Lisbon, Oct 11 (IANS): Modalisboa, one of Europe's oldest independent fashion weeks, kicked off in Lisbon, attracting a large number of spectators.

For three days from Friday Modalisboa showcases what's new in modern Portuguese fashion design, reported Xinhua.

Known as Lisbon Fashion Week, Modalisboa takes place two times a year attracting hundreds of journalists, VIP's and fashionistas each year to Lisbon.

The event will be held on catwalks in Lisbon's Patio da Gale, Municipal Square and Pacos do Concelho every evening throughout the weekend.

Modalisboa's emphasis is to bring the newest and biggest designers in Portuguese fashion to the forefront of the fashion industry by bringing recognition to Portuguese designers.

Featuring 22 Portuguese designers, Modalisboa shows off designers new and old in hopes to demonstrate style, beauty and change in Portuguese fashion design.

Every year Modalisboa has a theme. This year's themes is, Timers, which represents concept of shaping and transforming the present. This concept signifies the change and challenging the present.

According to Modalisboa, the hope is that they can "change the city's image and to add value" to the fashion world.

Another concept at this year's event is the Wonder Room, a pop-up store featuring 22 emerging Portuguese brands located in BPI in the Municipal Square.

On Thursday, Modalisboa held an official presentation of this year's collection at the Patio Da Gale in Municipal Square in Lisbon. The presentation discussed changes in fashion, challenges in modern fashion design and their ambitions to create and make changes.

Friday's events got off to a great start showcasing Sangue Novo, or New Blood, which features up-and-coming fashion designers and introducing 10 new Portuguese designers. The evening continued with three more designers, Catarina Oliveira, Luis Carvalho and Carlos Gil to cap off the evening.

A total of 17 shows are scheduled in the evenings of Saturday and Sunday.