THE MEETING WAS INAUGURATED THIS MORNING BY ERNEST URTASUN, MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOGETHER WITH JAUME BARÓ, SECRETARY OF BUSINESS AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CATALONIA; MARTA ANGERRI, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF TRADE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CATALONIA; MOISÉS RODRÍGUEZ, DIRECTOR OF THE CONSORCI DE COMERÇ, ARTESANIA I MODA DE CATALUNYA (CCAM); DAVID PINO, DIRECTOR OF PORT VELL AT THE PORT OF BARCELONA; MARTA COCA, DIRECTOR OF 080 BARCELONA FASHION; SCOTT LIPINSKI, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN FASHION ALLIANCE AND CEO OF THE GERMAN FASHION COUNCIL; JUAN DUYOS, PRESIDENT OF THE FUNDACIÓN ACADEMIA DE LA MODA ESPAÑOLA AND OF THE ASOCIACIÓN CREADORES DE MODA DE ESPAÑA; PEPA BUENO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASOCIACIÓN CREADORES DE MODA DE ESPAÑA AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FUNDACIÓN ACADEMIA DE LA MODA ESPAÑOLA; AND SERGIO ÁLVAREZ, DIRECTOR OF THE FUNDACIÓN ACADEMIA DE LA MODA ESPAÑOLA.
THE FUNDACIÓN ACADEMIA DE LA MODA ESPAÑOLA (FAME) AND THE ASOCIACIÓN CREADORES DE MODA DE ESPAÑA (ACME) CONSOLIDATE A EUROPEAN SPACE FOR REFLECTION TO STRENGTHEN AUTHOR FASHION AS A STRATEGIC SECTOR.
THE PROGRAMME WILL RUN UNTIL TOMORROW, FEATURING PANEL DISCUSSIONS, INTERVIEWS WITH KEY FIGURES, AND PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS WITH MORE THAN 20 LEADING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS.
Barcelona, 13 April 2026. – This morning, at the Los Tinglados venue in Barcelona, the European Designer Fashion Summit (Jornadas Internacionales de Moda de Autor Europea) has officially begun, an event held within the framework of 080 Barcelona Fashion and organized by the Fundación Academia de la Moda Española (FAME), and promoted by the Asociación Creadores de Moda de España (ACME), which has been a member of the European Fashion Alliance (EFA) since its inception. This transnational dialogue has been created to analyse the main challenges and opportunities of this cultural industry and to strengthen its position as a strategic field within the European creative economy.
The institutional opening was attended by prominent figures from the political, institutional, and sectoral spheres across Europe. Among them were the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun; the Secretary of Business and Competitiveness of the Government of Catalonia, Jaume Baró; the Director General of Trade of the Government of Catalonia, Marta Angerri; the Director of the Consorci de Comerç, Artesania i Moda de Catalunya, Moisés Rodríguez; the Director of Port Vell of the Port of Barcelona, David Pino; the Director of 080 Barcelona Fashion, Marta Coca; the President of the European Fashion Alliance and CEO of the German Fashion Council, Scott Lipinski; the President of the Fundación Academia de la Moda Española and of the Asociación Creadores de Moda de España, Juan Duyos; the Executive Director of ACME and Vice President of FAME, Pepa Bueno; and the Director of FAME, Sergio Álvarez.
Ernest Urtasun, Minister of Culture, stated: “Author fashion is not only an aesthetic expression. It is a cultural manifestation of the highest order, a creative industry, and a vector of international projection. It is, ultimately, a way of telling who we are and who we want to be. Let us continue working together to ensure that this sector keeps growing, innovating, and contributing to the cultural, economic, and social development of our country and of Europe.”
Juan Duyos, for his part, emphasized that “Europe has a highly valuable creative ecosystem; the challenge is to provide it with greater structure and connectivity. These conferences respond to the sustained work led by FAME and ACME to strengthen author fashion as a sector, creating spaces for dialogue that allow progress towards a more cohesive model with stronger European projection.”
Following the opening ceremony, one of the most anticipated sessions took place: an interview with philosopher and sociologist Gilles Lipovetsky, a key thinker for understanding contemporary fashion. The interview was conducted by Leticia García, fashion editor-in-chief of S Moda / El País. During the talk, Lipovetsky stated: “Fashion is not just something fleeting, but an expression of modernity, creativity, and youth. Although for a long time it was linked to age and social class as a symbol of distinction, today it has evolved into a space where creativity prevails. It now contributes to building a stronger and more lasting image, based on broader symbolic values.”
This was followed by the panel discussion Europe as the epicentre of author fashion: challenges and opportunities, featuring Scott Lipinski, President of the European Fashion Alliance (EFA) and CEO of the German Fashion Council, and Pepa Bueno, Executive Director of the Asociación Creadores de Moda de España and Vice President of the Fundación Academia de la Moda Española. The session was moderated by Sergio Álvarez, Director of FAME.
During the discussion, Scott Lipinski noted that “fashion today goes beyond creativity: the real challenge is connecting creation with its commercialisation across different markets. Although Europe has historically been a reference point, talent exists globally — including in emerging regions — often without the same structural support. Therefore, the key lies in boosting visibility, providing institutional backing, and equipping it with scaling tools, integrating different perspectives and transforming creativity into real opportunities.”
Pepa Bueno, in turn, highlighted within the context of questions raised by Sergio Álvarez that “many brands are incorporating traditional craftsmanship into their designs, adding distinctive value to garments and helping preserve an artisanal fabric that could disappear without the support of fashion. This integration allows crafts to be updated and connected with contemporary design and, in countries such as Spain, with its rich artisanal heritage, the challenge is to attract younger generations to these trades — beyond the designer role — as they are the ones who make fashion possible.”
The morning concluded with the panel Education and emerging talent: the role of new generations in European author fashion, featuring Sara Sozzani Maino, Creative Director of Fondazione Sozzani and International Ambassador for New Talents and Brands at Milan Fashion Week; Joana Jorge, Project Manager at ModaLisboa; Ana García-Siñeriz, Global Director of Vogue College of Fashion; and Ainhoa García, independent consultant and trustee of the Fundación Academia de la Moda Española (FAME). The session was moderated by Julia Weems, Director of the Fashion School at IED Barcelona.
Addressing education and new generations, as raised by Weems, Sara Sozzani Maino stated that “the new generations are driving a profound shift in fashion, where aesthetics alone are no longer enough and responsibility, sustainability, and purpose are required. In this context, brands are built on coherence and real impact, while more authentic and closer forms of communication are emerging. Fashion is thus evolving towards a more conscious model, aligned with the values of today’s society.”
The programme continues this afternoon and tomorrow morning with other leading speakers such as Pascal Morand, Executive President of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode; Carlo Capasa, President of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana; journalist and author Dana Thomas; Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week; Natalia Culebras, Head of Sustainable Design at Dior Men; María Luisa Martínez, Vice President and Public Affairs at Global Fashion Agenda; Estefanía Lacayo, Co-founder of Latin America Fashion Summit; Marina Prados, Director of Public Affairs at Policy Hub; and Paco Sánchez, CEO of Lola Casademunt.
Over the course of these two days, more than twenty national and international experts will take part in round tables, interviews, and professional meetings organised around three main axes: identity, culture and heritage; internationalisation and global positioning; and current challenges: sustainability, innovation, and digitalisation.
Designer fashion, a driver of innovation and the cultural economy
The objective of the European Author Fashion International Conferences is twofold: to consolidate a shared European space for reflection on the main challenges and opportunities of author fashion, and to position it as a driver of cultural innovation, sustainable development, and creative diplomacy. At a time of profound global change, marked by digital transformation, the ecological transition, and cultural redefinition, and in a context in which Europe maintains a leading creative position but with a fragmented structure, the meeting seeks to move towards a more cohesive system that reinforces the role of this industry as a strategic sector within the creative economy.
Aimed at designers, companies, institutions, specialized media, and cultural agents, these conferences are designed as a platform for dialogue and analysis, focused on generating knowledge, boosting the international projection of fashion in Europe, and fostering strategic alliances and collaborations.
The initiative, funded by the Ministry of Culture through the Coordination Center for Cultural Industries, is supported by the Consorci de Comerç, Artesania i Moda de Catalunya (CCAM), institutions united in their commitment to promoting author fashion as a strategic sector. The meeting is also held with the collaboration of major industry partners, including 080 Barcelona Fashion as main partner; Gran Canaria Swim Week, a platform promoted by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, and the Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce as collaborators; and the European Fashion Alliance as European partner.
ABOUT THE SPANISH FASHION ACADEMY FOUNDATION (FAME)
The Spanish Fashion Academy Foundation (FAME) is a non-profit organisation established in 2020, primarily promoted by the Association of Fashion Creators of Spain (Association of Fashion Creators of Spain (ACME)).
Its founding objectives include promoting the national and international recognition of Spanish fashion, supporting the preservation of traditional craftsmanship and know-how, fostering sustainability and social and environmental responsibility within the sector, and advancing the digitalisation of creative processes through the integration of research, development, innovation, and tradition (R+D+i+T).
Among its key projects are the Spanish Fashion Academy Awards, whose third edition will take place on 30 June 2026; the adaptation of vocational training to the realities of the sector and the dignification of artisanal trades; the development of cultural initiatives to promote fashion culture; and support for entrepreneurship and the consolidation of companies within the sector and its value chain.
ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION OF FASHION CREATORS OF SPAIN (ACME)
The Association of Fashion Creators of Spain (Association of Fashion Creators of Spain (ACME)) is a non-profit professional organisation that currently brings together 98 fashion designers from across Spain who participate in the main national and international runways and platforms, as well as 4 associated institutions and Amazon Fashion as a benefactor entity.
Founded in 1998 by designers Modesto Lomba, Jesús del Pozo, Elio Berhanyer, Antonio Pernas, Ángel Fernández Ovejero (Ángel Schlesser), and Roberto Verino, ACME has worked since its inception to defend the interests of designer fashion brands, providing tools to enhance their competitiveness.
ACME’s mission is to promote Spanish fashion in both its economic and cultural dimensions, fostering activities that contribute to the development of the fashion design sector in its creative and commercial aspects, both within Spain and internationally.
