Bogotá Fashion Week - BFW: The placing on stage of an effort by the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá (CCB) to strengthen the fashion sector

The most important fashion event in Bogotá and the Region returned to Ágora Bogotá – Convention Center, from May 19 to 21, after a process of consultancy in terms of business strengthening —unique in fashion weeks in the world— to the participating brands, which consisted of more than 1,000 hours of training over 8 months.
161 brands participated in the event, 100 of them selected by the international firm Kollective Moda, and 61 brands from the industry selected by the Escuela Superior de Diseño LCI, who joined for the first time, in the new component Multi-Brand Market.
The fashion sector in Bogotá and the Region concentrates 22,783 active companies and generates 241,000 direct jobs. 95% of them are generated by microentrepreneurs; 4%, by small entrepreneurs; 0.7%, by medium-sized entrepreneurs; and 0.2%, by big enterprises.

Bogotá Fashion Week - BFW, a commercial and fashion platform of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá (CCB), returned from May 19 to 21, 2022, at Ágora Bogotá – Convention Center (Calle 24 #38-71), with the aim to promote the circulation and commercialization of local independent design, through the strengthening of brands, the generation of contact spaces for businesses and the approach of all audiences to the work of participating brands.

Bogotá Fashion Week - BFW was born in 2017 as part of the commitment by the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá to strengthen the industry and position the city as a fashion business capital in the national and international market on three fronts: accompaniment for the strengthening of businesses; sectoral specialization with the Cluster Initiatives such as Prendas de Vestir (Apparel), Cuero, Calzado y Marroquinería (Leather, Footwear and Leather Goods), and Joyería y Bisutería (Jewellery and Costume Jewellery); and BFW with the specialized accompaniment and the meeting between supply and demand.

During the pandemic, BFW, as well as all the CCB actions focused on the sector, adopted hybrid and digital formats for their continuation. Although the fashion sector in Bogotá and the Region has registered a significant recovery, as the latest figures reveal that there are 22,457 active companies —4.5% more than in 2021 (21,812 companies), and 1.5% more companies than in 2020 (22,457 )—, there are still 6% fewer companies that were active before the pandemic (24,247 companies). Nicolás Uribe Rueda, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, stated that "from the entity, we are making permanent efforts to provide tools and consultancy to entrepreneurs in the sector to achieve more competitive production units in the national and international market, and thus contribute to the business transformation.”

After two years, Bogotá Fashion Week – BFW returned with the participation of 100 independent design brands in three main sections to activate sales:

Business Meetings or business roundtables, a space where nearly 50 national and international buyers interacted with design and product proposals to achieve or plan business deals.
Showrooms, a space that was inaugurated in the fifth edition of BFW as a large showcase aimed at all visitors, who purchased retail and directly the pieces of the most successful collections of the participating brands.
Runways, section where the eight months of preparation, conceptualization and monitoring of the design of the collections presented by the brands during the three days of the market materialized. From the specialized support phase, the consulting firm selected 14 brands that stood out during the support process.

Likewise, the platform presented for the first time the Multi-Brand Market component, an exhibition curated by the Escuela Superior de Diseño LCI, with nearly 61 brands that participate in other programs of the CCB portfolio and represented sectos suchs as Apparel; Leather, Footwear and Leather Goods; and Jewellery and Costume Jewellery.

For its fifth edition, BFW also presented other free activities through the complementary sections such as BFW Talks and the Experience Hall.

BFW Talks, the cycle of conversations around the most relevant topics in the fashion sector, focused on investigating about the solutions for sustainable fashion businesses. Under the curatorship of Rocio Arias Hoffman, from Silla Verde, topics such as environmental responsibility, creative collaborations, the editorial trade and cultural sustainability were discussed.

The Experience Hall, for its part, offered a special agenda led by allies, designers and other actors in the fashion sector, which included runways, conferences and commercial activations.

María Paz Gaviria, Chief Officer of Commercial and Cultural Platforms of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, stated that "the fifth edition of Bogotá Fashion Week brought together multiple national and international actors in order to promote the creative talent of small and medium-sized design companies, strengthen their business and expand their market. On this occasion, we have also tried to create new spaces, such as Showrooms and the Experience Hall, to bring all audiences closer to the processes and products of the sector.”

BFW Brands

The selection process for the proposals was led by Kollective Moda, a global brand management group that has worked with leading designers, fashion weeks and trade associations around the world, which was also at the forefront of the consulting process.

Here, the participating brands and market segments:

Ready-to-wear (prêt-à-porter)
A MODO MIO, Andrea Castro – Couture, Andrea Sanchez, AnnieHC, Antidoto, Aura Dajer, Camila Támara, Carolina Estefan, Clarissa Rosania, Daniella Battle, Dauntless, Ducky Black, Faride Ramos, Franchi e Punto, Guzo Atelier, HossH, Ivory Atelier, Kaftan, Leda, Lina Cantillo, Manuela Triana, Mónica Fonnegra Green Fashion, Narciza, Pepa Pombo, Pineapples Don't Have Sleeves, Rockgotá, Stevan Valencia, SuG, Tinta Latina, Wisdom Bird and Whitman.

Lingerie
Soul Intimates

Jewellery
Alejandra Valdivieso, Alma Joyería, Álvaro Ávila, Daila By Lisalas, Daniela Hoyos, Edén Joyas, Etnia Contemporánea, Faoba Joyas, Fernanda Arias Joyas, Flor Amazona, JOT Judith Tello, Metalero, Pajarolimón, Sara y Flora, Segmentta Jewellery, Tania Revueltas Joyería and Vattea.

Footwear
B I S S O N I, Garces Bottier and Yoci Sefair.

Demi-Couture
Adriana Capasso, Alado, Andrés Otálora, AZULU, Beatriz Camacho, Camilo Franco, Carlo Carrizosa, Leal Daccarett, MDCR, Pamela Duque and Polite.

Beachwear
Armantia, Bonaventto, Cala de la Cruz, Ette De Oro, Mio Coral, Naiona, Palo Rosa Beachwear, Papúa, Redflag and Second Piel.

Bags and Accesories
A. Rinkel, Argüelles Leather, Balleti, Bareke, Govant, Huitacá, Isidora Malva, Lauval, Leda & Louise, Marmolejo Leather, Martin Mood, Najash, Nattivos Handmade, Teiruma Collection and Verdi.

Apparel
A New Cross, Adriana Santa Cruz, CUBEL, Hello Chameleon, MAZ - Manuela Alvarez, Please Rain, Tejidos Rebancá and ZUT.

Accesories
Valisse

Schedules
Ágora Bogotá - Convention Center (Calle 24 #38-71)

General opening hours (Floors 1, 3 and 5)
Jueves 19, viernes 20 y sábado 21 de mayo
11: 00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

BFW Talks schedules (Floor 3)
Thursday May 19
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Friday May 20
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday May 21
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Food court (Floor 5)
Thursday 19, Friday 20 and Saturday May 21
12:00 m. – 9:00 p.m.