Tenerife International Fashion Week Highlights Professionalization of Barbering Industry
The Tenerife International Fashion Week’s recent barbering expo highlighted the industry's professionalization and the emergence of new talent through high-pressure technical competitions.
The recent Tenerife International Fashion Week (SIMTE) highlighted the growing professionalization of men’s grooming. Held at the Trade Fair Center, the four-day event served as both a showcase for new trends and a clear sign of a generational shift within the barbering industry.
The event concluded on June 7, featuring the Tenerife Barber Expo, where technical skill and the ability to work under pressure took center stage. A highlight was the competition for emerging talent, which saw 16 students from the Nuevo Stylo e Imagen school face off. After a challenging 45-minute test in the venue’s "Black Box"—an environment far removed from the comfort of a standard salon—Said Allal, Alberto Coello, and Lara González emerged as the top three winners.
In addition to the student category, the event hosted the "Pro-Barbers" division, won by Adrián Concepción, and the "Barber Show," which featured demonstrations from industry leaders like Oche Barber, Ismael de Mora, Kingillettes, Fran Aranda, Lolo Rodríguez, and Pau Puertas. Efraín Medina, the Island Councilor for Employment and Education, noted that the event is vital for creating an ecosystem where new talent can learn from and compete alongside established professionals.
These competitions reflect a broader trend in the Spanish labor market: barbering is no longer just a traditional trade, but a technical discipline that requires constant training and the ability to adapt to evolving styles. By integrating these "style battles" into major fashion events, the industry is highlighting the cultural and economic importance of men’s grooming. Today, haircutting has evolved into a form of design that demands both manual precision and a sharp commercial mindset.