Andalusian flamenco fashion has traveled to the 2020 Dubai World Expo to exhibit the craftsmanship, luxury and creativity of its designs during Andalusia Week, which is being held between February 7 and 13 under the slogan ‘Andalusia, a smart future’. The show, which is repeated twice daily, travels through the Spanish Pavilion, accompanying and cheering up visitors on their usual route. The show is interactive, and the public is able to take photos with the models, whose dresses blend tradition and design.

As a result, the city of luxury, Dubai, has given in to the pomp, which features eight creations from four leading Andalusian firms: Pilar Vera, Aurora Gaviño, Mi Abril and Atelier Rima. Flamenco, an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is one of Andalusia’s most recognized exports, and one of its most beautiful ways of expression is through flamenco fashion, whose shapes and colors have transcended borders to captivate East and West alike.

The route of the flamenco fashion show goes through the most visible part of the exterior of the Spanish Pavilion, next to the open-air stage, and later, the models access the pavilion using the same entrance as the visitors before going down to the lower floor. Accompanying this display of art, history and fantasy is flamenco music, playing in the background and broadcast from the area that houses a large chessboard, one of the focal points of the Spanish exhibition space and whose pieces draw their inspiration from Arabic and Spanish influences.

Andalusian flamenco fashion proves that it is a universal ambassador of the Andalusian brand, since polka dots, ruffles and fringes are reflected, season after season, in the collections presented by designers from many countries at the great fashion weeks in Paris and New York. Flamenco fashion thus provides a source of infinite inspiration for designers the world over, who incorporate the characteristic elements of this southern fashion in their designs.

This beautiful traditional Andalusian dress, which has transcended borders, is the only regional costume that has evolved over time and continues to draw on current trends. Its dynamics are highlighted by the creative spirit of designers from the south who mix cultures and colors, and who occasionally also work Eastern concepts into their creations. This intercultural development is evident through these fashion shows organized by Extenda, in collaboration with the Andalusian modeling agency Doble Erre.

To celebrate the Day of Honor of Andalusia, Saturday the 12th, which will be led by the president of region’s government, Juanma Moreno, the Andalusian flamenco fashion show will be staged twice in the afternoon, in the usual location from 6:30 PM to 6:50 PM, and from 7:00 PM to 7:20 PM.

The first of the companies present at the show is Mi Abril, a young Sevillian maker of flamenco dresses that imbues its creations with a classic style under the direction of Lourdes Montes and Rocío Terry. Accompanying them in Dubai are dresses by designers Pilar Vera and Aurora Gaviño, also from Seville, who extol the latest trends in the world of fashion catwalks. Finally, also taking part is Atelier Rima, whose flamenco dresses showcase the meticulousness that results from the slow and deliberate craftsmanship that goes into its dresses.

Record numbers for Andalusian fashion in the Middle East

Andalusian fashion exports to the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Yemen) totaled 18.6 million euros in the first eleven months of 2021, an all-time sales record that is 14.1% higher than for the same period in 2020. The main items exported focus on fashion accessories. Córdoba, with sales valued at 5.8 million, is Andalusia’s main exporting province with an increase of 24.6% compared to the first eleven months of 2020.

Extenda also services Andalusia’s flamenco sector, primarily in the fields of cultural and fashion production (accessories and clothing). The current interest of flamenco fashion companies, and therefore of Extenda’s initiatives, is especially focused on the Asian markets (Japan, China and South Korea). Accordingly, the state-owned company of the Office of the Presidency, Public Administration and the Interior engages in activities – such as a flamenco fashion showroom in Japan, and a fashion and accessories mission in South Korea – that seek to position Andalusian brands in two markets with skyrocketing consumption after the pandemic.

Andalusia Week

The Spanish Pavilion at the Dubai World Expo 2020 is hosting Andalusia Week from February 7 to Sunday 13, which was opened under the slogan «Andalusia, an intelligent future at Expo Dubai 2020». This series of activities showcases Andalusia’s potential as a leader in response to the challenges of a sustainable future, the main theme of Expo Dubai 2020, the world’s largest showcase of human advancement, where Andalusia is showing its approach to dealing with what is to come, complementing the best of its traditions with the latest innovations in research, technology and creativity to build a unique model of sustainable development.

Andalusia Week, which was organized by the Regional Government of Andalusian, is full of activities aimed at demonstrating the strengths of Andalusia in economic areas that offer important business opportunities in Middle Eastern markets, such as agri-food (through cuisine), consumer goods (through fashion), cultural industries (through flamenco), and its appeal as a world tourism destination.

The Day of Honor of Andalusia, the central event in this series of activities at Expo Dubai 2020, will be held on February 12 and will be led by Juanma Moreno, president of the Andalusian Government, as part of a full institutional and business agenda. The week will also feature other activities such as showcooking with key products of Andalusian cuisine and tastings of EVOO, shows by the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, fashion shows, thematic videos on strategic industries in the region, and an interactive tourism stand.

All the information on the schedule of activities during Andalusia Week at Expo Dubai 2020 is also available on the bilingual page created on the website of Extenda- Extenda-Andalusia Export and Foreign Investment (https://www.andaluciatrade.es/expo-dubai). This address will provide a virtual showcase of Andalusia’s presence at this universal event, with information on all matters related to the Expo, as well as the promotional videos created to highlight the advantages of Andalusia in different fields – sustainable development, industry, research, technology, business, agribusiness, fishing, etc. – as well as its connection with Arab culture through the common history and culture of Al-Andalus.