The Valletta 2018 Foundation, in collaboration with the Mercedes-Benz Malta Fashion Week, is supporting the seventh edition of the Malta Fashion Week which will be taking place at Fort St Elmo, Valletta from the 22nd to the 27th May.

Valletta 2018 Foundation Chairman Jason Micallef said “Valletta 2018 is proud to have the Mercedes-Benz Malta Fashion Week included in its European Capital of Culture Programme in the run up to 2018. It attracts crowds of over 13,000 people to attend and participate in Malta’s most prestigious fashion event. Malta Fashion Week is, with every edition, raising the bar for Malta’s fashion industry and putting it on the international map. This proves that such projects are sustainable and will have a lasting legacy up to 2018 and beyond.”

Mr Micallef added that fashion is a major contributor to the world’s visual culture and this event provides a platform for local talent to showcase their artistry.

Malta Fashion Week Chairman Adrian J. Mizzi said, “The main objective of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Malta and Chamilia Fashion Awards has always been to create an international platform for Maltese artistic talent to reach a more global audience. This has been made possible through the kind support of many volunteers, corporate sponsors and Government entities like Valletta 2018, Arts Council Malta and Heritage Malta. What is needed now is more determined investments to help the local industry take things to an even more professional level.”

Through the Cultural Partnership Agreement, Arts Council Malta is funding the Malta Fashion Association, which supports the participation of local young emerging fashion designers in the Malta Fashion Week. “This investment adds value to our wide range of 11 partnerships with the creative sector whilst upholding our commitment to support the development of creative professionals and their artistic excellence”, said Toni Attard, Director of Strategy at Arts Council Malta. He added that the Malta Fashion Week serves as an important platform for the designers’ creative growth particularly in terms of networking, exposure and visibility in the local and international scene.

Around 19 local designers will be showcasing their work to the public, alongside international designers from Serbia, Italy, France, Romania and Greece.

Apart from fashion shows and fashion parties, this year’s edition of the Malta Fashion Week and Awards also includes exhibitions, presentations and showrooms in which designers can display their pieces and network with other industry professionals to further their career.