The National Paper Dress Contest, one of the most anticipated events of Amposta's Festes Majors (Main Festivals), reaches its 54th edition on Thursday, August 13th. The event will take place at the old swimming pool car park starting at 10:30 PM and will showcase nearly 40 dresses divided into four categories: Contemporary Fashion, Period Costume, Fantasy Costume, and Children's Costume.
Singer Beth will entertain the evening with a performance prior to the announcement of the winners. The Councillor for Festivals, Anna Tomàs, has celebrated the increase in participation, highlighting the incorporation of three new designers, which underscores the generational talent in this tradition.
Tomàs thanked the dedication of the designers, who spend the entire year designing and crafting the garments following specific regulations. She emphasized that the uniqueness of the dresses lies in the "many hours of design and creation" behind them.
The dresses, which must be original and made exclusively from paper, will be judged by a panel of experts. They will evaluate the pattern making, construction, craftsmanship, originality, overall image, footwear, and accessories, which must harmonize with the design.
The gala will also include the Young Revelation Award, with a prize of 400 euros, for designers under 30 years old with innovative creations. The first-prize winning dresses in each category will become the property of the Amposta City Council, which is seeking a space for their future preservation and exhibition.
The contest is part of the process to declare the paper dresses a Bien de Interés Cultural Local (BCIL - Local Asset of Cultural Interest), a step towards recognition as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, alongside Mollerussa and Foz do Douro-Porto.
“"The paper dresses must comply with very specific regulations and rules. There are many hours of design and creation, which makes them unique."
This new edition consolidates the contest as a unique tradition, closely linked to the cultural identity of Amposta, reinforcing participation and generational succession.
