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Welcome to the Scoop<\/a>: a weekly email series in which I quiz fashion insiders on the stories of the week. This will be a way for the Vogue Business community to synthesize and reflect on the latest headlines and get a little inside scoop every Friday.<\/em><\/p>\n This week\u2019s guest is Valentina Su\u00e1rez-Zuloaga, the creative director of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid (MBFW Madrid). After spending a few years working in e-commerce for Stella McCartney and Temperley London in the English capital, Valentina moved back to her native city in 2018 and founded slow fashion retailer Es Fascinante.<\/p>\n A few years later, in February 2025, she was appointed to her position at MBFW Madrid. In just a little over a year, she\u2019s put Madrid back on the fashion map. Vogue Business<\/em> covered both the Johanna Ortiz show<\/a> in March and the city\u2019s retail revival<\/a>, before I even met Valentina in person at the Cond\u00e9 Nast offices in London last month. It was there that she shared some news that I asked her to share with you today.<\/p>\n Hi Valentina! What\u2019s the scoop?<\/strong><\/p>\n For the first time ever, this coming September, Madrid Fashion Week will actually take place in Madrid. Since its launch more than 40 years ago, the event has been held at a venue a 20-minute drive out of the city. This has been holding us back because the city of Madrid is one of our strongest assets.<\/p>\n We will be doing the shows in big palaces, other institutional buildings, and even on the streets. Our designers have been asking for the option to present their collections in unique environments, and we are trying to position MBFW Madrid as the main platform for Hispanic fashion in Europe. Having the shows in the city should help with that mission.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been hearing and reading that Madrid is experiencing a renaissance<\/a>. Can you talk to me about that?<\/strong><\/p>\n Madrid is currently receiving an influx of international visitors, mainly from Latin America. There are a lot of Venezuelans, Colombians, Mexicans… they actually call Madrid \u201cthe new Miami\u201d. They are starting businesses in Madrid and establishing residences. We felt we needed to take advantage of this moment, so we started to invite international brands to show during MBFW Madrid. In March, for example, we had [Colombian brand] Johanna Ortiz\u2019s show here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Which international brand are you inviting for September?<\/strong><\/p>\n This year, we\u2019re excited to welcome Agua Bendita, a very popular resortwear brand from Colombia. The show will be done in collaboration with the Latin American Fashion Awards (LAFA). It\u2019s the first time we\u2019ve partnered with an external platform, and it\u2019s incredibly valuable to join forces with organizations that have already built strong communities.<\/p>\n As part of this partnership, Agua Bendita presented by LAFA will host a special showcase on Tuesday, September 15, at 12pm in collaboration with LAFA. The show will celebrate Latin American culture, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. It will also feature prominent Hispanic talent, including a well-known singer who will perform live and help open the fashion week program in the city.<\/p>\n You\u2019re relatively new to this job. What was your brief when you started?<\/strong><\/p>\n To put Madrid on the fashion map. It\u2019s a city already known for its gastronomy and art, but there is still an opportunity in fashion, which we are strong in, though it\u2019s not widely known. I feel like the wind is blowing in our sails. If we execute the plan properly, it can generate jobs, economic growth, opportunities, and international visibility for Spain, not just Madrid.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n