March 07, 2018
Emerging design breaks records in Bilbao
The sixth edition doubles the number of participants: 1,673 entries from 90 countries
In the sixth edition of its international fashion design competition, BIAAF (Bilbao International Art & Fashion) has broken all possible records and has become a European reference for emerging design with 1673 entries from 90 countries. All of them have presented creations inspired by the art world.
Among the aspiring winners – € 25,000 in prizes – there are students from the 10 best schools in the world: Central Saint Martins, Parsons, London College of Fashion, Shenkar, Fashion Institute of Technology, Polimoda or Istituto Marangoni. The jury, composed of Miriam Ocáriz, Mercedes of Miguel Garbiñe Urdampilleta, Juana Ruiz, Javier Barroeta, Gabriel Azkoitia, Javier de Juana and Elisa Palomino, has selected the 30 finalists of this edition at AzkunaZentroa (Bilbao):
Category A: Outfit
Sheila Pazos Silva (Spain), Kato Daichi (Japan), Giorgio Paolino (Italy), Doyi Park (South Korea), Ryota Sakai (Japan), Eneko Iturbe Balzola (Spain), Gabriela Grajales Giraldo (Colombia), Marta Arribas de la Maza (Spain), Fernando Luján (México), Lia Fattal (Israel), Hadar Shevach (Israel), Astrid Goossens (Bélgium), Betitxe Saitva Estebanez (Spain), Wouter Verstraete (Bélgium), Suzuho Nakamori (Japan), Asami Kawabata (Japan), Andrés Jarabo Moreno (Spain), Denise Graus (Spain), Antonio López Sobrino (Spain), Sarah Ama Duah (Germany), Henry Arturo Tzab Viana (México), Ismael Parrilla Ríos (Spain), Yulia Pakealina (Russia), Usune Bravo (Spain) and Ririka Nakamura (Japan).
Category B (Accesories):
Sheila Pazos Silva (Spain), Junichi Sugiura (UK), Álvaro Maestre Saiz (Spain), Oriol Pujol Mirii (Spain), Takafumi Arai (Japan) and Ainur Amangeldiyeva (Kazajistán).
The final jury session shall take place next May 18th.An international jury that will shortly be announced, will choose the winners of each category : Best Garment Design, Best Accesory Design and Best Basque Designer. The awards ceremony shall take place next June 13th at AzkunaZentroa, as well as the opening of an exhibition showcasing the finalists and winners’ works conceived by Zorrozua y Asociados Architecture & Design Firm.
About BIAAF
BIAAF is a platform dedvoted to discover, support and launch emerging fashion designers from around the world showing outstanding talent, innovation and creativity. With the aim of discovering local talents and attracting international talent, BIAAF aspires to be a tractor of creative companies in Bizkaia and the city of Bilbao becomes a fashion launch platform created by emerging designers, so that these young professionals can use design as a way to achieve sustainable economic development.
After 12 years of experience, BIAAF has managed to adapt to the needs of emerging fashion designers, offering them scholarship, forums, masterclass and visibility programs through their competition.BIAAF deployed from the beginning an unprecedented international strategy visiting countries such as Japan, Israel, the United States and South America, among others, strengthening in each edition its strategic alliances in the field of education, culture and business. Also, BIAAF will champion the SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations – in the field of emerging design thanks to the actions promoted in areas such as social and environmental sustainability.