Driven by Difference

Celebrating Difference. Celebrating 10 years of European Bridal Week 

Over the past ten years, European Bridal Week has evolved into the biggest international trade show in northern Europe, bringing together buyers and exceptional brands from around the world in Essen, Germany.

From 13 – 15 April 2024, this outstanding influential trade exposition will again be welcoming visitors from across the globe for a full three-day event across two halls at Messe Essen, celebrating the difference that comes with knowledge, understanding, and shared ambition.

Nordic Bridal Media spoke with Siegrid Hampsink-Gosso, Event Director of European Bridal Week, who has masterminded the growth and development of European Bridal Week.

 “We are excited to see so many stores from Scandinavia coming back to Essen, Germany, this year, celebrating 10 years of European Bridal Week with us. There will truly be a special kind of Nordic vibe in Essen and that is also adding up to the difference we are celebrating this year.

We can truly say that the cooperation with Nordic Bridal Media is a wonderful partnership. Doing things together as a team brings always innovative ideas and does push a creative process to a new level. That is also what we have experienced exactly here. We are #CelebratingDifference together!”

Siegrid Hampsink-Gosso

Celebrating Difference is the header for European Bridal Week 2024. Can you please share with us this innovative vision of EBW and its’ new approach.

– In times like these, it is essential to open your eyes to different perspectives and to approach new ways of innovation. We are all experiencing change within the market, and as the organisers of European Bridal Week, we are keen to embrace those. Difference can bring innovation and broaden our understanding of other values and circumstances; difference can lead to new perspectives and creative solutions in business. It also provides an opportunity to learn and grow from and with others in our field. Celebrating difference opens new doors, starts new chapters, and welcomes a new future for bridal and fashion. That is what European Bridal Week is all about.  

European Bridal Week will be welcoming no fewer than 500 key brands together under one umbrella in Essen in April. What can stores expect?

We are creating a stage and the perfect platform for the global bridal and fashion industry. We all are discovering the new world of bridal, which has a remarkable energy; it is a composition of creativity, art, and technology – constantly evolving and full of potential, raising questions and supplying answers. And it will not remain stationary. In Essen, over 500 high-class and well established bridalwear manufacturers as well as international designers from across Europe and beyond will be showing their latest collections in two halls at Messe Essen – many of them will be unveiling their new designs at European Bridal Week. We are pleased to see a fantastic line up with exhibitors including Amelie, Demetrios, Grupo Noiva, Justin Alexander Group, Ladybird, Modeca Bridal, Morilee, Nicole Milano, Rosa Clara, St Patrick, White One and many more.

European Bridal Week

Last year we saw the introduction of the Designer Area onsite EBW. Which names will be on show here this year?

– One of the special attractions in April will be the dedicated Designer Arena in Hall 2 again for sure. Here, retailers will discover the exclusive labels that raise the bar and set the trends for the seasons ahead. These are the collections with striking personalities, including Anna Lindh, By Tori Bridal Wear, Cizzy Bridal Australia, Design by Conception, Juvelan, Lambert Creations, Laurelle, Maria Ciesielska, Melrosé Bridal, Noni, Oksana Chorna, Olvi’s, Piq Your Dress, Sadoni, Sarah Alouache, Verliebt by Alessia Borrelli, Vivien Luxury, Watters, Weddies by Janset, Yoora Studio and many more.

And above all that and after the huge success last year, within the Designer Area at European Bridal Week, the Instagram Candy Bar will also be back a – you name it – “sweet feature”. This is where visitors can feed their social media platforms to get Instagram messages over to their target audience. At the same time, daily ‘meet and greet’ sessions, in English and German, will provide the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from social media specialists in the bridal fashion sector. Another asset that is #CreatingDifference!

One highlight not to miss onsite European Bridal Week have always been the Fashion Shows. What about this year?

The must-see EBW Catwalk Shows are taking place again in 2024. Fashion Shows will we staged, highlighting the buying day. And you will see some wonderful names in the important EBW Catwalk show programme, Saturday 13 April and Sunday 14 April. Long regarded as a highlight of the annual exhibition, this year it will feature, Amelie, Casablanca, Cristalline Bridals, Dama Couture, Iam Yours, Lilly, Rosa Clara, Weise, among others.

European Bridal Week - Fashion Show

There is truly a reason to celebrate this year! European Bridal weeks turns 10 in 2024 – how are you planning to mark the anniversary?

With celebrating 10 years of European Bridal Week, we are also bringing back the EBW AWARDS to Essen, Germany, on Sunday 14 April 2024, Colosseum Theater Essen, honouring the bridal and fashion industry with all the passion we share for the industry of ours.
It is so important that at times we get recognised for all our hard work and endeavours and the EBW AWARDS is a platform designed to recognise those bridal businesses from around the world that have excelled or exceeded a store’s or a stockist’s expectation. We are not only inviting our guests to vote, but we are also inviting everybody to join this exceptional event on the Sunday as this will be an evening to remember, full of glamorous moments with flying dinner, entertainment, dancing and of course the vital awards ceremony.

European Bridal Week

As we can see, the bridal world is changing, but EBW is changing too! Tell us more!

All in all, this edition of European Bridal Week is going to be different, whilst moving the industry. This presents the opportunity for creative thinking, and it serves to further strengthen this dynamic proposition.

 Join us from 13 – 15 April in #CelebratingDifference within the ever-changing bridal world as we welcome change and the new opportunities that result.

I look forward to seeing you in Essen, and celebrating with you!