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| Discussion panel - photo courtesy of lelook.eu |
The two day event began on Friday 21st of May with a talk and Q & A session at the European Institute of Design (IED) in Gracia. The panel was headed by Lee Hicken of Hebe Media and Jurgen Salenbacher, the director of the institute, joined by technology expert Imran Ali, Barcelona fashion designers Juan Antonio Avalos and Chidy Wayne, Leeds designer Dom of Dom, Dick and Harry and lead singer Guiseppe de Luca of Leeds band ICS (I Call Shotgun). It was fascinating to hear the panel’s thoughts on the similarities and parallels between the two cities, and the qualities that all felt were going to be necessary for either city to grow in the future. The current economic climate and the important role of new technologies, as well as environmental concerns and the influence of music on fashion, were just some of the issues that were discussed. The Leeds contingent did an excellent job of selling their city to the audience during the discussion, although Barcelona had the last word by making sure that everyone was well fed after the discussion ended with a selection of tapas and some macaroons from the popular Vioko,washed down with plenty of Cava and beer.
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| Vioko macaroons - photo courtesy of lelook.eu |
After all the focus and discussion on Friday night, Saturday was all about fun and celebration. The Hotel Me on Diagonal was the perfect venue for a night of music, fashion and style. The lobby was a maelstrom of beautiful people being treated to a performance from the band ICS, makeup artists preparing the best dressed from the crowd for a photo shoot and a catwalk show of fashion by the Leeds designers James Stewart, Dom Dick and Harry and Nicholas Deakin, with glasses provided by RETROSUPERFUTURE®. As if all that wasn’t enough, upstairs on the sixth floor we were treated to DJ sets from DJ Mustache representing Barcelona, and Dave Beer and Tristan da Cunha from Back to Basics representing Leeds.
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| Tristan da Cunha and Dave Beer of Back to Basics - photo lelook.eu |
As someone with a good knowledge and love of both cities, I hope there are many more opportunities for collaboration between Barcelona and Leeds. As mentioned by members of the panel on Friday night, neither one is Paris or London, but they are both known for punching well above their weight when it comes to industry, the arts and the vitality of their citizens. The event made me very happy that I live here in Barcelona, but when it gets really hot in August, I’ll be seriously considering heading to the cool surroundings of Leeds for a short getaway and some Theakstons Old Peculier Ale.
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| Audience members - photo courtesy of lelook.eu |
You can also find some photos of Saturday's event on Le Look.
2 comments:
Dear Yvonne, I'd never thought of Leeds and Barcelona having many similarities before. Back to Basics in Barcelona would be funny. Sounds like a great day and night.
Thanks so much for your lovely comments and apologies for not visiting for a while.
I shall get a very good lock for my bike, you're right! It has an immobiliser on the back too and the wheels are very hard to get off apparently. I have no clue about any of this.
Hope all's good with you xx
It's not the most obvious pairing, but it seemed to work. It was fun, and hilarious for me to see both Dave Beer and Tristan da Cunha here, it's been a while since I've seen them DJing.
I've not exactly been keeping the blog updated either, although I have got posts coming over the next few days. New job has taken a lot of my time, but I'm getting back to a routine now.
You've had a lot going on so need to apologise. Hope things are getting back on a more even keel now xx
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