresses, deep purple, and shawls, among other pieces that would look perfectly in keeping with the dress code at a dinner-dance, night-time restaurant meal, party, wedding or golf club soirée are all part of the vast scope of the flamenco fashion industry.

If key designers displaying their works at 'Marbella Flamenca 2022' are too expensive for members of the audience to indulge in, they will at least find inspiration when putting their own outfits together – after all, one of the main aims of fashion shows is to set trends in general, not just advertise the actual creators' wares.

Day one of the show will feature the latest creations by designers Melisa Lozano, Laura González, Joseph Daniel, Marina Soudry, Susana Zamora, Jorge Sánchez, Xiomara Pinto, Rebeca Flamenca, María Sánchez, Alejandro Andana and Rocío Montserrat.

Saturday's exhibition continues with the new collections by Ángeles Ruiz, María Gavilán, New Face Nueva Moda, Isabel Cazorla's fashion school, Aurora Gaviño, Teressa Ninú, and Pepe Canela.

Along with these national and international fashion houses, local, Marbella-based designers hitting the catwalk on Saturday are Esteban Freiría, Silvia Cardeña, Flor de Canela, Aire Flamenco, and F de Frank.

The latter is set to receive the annual Marbella Flamenca Fashion Award at this year's show, the town hall confirms.