ІІ.THE ALMANAC PREMIERE 2003-2004

The premiere of the Almanac of Bulgarian Fashion 2003 -2004 by Lubomir Stoykov was a big success. It was mostly of charity nature and under the aegis of the First Lady Mrs. Zorka Purvanova who wrote the foreword of the book. Fashion journalist Nevena Vassileva was host of the show.

The event took place on November 26, 2003 at Inter Expo Centre as the main host and sponsor was Bulgarreklama Agency with its Executive director Eng. Ivan Ivanov. The charity auction was hosted by the journalist Maria Malcheva and Natalia Gourkova – Miss Bulgaria 1998. At this event the guests bid for the purchase of the first three copies of the Almanac. A total of 4,000 Bulgarian leva was raised that is a record high amount for such an auction.
The funds, raised at the charity event were divided among the children from the Saint Ivan Rilski Home for Children Deprived of Parents’ Care, two fashion design students, i.e. the new scholarship holders of the Ot Igla Do Konets (From the Needle to the Thread) consultancy house Desislava Stoycheva and Maria Doichinova (both studying fashion in Vienna), as well as video equipment for the Faculty of Journalism and mass communications. Ivan Chalukov, president of Bulgarian Fashion Forum took part in the charity event by bidding highest for the Almanac issue No 1 (he paid 1,000 leva for the book with the personal signature of the author!), Evgenia Kalkandzieva, president of Visage Model Group, Albena Petrova, representative of Visage Model Group, Milan, Minyu Staikov, president of SIS Industries, and the Member of Parliament (MP) Antonia Purvanova, Konstantin Stamatov, president of Crafts Design, Krasimira Bogdanova, president of Exclusive company, Mrs Julia Bull, Maria Teofilova, – Wordly Business Woman 2002, Lilia Nikolova, owner of Max Internet Club, Skinline Medical Centre, the French brand Iv Roche, Bonjour shops,  Giorgio Aiana, president of Sorais, Eleni Garudi, jewellery El Grado, Stavri Kalinov, Automotor Corporation, official representative of Citroen for Bulgaria, Fibroteks, Kras Plus, etc. donated sums.

MPs Antonia Parvanova and Irena Varadinova, as well as Silvia Vassileva, the wife of Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Vasilev, Anna Sendova, the singers Silvia Katsarova and Dimi from Slang, Mister Be a Millionaire, i e. Niki Kunchev, the actress Tatyana Lolova, the showman Miodrag Ivanov, the prima ballerina Dilyana Nikiforova, and other representative of the social and fashion circles also paid tribute to the event.

The laureates of Zlatna Igla (Golden Needle) award, Albena Alexandrova for Roshavata Garga, Maria Nedkova and Maria Micheva as well as Dzina Nick, Elena Moskvichova for A-Style, Polia Milanova for Mon Amour, Terry Georgieva, Milka Alexandrova – Buchi and the fashion houses Irida, Holiday, Andrews Fashion, Nelly, Bobby Style, showed their latest collections, the designer Ilona Shalamanova with children’s fashion, showing Kolev &Kolev shoes, the glasses Kwiat, the jewellery El Grado, the French fashion house Marite +Francois Girbaud. Agressia, a leader in the European production of men’s wear decided to show in public its two latest collections fall-winter 2003 - 2004 respectively ladies and men’s wear, at the Almanac premiere. The face of the fashion house, the legendary model, Peter Genadiev also took part in the show as well as the social columnist Evgeni Minchev. The participation of Boutique Differente with the collection fall-winter 2003 – 2004 of Gianfranco Ferre was exclusive. The designs of the students from the speciality Fashion at the National Academy of Art Stella Velcheva and Yoanna Marinova, Antoaneta Dolkina and Nikolai Pachev from New Bulgarian University and Veronica Vapirova from Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts definitely attracted attention during the show.

What was new in the forth edition of the Almanac of Bulgarian Fashion? That was its charitable character and the special accent on the human and charitable mission of the Bulgarian fashion. For the first time the Almanac was published in two languages, Bulgarian and English. Some of our best stylists and fashion houses, many of them being awarded the Zlatna Igla ( The Golden Needle) award of the Academy for Fashion were included in it. The number of sections was increased with one additional section, a special one dedicated to the biggest fashion trade structure, The Central Department Store, TZUM. A Lifestyle section also presented new participants like Citroen, First Investment Bank. It was the first time that the Almanac published small fashion advertisements.

The charitable premiere and the fashion show on the occasion of the Almanac of Bulgarian Fashion 2003 – 2004 was organised with the kind assistance of Inter Expo Centre, Agressia fashion house, Bonjour chain of shops, Automotor Corporation, general importer of Citroen, Savoy Club, Lavazza, Downtown Hotel, Estee Lauder and Clinic Adriana beauty saloons, the Municipality Insurance Company. The staging of the models was done by Amalia Tincheva, the hairdos by Adriana Roumenova and the make–up by Estee Lauder. DJ Dancho – Stalbitsata was in charge of the music background and Juniors PR Office took care of the catering.