²²². SUCCESSES ABROAD

Bulgarian fashion successes abroad have always been the Achilles’ heel of our design. The real recognition of the Bulgarian fashion creativity is still pending. The collections and the works of the current fashion design students in Bulgaria and abroad will most probably be the object of such recognition. Anyway, can we outline, although not fully, although rather concisely, some of the Bulgarian serious achievements on foreign fashion catwalks? Who else besides Livia Stoyanova and Yassen Samouilov (from the On Aura Tout Vu Fashion House) - the most successful Bulgarian designers across the world – has achieved success and received ovations abroad?

Among the successful contributions of Bulgarian designers abroad, we should not disregard also the successful presentation and the special award of Milka Alexandrova–Buchi who showed a collection of hers in Lisbon, Portugal, on the occasion of the Third Wave countries accession to the European Union.
The Days of the Bulgarian Fashion in Moscow mark the beginning of the probably most massive manifestation of the Bulgarian design aboard in the period under discussion. Collections by well-known and established Bulgarian designers were shown twice – once in the Bulgarian embassy in the capital of Russia and for a second time – in the ultra modern Crocus City Mall in the summer of this year. Dozens of Russian journalists and connoisseurs were fascinated by the Bulgarian fashion, and by the designs of Fani Papadopulu, Virginia Zdravkova for Virginia atelier, Irida, Yunona, Midok and by the jewellery of Dor-Dis, in particular. Interesting and useful meetings and contacts with Russian entrepreneurs and specialists took part during the visit of the Bulgarian designers. The meeting with the legend Slava Zaitsev was especially exciting. The fashion shows were within Slavyanka Festival, organized by the Russian Business Centre in Sofia and the municipalities of the capitals of Russia and Bulgaria, and the occasion – the 125th anniversary of the establishment of Russian - Bulgarian diplomatic relations.

And Virginia Zdravkova was the official designer of Mrs. Globe 2004 pageant, according to a contract signed between her and Sava Tsekov (Miss Globe Trade Mark Director for Bulgaria) and Tracy Kemble (Director and Owner of Mrs. Globe Trade Mark). The contract was renewed for further five years, and the topic of the next Mrs Globe 2005 pageant was specified and the designer would start her work soon. Besides that, Virginia Zdravkova received a personal invitation by Tracy Kemble to participate in the jury of the preliminary tour (in the day before the final round), when the jury gets acquainted with the participants and their abilities.
As it has already become well known, Bulgarian Roumyana Marinova won the crown at Mrs.Globe Pageant, which took place in the summer of 2004, under the auspices of Maria Shriver – the wife of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The happy winner jointly with the other five finalists marched before the wide audience in formal outfits and jewellery designed by Virginia Zdravkova – Virginia atelier [winner of Zlatna Igla (Golden Needle) 2003] and shoes of Virginia shoes brand. Mrs Globe pageant is carried out at the same time as Mrs USA and is broadcast directly by the US NBC television and the Greek National television.
Mittelmoda is among the most renowned young talents competitions. For the first time there was a Bulgarian among the finalists. His name is Nikolay Pachev, a student of New Bulgarian University, majoring Fashion Clothing Design under the master-of-arts programme. In the summer of 2004, he presented successfully an original vanguard collection of five designs at the international exhibition in Brno, Czech Republic. The finale of Mittelmoda 12th world competition took place on September 10 and 11, 2004 in Gorizia, Northeastern Italy. The initial number of the candidates was 1,200, of which 30 representatives of countries from Central, Eastern and Western Europe reached the finals. And although Nikolai Pachev could not rank at the top, his recognition should be accepted and evaluated as recognition of the complete stirring in the new generation of designers and stimulus for their forthcoming manifestations.