The 34th edition of 080 Barcelona Fashion is set to take place from October 14 to 17 at the Recinto Modernista de Sant Pau and has reached its “maximum capacity,” according to organisers, prompting discussions about expanding the event space.

Jaume Baró, secretary of business and competitiveness for the Generalitat of Catalonia, announced the news during a press conference on Monday, where he emphasized the Catalan government’s ongoing “commitment” to 080 Barcelona Fashion. He was joined by Marta Coca, the director of the event, who also highlighted the challenges and successes of this year’s edition.

Baró underscored that this edition will be “more international than ever,” noting that the event has received around 100 applications from international press and influencers wishing to attend. 

Coca expressed satisfaction with the overwhelming number of requests but acknowledged that they won’t be able to accommodate everyone: “The runway has the capacity it has, the space has the capacity it has, and the budget is what it is,” she explained. 

She added that the volume of interest includes requests from countries outside the event’s usual target audience, highlighting Mexico and Saudi Arabia alongside traditional markets like France, Italy, and Germany.

In the meantime, the Generalitat plans to focus on “extending the life of the 080 Barcelona Fashion beyond the two-week runway period” to further support the competitiveness and development of the local fashion industry.

When asked about the funding for this year’s edition, Baró indicated that the budget remains stable at approximately two million euros, a figure “very similar” to that of 2023. 

One of the highlights of this year’s edition is the addition of luxury brand Louis Vuitton as a sponsor. Coca explained that the partnership emerged after recognising the brand’s interest in supporting the cultural and creative dynamism of the city, particularly in the context of the America’s Cup—of which Louis Vuitton is a sponsor—and its recent runway show at the iconic Parc Güell.

The 34th edition will feature a robust lineup of 24 fashion brands, showcasing a diverse array of talent and design perspectives. In addition to the runway shows, this edition will also include the “080 Reborn” initiative, the platform’s project dedicated to showcasing clothing recovered from textile sorting centres and second-hand stores.

According to Coca, the brands participating in the 080 Reborn initiative are “highly committed to the region, sustainability, and gender inclusivity, embracing a broad perspective on social responsibility.”

Among the participants are labels such as Lebor Gabala, Madridmanso, Escorpion, Simorra, Lola Casademunt by Maite, Guillermina Baeza, Inma Linares, Nathalie Chandler, Outsiders Division, Carlota Barrera, and Custo Barcelona. Also on the schedule are emerging and innovative brands like Alsedà, Reparto, All that she loves, Fatima Miñana, Lemachet, The Label Edition, Dominnico, Zoe Oms, Alvar Merino, Gau, Reveligion, Habey Club, and Paolo Leduc.

Despite these significant strides in sustainability and inclusivity, Coca emphasised that the organisation no longer wants to “speak openly about diversity and sustainability,” suggesting that these values are now deeply ingrained in the DNA of the platform.