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(Español) Gratacós en la pasarela madrileña
The Innovations of Mercedes/Benz Fashion Week Madrid
February is the month for fashion weeks. Barcelona, New York, London, now Madrid and to finish off Milan. Concentrating on the Spanish capital, in this edition a total of 42 Spanish companies will parade on the cat-walk Mercedes/Benz Fashion Week Madrid (MBFWM), which is presenting an agenda full of organisational innovations. One of these is the incorporation of Charo Izquierdo as director, who takes over from Leonor Pérez-Pita. Another is in the participating creative designers, with new names to swell their list. As usual the main event in Spanish fashion will take place from 16th until 21st February in pavilion number 14.1 of Ifema.
Teresa Helbig
With regard to the designers, this year sees the addition of important names in fashion such as Custo Barcelona, Menchén Tomàs and Marcos Luengo. The first two are regulars of the Catalan fashion-parades. These individual-based companies are in addition to the list of designers who participate every year in the MBFWM, such as Roberto Verino, Angel Schlesser, Moisés Nieto, Miguel Marinero, Teresa Helbig, The 2nd Skin Co or Maine, amongst other well-known names.
Juan Carlos Pajares
In the category of young fashion talents, SAMSUNG EGO also mentions the designer Juan Carlos Pajares, whose path we have been following since his debut last year. He is a fashion entrepreneur from Guadalajara with a style that has proved seductive for many Spanish celebrities. The Samsung Ego Showroom will take place in El Cibelespacio and will feature the participation of fifteen young designers.
Roberto Verino
The trend “I see it and I want it” is becoming established in Spain.
Without doubt the trend revelation of the year is the so-called “See now, Buy Now” boasted by international fashion-houses such as Tom Ford, Burberry or Tommy Hilfiger. After its success in080Barcelona Fashion this novel business concept of presenting the collections which consumers will then buy on-the-spot is arriving in Madrid courtesy of Roberto Verino. This new formula consists in creating collections which customers can see and buy on-the-spot, encouraging a consumption which is sustainable and responsible.
At Gratacós we will be keeping a close watch on the fashion-parades so as to not lose sight of any of our fabrics. We will keep you informed…
Gratacós stamps its mark in “Velvet”
Gratacós fabrics also shone in the final of “Velvet”. They did so in the successful event “The Happening of the Year”, the party with which the popular period series wished to reward the loyalty of all of its fans. A big date which Antena 3 organised on 14th December in the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid and which offered all manner of activities to the 2.500 plus people who visited the area during the day.
Amongst the activities there stood out one which involves us directly: the exhibition of the winning dresses from the design competitition which “Velvet”put a start to this past 20th September. An initiative by Antena 3, IFEMA – Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid, ModaEspaña and Madrid es Moda in order to give an opportunity to young talents and to promote their work on television. The three designs chosen from the competition form part of the first prêt-à-porter collection by Galerías Velvet.
The competition was a success in terms of participation and stood out by the quality of the entries – more than 400 of them – of which 6 finalist designs were selected. These models were put together in the workshop “Al Dedal”, the property of Lola Piña, a company which in 2015 was awarded the Fashion Prize. From the finalist designs eventually 3 winners were selected, by designers Rebeca Jover, Tatiana López Pombo and Juan José Grajera Fuentes, all of whom put together the models with our seasonal fabrics.
To be specific, Rebeca went for a black and cream satin mikado together with a fitted and lined black tulle to complete an elegant evening dress. Tatiana López produced a sophisticated design with red mikado and lining. Finally Juan José Grajera created a design based on maroon satin and wool, lined and with a sheepskin neck. The result: pure distinction.
All the designs sported the label “Made in Spain” and were chosen by a jury of experts from the sector such as Cuca Solana, the director of MBFWM and the designers Modesto Lomba and Hannibal Laguna, amongst others.
Congratulations on the results !
A Long-Distance Runner
Imagination is the blank canvas of every designer and it is through the fabrics that the garments start to assume shape, volume and colour until they are transformed into the final works that the creator had in mind from the beginning. Throughout our history we have seen how our fabrics became transformed, as if by magic, into delicate jewels of garments eminently suited to stand out on special occasions: exuberant dresses, delicate semi-transparent blouses, full skirts… Clothes that can only make us marvel. Even then, when we find a designer capable of adding a nuance to our fabrics to transform them into more informal and casual garments, conceived for day-to-day wear, it never fails to surprise us, because above all our passion is for creativity and experimentation. This is the case with Moisés Nieto ( born in Jaén in 1984 ) and his latest collection Spring-Summer 2017 presented in the September edition of the fashion-parade Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid.
The Olympic Games continue to inspire fashion and the frenzy for sport continues to excite the interest of designers. So with his watchwords”Ready, Set, Go ! “ the designer from Jaén presented a Summer collection inspired by the uniforms of elite sports-people in an atmosphere where the sounds of the legendary “Chariots of Fire “ gave ambience to setting the scene on this sporty theme. The models bore the looks of this hyper-feminine exhibition by virtue of bodys inspired by the dress of gymnasts, belts which found their reference in the martial arts or uniforms inspired by the tennis- players of the seventies. All laid-out on a 28 metre-long athletics- track displaying the designer´s signature. What stands out is the use that Moisés Nieto makes of Gratacós fabrics to express this sporting essence, where the classical and the most innovative fabrics merge: little metallic grills which are super-imposed on one-another or circular motifs beautifully embroidered in cotton, creating a stunning optical effect.
Once again we applaud the talent of Moisés Nieto who by dint of hard work and tenacity has been able to overcome those dips in career needed to survive in the fashion industry. One of the goals achieved was to be pronounced the winner of the latest edition of the competition for young talents Who’s On Next ? organised by the magazine Vogue España. His innovative spirit, his great capacity for organisation and his tenacity in attaining objectives were decisive in his walking away with the prize in a brief professional career – started in 2011-which foresees many more triumphs. There is no doubt whatsoever that we shall soon be seeing Moisés ‘s next goal…
A lease of renewed momentum for Spanish Fashion
September is the month of Fashion with new editions of the most prestigious fashion catwalks worldwide. After New York, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid takes place in the Spanish capital. This upmost important event with the “made in Spain” design, takes place from the 15th to the 20th September in the exhibition hall 14.1 of the IFEMA Madrid trade fair.
The show brings together 41 Spanish creators (and 1 international designer from Kiev) who will present their Spring-Summer 2017 collections in an innovative way. The novelties include the incorporation of the creator Leandro Cano and also Malne, a brand created by Juanjo Mánez and Paloma Álvarez of unique and elegant garments. These conclude the catwalk shows of established designers in this edition.
Gratacós would like to highlight the participation of Catalan designers who confide in the family business. For example Andrés Sardá or Teresa Helbig and also other Spanish creators that receive their support such as Ángel Schlesser, Roberto Torreta, Juan Vidal, Amaya Arzuaga or The 2nd Skin Co, amongst others.
As is the custom, the last day of the catwalk show is dedicated to emerging design with a new edition of Samsung EGO. Furthermore, 15 young creators will present their designs in the Cibelesespacio Samsung Ego Showroom, with direct sales to the public during the days of the event. In this category, Gratacós would like to mention two young designers with a promising career:
1. Xevi Fernández
This designer from Empordà, studied in Barcelona in the Institut Català de la Moda. During his training, he won various competitions including ‘Young Talent Prize Bread & Butter’ 2009 in Berlín. His first collection “Nuclear” was awarded the prize of Best Masculine Collection by Creamoda in Bilbao. Xevi Fernández carried out his first work together with the designer Josep Font and this is where his interest began in the handicraft aspect of Haute Couture. The young designer has already participated in the Madrid catwalk show with his latest collection “The Last Future”, a collection with futuristic airs that reflects upon technology and society.
2. Juan Carlos Pajares
This 23 year old designer from Guadalajara is one of the fashion entrepreneurs with most influence. He studied in Saint Martins school in London and debuted last year in the Samsung Ego catwalk show with his collection Form Follow Function’ that did not leave anyone indifferent. So much so that some Spanish celebrities such as Nieves Álvarez, Berta Vázquez or Dafne Fernández have already been seen wearing some of his outfits at different events.
The talent of Pedro Covelo
Pedro Covelo is part of this new generation of male designers that know and recognize the needs of the current man; those that look for design, comfort and renovation with contemporary ideas that are a little daring but do not lose their functionality.
The young designer was born in Vigo and during his childhood he took various music, theatre and dance lessons. In the end, Pedro Covelo chose fashion design and moved to Barcelona to study in FD MODA- LCI Barcelona. “It was something more arbitrary that came into my life and I used it as a form of expression” assured the Galicia born creator.
2014 represents the beginning of his career when he won the MODAFAD prize to Best Young Designer in Barcelona following his final degree project. If this was not enough, that very same year they gave him a similar prize in Galicia and he was finalist in the MMOD competition in Murcia.
Despite being so young, Pedro Covelo has already participated at 080 Barcelona Fashion and Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek Madrid. He seduced everybody with his third collection “Un sapo llamado Mike” (a frog called Mike) inspired in the North American Westerns, an interesting proposal of rich fabrics and well defined cuts. “I define myself for doing something sincere and very my own” explained Pedro regarding his way of working. “I like classic tailoring by pattern, I go for innovation in fabrics, prints and embroidery. For me, it is very important to favour handicraft work.”
A juvenile collection that maintains the essence of the designer in a wild Western American surrounding. Silk shirts, ribbons at the neck, Bohemian style trousers and coats created with patchwork. All the garments use a surprising mix of fabrics and prints. Some of them are ours, for example the floral prints and the original orange crepe fabric that Pedro used to print the faces of the presidents of the United States. We are mutually thankful for his trust in us. “Gratacos is part of my family in fashion and has been a big support for me” said the young designer.
Pedro Covelo is settled in Barcelona and continues his work in the design world. The journey however is not always smooth. “It is not an easy job and when you are young more so because it is difficult to survive with the little help they give us” he explained. Despite the possible obstacles, Pedro calls for a steady hand to work in what he most enjoys, fashion creation. And the first steps have been taken.
Good luck!
An award for a career
Roberto Torretta has been given an award at the “III Premios Nacionales de la Moda” (National Fashion Awards). These awards distinguish the fine work carried out by the creators and the industry in our country. The ceremony took place last month in the Traje museum in Madrid and was chaired by Queen Leticia.
The Argentinian designer received this award for his long life dedication to the fashion industry.
Roberto Torretta was born in Buenos Aires but moved to Spain in 1972 where he began to work in the fashion world as a member of the sales team in the company Trip Difusión in Madrid. That very same year, in Spains capital, he took part in the launch of an emblematic shop “Boutique Berlin”.
In 1981 he created the brand and company SNIF S.A. Two years later his first catwalk show took place in Madrid in the “Circulo de Bellas Artes” (Fine Arts Circle), an event organized by the magazine “Dunia”.
In his beginnings, Torretta specialized in cotton fabrics and produced various collections of sport clothes. Over the years, the collections evolved into more sophisticated designs with lusher fabrics.
The crucial year for Roberto Torretta came in 1996 when he debuted in the Cibeles catwalk show. It was not until 1998 however till he participated in the show individually with his own name. Following this, he opened shops in Madrid, Valencia and Seville.
Roberto Torretta has worked hard to maintain his place following the demands of the market. How? By diversifying the brand in new ideas beyond fashion. His fashion lines currently include; womens prêt-à-porter clothes that he presents each season in the Madrid show, an evening collection and another for bridal dresses. Furthermore, he has designed a collection of glasses for Federópticos, a collection of bath linen and bedding for Atrium, a coat and leather accessories collection for La Roca Village, a tableware collection for Arc, a jewellery collection for Le Cadóy and a precious stone jewellery collection for Navas.
This capacity he has for adaptation and reconversion has earned him a national award that endorse his experience and a long career contribuiting to the fashion industry.
Furthermore, Roberto Torretta confides in the quality of the Gratacós fabrics and various designs exhibited at his show in the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid were made using our fabrics.
All we can say more is, congratulations Roberto!
