Diversity and inclusion. These are the values that the 080 Barcelona Fashion platform wanted to highlight in their latest edition held at the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site. And it has done so in an obvious way, reinforcing in the casting of models, a wide variety of bodies that do not understand morphologies, sizes, functionalities, ages or skins that show all their richness of colour and textures. If fashion is a reflection of society, diversity is on the order of the day, it is visibly appreciated on the street and cannot be treated as an exception. For this reason, the Catalan catwalk has also encouraged designers and brands to exercise the power to favour this real change and, at the same time, to take charge of the different challenges of a changing and diverse society.
In this direction, the Catalan catwalk has taken a step further by hosting the first inclusive fashion show in Spain, through the Free Form Style brand. A government awareness initiative on body neutrality and functional diversity that is part of an action plan to combat aesthetic pressure. Founded in 2019 by Marina Vergés and Carolina Asensio, Free Form Style is positioned as a brave brand that is committed to comfort without sacrificing elegance. It is also a pioneer in designing fashion adapted to people with different disabilities with the premise of dignifying all types of bodies because fashion gives that power of dreaming and helps to promote the self-esteem of all groups.
Gratacós collaborated in the inclusive fashion show
In its debut at 080, Free Form Style teamed up with Manuel Bolaño, who was in charge of creating all the designs for the 16 models that walked the runway, including Paralympic athletes Desirée Vila and Sarai Gascón. In this first collection, Bolaño carefully studied the patterns and adapted them to the specific needs of each person, taking into account physical diversity and possible difficulties in dressing: strategically placed side zips, surprising openings to avoid uncomfortable rubbing or small details that facilitate the action of putting on and taking off a piece of clothing.
Gratacós also contributed its grain of sand in this awareness action and gave all the fabrics to the brand and the designer, so that they could devise the collection, giving free rein to creativity to transform the fabrics into surprising designs. On the catwalk there were spectacular Jacquards with checks in vibrant tones, houndstooth motifs, lace, embroidery and transparencies that gave sensuality and also sequins to provide that point of light that adds showiness. All of these fabrics were showcased in the debut collection ‘Just a perfect day’. A proposal that follows the principles of English tailoring and is influenced by the punk and new romantic movements, creating functional and comfortable pieces to dress diversity, but without forgetting fantasy because as Free Form Style defends, “having a disability does not mean not being able to be fashionable”.
A special showcase
To give this action more visibility and promote the designs exhibited on the 080 catwalk, this month of May Gratacós has dedicated the showcase of our space in Barcelona to inclusive fashion. Thus, our mannequins will be dressed in some models from the debut collection that Manuel Bolaño has made with people with functional diversity in mind. We encourage you to visit our space and take a closer look at these designs that combine comfort with fantasy.
