Spanish Fashion: Designers, Models and Spanish Brands

While the most recognized Spanish fashion would be the traditional Flamenco dresses or the matador costume known as the Traje de Luces, there is also a vibrant and modern Spanish fashion industry, with Spanish brands, Spanish designers and Spanish models famous worldwide.

ZARA is perhaps the best-known Spanish fashion store. Founded in 1975 by Amancio Orgega, this Spanish fashion house now has an international reputation, with fans including Kate and Pippa Middleton. Mango is another Spanish brand with celebrity endorsement; Kate Moss, Penelope Cruz and Scalett Johansson have all been ‘the face’ of this Spanish store. Bershka, Pull & Bear and Massimo Dutti are also flying the flag for Spanish fashion around the world, with the iconic El Corte Inglés still a favourite amongst Spaniards themselves.

There are many internationally acclaimed Spanish designers. Manuel "Manolo" Blahnik Rodríguez was born in the Canary Islands in 1942, and is renowned for his high-end footwear, especially his stilettos. Such is his international success that in 2007 Blahnik was awarded the honorary title of Commander of the British Empire (a CBE) for his service to the British fashion industry. Francisco "Paco" Rabaneda Cuervo, is better known as Paco Rabanne, and despite fleeing Spain when the Civil War broke out, his brand is recognized worldwide.  Designer Adolfo Dominguez won not only the 'Lifetime Achievement' award at Miami Fashion Week, but was also presented‘The Golden Needle’by the Spanish Ministry of Culture, in recognition of his success in the fashion industry and promotion of Spanish culture.

Amongst the many famous Spanish models, Eugenia Silva is perhaps the best known. With more than 100 appearances on the covers of magazines, Silva has also worked with the world’s best photographers and on the most hotly anticipated catwalks. Clara Alonso won the L´Oreal award for best model at the Madrid fall/winter fashion week in 2010, while model Laura Ponte married royalty! Of the Spanish male models, Barcelona-born Oriol Elcacho has been referred to as the ‘Spanish Adonis’ and has starred in campaigns with Christy Turlington, while Jon Kortajarena was ranked 8^th in by Forbes in 2009’s The World's 10 Most Successful Male Models.

Madrid Fashion week is the platform that promotes Spanish fashion on the world stage; with the spring/summer shows on the first week of February, and the fall/winter collections being shown in late August, Spanish fashion is present on the world stage all year round.