Gratacós leaves Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week 2017 with a summary of the winning projects of the contest ‘Gratacós Barcelona Scholarship for Talent’ with design school IED Barcelona. It is a prize for of preparing a wedding gown by moulage technique that is being awarded, once again, to support young students of the Postgraduate Diploma in Design of Bridal and Ceremonial Dress. For this latest award the entries of Catalina Olmedo and Valeria Antonova are already on display in the window of Gratacós and also in the lobby of the Hotel Majestic. The winners have also received a cash prize to the value of € 500 to purchase fabrics from our store. Below we reveal more details of each showcase as well as of the designer behind it.
GRATACÓS SHOP-WINDOW
Argentina’s Catalina Olmedo is inspired by the French film “La Belle Personne” to recreate her dress’ Inside Me’. It is a passionate drama that serves as a starting point for a design full of ambiguities: the fragile with the strong. “I wanted to express this duality via a soft fabric that is fighting to emerge from a rigid structure,” she says. For this, the designer has used simple organza and mikado. “The organza represents delicacy with respect to the mikado, which expresses hardness”, explains Catalina.
Catalina Olmedo began her career in Buenos Aires studying garment design and after working in the Argentinian company House of Matching Colors of Paula Selby Avellaneda she moved to Barcelona to specialize in bridal fashion. Now that she has completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Brical and Ceremonial Design at the school IED Barcelona, Olmedo is continuing her training at Rosa Clará although she has her own aspirations. “My idea is to continue my training in these large bridal companies to be able to create my own workshop in Argentina where I can make my designs,” she explains. These creations make use of the technique of moulage to create unique products in accord with the style and personality of each bride. “I would like to be able to reflect an individual’s soul in each design,” adds Catalina.
She continues to enjoy her period of apprenticeship and Catalina thanks us for this award with sincere words. “I am grateful to the school and to Gratacos for giving me this opportunity. It has been a great challenge, ” she concludes.
Congratulations Catalina!
HOTEL MAJESTIC SHOP-WINDOW
When they called her cell phone to announce the award, Valeria Antonova could hardly believe what she was hearing. “I had not done anything in moulage before, although I put all my effort, energy and time into doing this design,” she explains, visibly excited.
The Russian designer residing in Barcelona has been inspired by one of her favorite styles: Art Deco of the early 20th century. “My design is inspired by an era which was very rich on an artistic level,” she adds. Architectural patterns, ornamental details and fabrics which interplay to create strategic volumes are the main reasons behind her winning design. “I used organza to mark the body of the silhouette and satin crepe for the bottom of the dress,” she explains excitedly.
“My goal right now is to make my own bridal fashion brand,” Valeria declares . ” And she goes straight to the point. “I already have the website, the cards and I am looking for premises and making contacts with suppliers. In this respect, of course I have Gratacós, “adds the young designer. Meanwhile, Valeria Antonova continues on her learning curve in the workshop of Jordi Anguera, learning the techniques of pattern-making deepening her knowledge of moulage. ” I don’t have a lot more to learn,” she concludes.
