The Asociación de Creadores de Moda de España (ACME) continues consolidating its support of Spanish author fashion and promoting national creativity by welcoming five new firms. Sybilla, Isabel Zapardiez, Isabel Zapardiez, Lebor Gabala and Suma Cruz are the latest additions to ACME. All are brands that represent the values of slow fashion; local production, commitment to artisanal transformation and the preservation of traditional crafts.
“The entry of these five very relevant firms in the fashion sector demonstrates the Association’s representativeness as the main voice of Spanish author fashion,” says Pepa Bueno, executive director of ACME.
ACME celebrates the incorporation of Sybilla, one of the most recognised fashion designers in the international scene for her unique style in fusing elegance and experimentation. Sybilla has been, and is an icon of Spanish fashion that challenged the norms. She has managed to make her creations a reference for many generations and continues to inspire with her creativity. Her collections, which combine designs with simple but dreamlike shapes, are characterised by elaborate patterns and elegant, flattering and sensual colors.
After a 10-year hiatus, she returned to fashion in 2013, receiving the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts in 2014 and the National Fashion Design Award in 2015. In 2024, she presented La Revuelta de Sybilla, a project that allowed her to reconnect with her public and collaborate directly in the creation of garments. Additionally, she reopened her bridal and bespoke haute couture salon, while inaugurating interim stores in Madrid, Mallorca, Ibiza, Mexico and Miami. “I am very happy to have finally entered ACME. Although I have always been close, now that we are timidly returning to the market, the time has come to formalise it. I trust that together we can develop initiatives that help the sector and use our creativity not only to create beautiful things, but to be able to invent ways to establish synergies between everyone and revitalise this profession that can contribute so much to Spain,” states Sybilla Sorondo.
Also joining up is Isabel Zapardiez, whom since childhood has cultivated a deep passion for sewing that led her to build a career characterised by innovation and versatility. Her brand is synonymous with exclusivity and craftsmanship. Zapardiez has held fashion shows in international runways such as Paris Fashion Week, Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Couture Fashion Week in New York. Her designs cover the entire universe of the feminine image with collections of bridal wear, women’s wear and accessories, always with a focus on sustainability. “I am very happy to be part of an Association that values couture with its own identity, surrounded by professionals committed to innovation, respect for traditions and sustainability. We share a vision of fashion as something lasting and genuine and I am looking forward to working together with the rest of my colleagues on the challenges that await us,” adds the fashion designer.
Also joining the Association is Luis Berrendero, a fashion graduate from IED Madrid who has worked in prestigious French haute couture houses such as Balmain, Lanvin or Christian Dior. He returned to Madrid in 2016 to lead Carmen March’s design team for four years, where he had the opportunity to dress highly relevant international talent such as Beyoncé, Kendall Jenner or Katy Perry. In 2022 he began his solo career by fusing Parisian elegance with Castilian tradition in contemporary designs. “Being part of the ACME family is a true privilege that fills me with excitement, as it represents the opportunity to work with a community that values excellence and creativity in the fashion world. I am fully committed to dignifying this profession, bringing passion, professionalism and respect for its cultural and economic impact. Furthermore, I find it enriching to be surrounded by renowned brands that have left a significant mark on the history of our country, which inspires and elevates the work of all of us who are part of this exciting sector,” states Berrendero.
Finally there are the additions of Lebor Gabala and Suma Cruz. Lebor Gabala is a fashion firm created by Maite Muñoz who began her career in fashion learning the trade from pioneers of Spain’s fashion industry, such as Pedro Morago, Rap Diffusion or Mila and Tucho Balado. After several years in Ibiza, where she designed her first collections for Adlib, Maite decided to move to Barcelona to make her dream of creating her own brand come true. Lebor Gabala was stablished as an exclusive knitwear collection and, over time, expanded its proposals by incorporating silk, cotton, embroidery and print fabrics, always with a focus on maximum quality. “At Lebor Gabala we believe in author fashion that fuses quality and creativity and by joining ACME we seek to expand our reach and connect with an audience that values fashion as an expression of identity and culture,” declares Maite Muñoz.
On the other hand, Suma Cruz, the jewellery firm founded in Madrid by Susana Cruz, was created with the aim of brining accessories to the forefront, dressing women of all styles. In 2024, she received recognition for Best Collection of Footwear, Jewellery and Accessories at the 1st Edition of the Fundación Academia de Moda Española, thanks to her “Índico” collection (2023). “Joining ACME represents an opportunity to be part of a group that shares our values and our passion for fashion. This not only reinforces our commitment to excellence and creativity in design, but also allows us to actively contribute to initiatives that promote and consolidate the fashion scene in Spain as well as abroad. We are inspired by the possibility of joining other designers who also work hard every day to give visibility to their work. We believe that belonging to ACME amplifies our ability to reach more people, showing what motivates us and what we love: designing unique pieces that reflect our vision of fashion as well as our essence,” emphasises Susana Cruz.
This expansion not only strengthens the community of fashion designers, but also opens up new opportunities to share a common vision of fashion, both locally as well as globally.
