Talking Barcelona

And Finally

Albasarí Caro, the new director of Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, brings the experience of a long and hugely successful career spearheading the expansion of ready-to-wear and bridal fashion companies to the show equation. Wedding Trader talked to the woman who is building the future

Is BBFW something you have always wanted to be involved with? In fact, I already took part in BBFW during my time as head of expansion for the Pronovias international franchise network, a role I held for almost ten years. It is a show that I know and in which I have participated from the brand’s point of view, and like me it is known by almost all bridal fashion professionals around the world. It is the hub of bridal fashion on a global level, where leading brands and also young national and international talents meet with the operators in this field to network, do business and take the pulse of the sector.

What do you believe makes this show stand out from all others? As I mentioned before, it is the leading show in its sector due to the variety and quality of the offer, which also accounts for 75% of exhibitors and 65% of international visitors. Another great added value is the unique format of BBFW, which encompasses both the trade show and the catwalk at the same time, in a spectacular exhibition centre and in a city like Barcelona. All this makes it an event without equal. The pandemic – what have been the greatest changes for the exhibition itself? During the pandemic the show had to adapt to the circumstances and held an exclusively virtual edition. To this end, an online platform was created. In fact, we were the only bridal fashion show that was able to offer this virtual connection during the pandemic.

Do you see changing the format of the show in 2023 and what shape might it take? The format works very well and therefore we will not change it. What we will do is enrich the content. We will put in place a five-year plan to offer brands and buyers high added value in terms of information on market dynamics, advice on various sales methods and also suggestions on how to approach the business according to new consumer habits. Our show will be both aspirational and inspirational.

The current visitors, what is the rough breakdown percentage-wise by country? Most of them are from Europe, followed by buyers from countries that the show considers strategic for the sector. In the 2022 edition, visitors came mainly from Italy,

Backstage The planning behind the show goes from year to year

Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

What special features can we look forward to in 2023? The show will have a business focus, but we also want to offer ideas that guide and facilitate the work of both brands and buyers. Our commitment is that all those who participate in the show live a complete experience, capable of providing another vision of the dynamics of bridal fashion. Conferences, training, sustainability... everything will revolve around the main market trends that we will offer through various initiatives, focusing above all on fashion and business.

What do you see as the show’s greatest achievements from its start? BBFW has achieved global prominence. Today, it is the leading global show in its speciality, the place where the main international brands choose to present their collections for the following season, as well as the most important networking point in the world. Importantly, it also continues to register a very significant increase in the number of international professionals at each edition. The objective today is to consolidate the success achieved so far and continue to grow.

What do you personally find inspires your thinking/ planning? Undoubtedly young people, brides and the market they move. The bridal ecosystem and consumer habits are changing and BBFW 2023 will reflect this evolution. The bride is increasingly concerned about issues such as sustainability and is looking for brands that are more committed to the environment. Some brides want to take advantage of the dress after the wedding, others are looking for several dresses because they want to change during the celebration, and today there are more second weddings; in short, we must always be very attentive, paying special attention to the market and focusing on everything that moves in the networks, in the world, in society.

How many exhibitors do you expect this year? According to forecasts, more than 300. We will be expanding the ecosystem in future editions, the wedding is not only for the bride but also for the guests, so it is necessary to offer party dresses and the market demands that this is reflected in the show. In this sense, there is a lot of room for growth in the future. But our priority is to achieve the top level, quality and excellence of the brands and designers who participate.

What are you looking forward to most in your new role? The satisfaction of being personally involved in a great project that encompasses fashion and much more: it is also about craftsmanship, art, creativity, sustainability, tradition and innovation, product diversification and all that bridal fashion represents and promotes. It is a fascinating sector and it will be very interesting for me to follow, reflect and drive the evolution of this industry from the perspective of a new professional role.

Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, 19-23 April.