New director has big plans for Madrid Fashion Week

Custo Barcelona, Marcos Luengo and Menchén Tomás will be making their debut at Madrid Fashion Week, now in its 65th year, as Charo Izquierdo takes up the reins of the events as new director.

“Who lives in nostalgia, lives in the past,” said the new director of Mercedes Benz Madrid Fashion Week, Charo Izquierdo, today in her first press conference. She succeeds Leonor Perez Pita in the role.

The new MBMFW has an ambitious plan to gain visibility at an international level, with strategies including the internationalisation of the event, revealed IFEMA CEO, Eduardo Lopez-Puerta.

Among others, Charo Izquierdo plans to improve the quality of Madrid Fashion Week, formerly known as Cibeles, and expand the presence of international figures. “This is all we can do to attract international talent and interest,” she says.

The executive has set her eyes on Latin America, stating that Spain needs to connect Europe and Latin America in terms of fashion.

As part of the new strategy, a Fashion Committee has been created, which is to be led by Leonor Perez Pita who founded Cibeles and was event manager for over thirty years.

The committee will be made up of a group of experts in fashion, design and trends, who will perform advisory functions in the different management areas, as well as bring in new designers, said Perez Pita.

Running from 17-21 February 2017, Madrid Fashion Week will showcase the collections of 43 designers. A day before, Desigual will host a special event in the heart of Madrid, and Roberto Verino will return to the catwalk with his Spring/Summer 2017 ‘see now, buy now’ collection.

Despite losing the support of Spanish designers Amaya Arzuaga, Davidelfin, Mané Mané and Queen Leticia’s favourite couturier Leandro Cano, Madrid Fashion Week returns with some of the country’s biggest names including Custo Barcelona, Marcos Luengo and Menchen Tomas.

“It’s an honour to host Custo’s show in Madrid,” comments Izquierdo, who also said it’s great that Roberto Verino will be making a return.

She hopes next year’s Madrid Fashion Week will offer better content and better fashion shows, as she considers the event to be vital for the industry. Her dream is to boost the progress of Spanish fashion, she says.

The fashion showcase will be kicked off by designer Juan Vial on Saturday 17, followed by presentations by Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, María Escoté, Maya Hansen, Ángel Schlesser, Devota&Lomba, Francis Montesinos and Ion Fiz.

The Saturday programme includes shows by Moises Nieto, Miguel Marinero, as well as lingerie designers Andrés Sarda, Roberto Torretta, Ana Locking, Hannibal Laguna, Teresa Helbig y Menchén Tomas.

Marcos Luengo, who shows at Madrid Fashion Week for the first time, will be opening the Sunday programme, followed by Ailanto, Ulises Mérida, Juana Martín, Malne, María Ke Fisherman and Custo Barcelona.

The fourth and last day will see collections from The 2nd Skin Co, Alvarno, Jorge Vázquez, Duyos, Juanjo Oliva, JLorenzo and Esther Noriega.

Designs by emerging young talent will be showcased at the Samsung Ego space, including creations from Existence Research Program, Threeones, Outsiders Division, Rocío Laseca, María Magdalena, Amai Rodríguez, Marlina Pradsot, Nacho Costa and Juan Carlos Pajares.

Once again Madrid Fashion Week will present a L'Oréal award to an outstanding designer, and recognise the career of a fashion model.