Vivienne Westwood brings punk flair to Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week

Barcelona embraced both rebellion and romance during its 2025 edition of Barcelona Bridal Night. Among the high-profile names that have previously graced this event—Marchesa, Viktor&Rolf, Elie Saab, and Giambattista Valli—this year’s spotlight fell on iconic British label Vivienne Westwood. On April 24, the brand unveiled its newest bridal couture collection in the historic cloisters of the University of Barcelona, a 19th-century architectural landmark. The runway show, part of Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week running from April 23 to 27, drew more than 450 guests.

“The bridal world is very different from prêt-à-porter shows in Paris, but this event has been really well organized from the start, and everyone has been so kind. It’s been a pleasure,” said Andreas Kronthaler, Vivienne Westwood’s widower and current creative director, in a backstage interview. Kronthaler co-developed the collection over more than six months with Brigitte Stepputtis, the brand’s director of couture, design, and bridalwear.

The “Vivienne Westwood Bridal Collection 2026” featured 34 couture bridal looks, drawing primary inspiration from Barcelona’s streets and energy. “When I was designing, I was thinking about Barcelona and what would suit the city,” said Kronthaler, describing it as “incredible, stimulating, and full of life.”

Several designs reinterpreted the brand’s iconic floral print, originally inspired by the 18th-century Belgian painter and botanist Pierre-Joseph Redouté’s watercolor artworks. In addition to classic bridal fabrics like tulle, organza, and cotton, the collection featured washed georgette, linen, and more cotton, combined with corsetry and menswear tailoring elements. As a tribute to the punk and irreverent spirit that defined the house since its founding by Vivienne Westwood in the 1970s, several looks were styled with long, heavy chains draped around the models’ necks.

“The brand has evolved so much since its beginnings, and I think its secret lies in its ability to transcend. It doesn’t stay the same—it breaks barriers,” said Kronthaler, known for his subversive creations. “We’ve been making bridalwear for a long time, but looking at today’s collection, I think it’s fantastic and could definitely be worn in the future.”

As part of a shared commitment to education and culture, the organization behind Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Vivienne Westwood collaborated to launch several initiatives in local design schools, including IED, LCI and ESDI. These initiatives included mentorship workshops and other projects. Around 300 students from these institutions were invited to a second exclusive show by the British brand at the same venue.

The creative director also shared an uplifting message: “Life is short—make the most of each day. Getting dressed helps. Wearing something nice can lift your day, especially when you’re not in the mood. That’s the power of fashion—for everyone, but especially the younger generation.”

Andreas Kronthaler became the creative director of Vivienne Westwood following the death of the company’s founder at age 81 in late 2022. “Now I’m alone. But we were together for so many years, doing everything halfway, that I can’t tell where I end and she begins. I feel lucky, privileged, and confident,” said the designer. He added that he tries to look ahead and not take life too seriously these days. “I always think a small dose of humor is a great quality to have,” he concluded.

Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, organized by Fira de Barcelona with the support of the Catalan government’s Department of Business and Employment, will conclude its 2025 edition on April 26. In parallel, the event is also hosting its annual trade fair from April 25 to 27, featuring around 450 national and international brands specializing in bridalwear, formalwear, eveningwear, and accessories.