Throughout this week no less than thirty two fashion designers will be showcasing their collections on the catwalks of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Malta, which opened yesterday evening and runs until next Saturday. The labels include twenty five designers who are Maltese nationals or currently resident in Malta as well as designers from the UK, Serbia, France, Cyprus, Nigeria and the USA.

This is apart from some forty high street fashion brands that are also being showcased in separate shows, and several other related fashion sectors such as fashion photography, jewellery, hairstyling and makeup that are being celebrated throughout this week.

Through a close collaboration with the V18 Foundation and several Government entities, most of the shows are being held in Valletta at various interesting locations that are not normally associated with fashion shows. These include Ordnance Street under the new Parliament building, Palazzo De La Salle, the Chamber of Commerce Building, the Grandmaster’s Palace and Pjazza San Gorg, the Mediterranean Conference Centre andLascaris Wharf beneath the Barrakka Lift. Other shows are being held at The Point in Sliema and the Garden of Serenity in Santa Lucija.

Invitations to the weekday shows were oversubscribed within a few days from launch and tickets tothe final night are selling out very fast. Malta Fashion Week culminates on Saturday night at the Chamilia Malta Fashion Awards which is being held for the first time at the Shipbuilding Warehouse in Marsa.This disused industrial venue is being transformed to host some 5000 people in a party style environment where fashion award winners in eight categories will be announced, amongst selected catwalk shows from the entire fashion week, glamourous hair shows and other on stage performances.

More information about Malta Fashion Week and Awards (MFWA) may be found at maltafashionweek.com, which as from today, is being constantly updated with reviewsand photos from the shows on an ongoing basis.