Hazelnut, beige, tan, brown, makeup, nude …  Neutral colours are in fashion this summer 2017. In fact, regardless of the trend this year, the cream tones are classic and modern at the same time. Timeless colors that soften the face and skin, and do not necessarily have to fall in the monotony if you know how to combine with small details in other pigmentations to make an evocative contrast.

This season neutral tones can be seen on the catwalk shows of the luxury brands with a clear tendency to single – colour blocks with some minor variations in tone.  What has changed are those embossed fabrics, the focus on pleated loose clothing and volumes around the shoulder area and attenuated at the bottom. For example, DelPozo exhibits a skirt and jacket outfit in butter colour with wide sleeves; Bottega Veneta goes for fluid dresses insinuating the body without marking it and finally, Chloé gives prominence to floral embossed fabric dyed in dusty pink.

How to combine neutral tones?

Neutral tones are fresh, bring warmth and are present in the most relaxed looks of summer. They soften out and are discreet enough to make the details of the garments stand out.  In this sense, they easily pass fade into the background with an unexpected colour touch. This season, the neutrals combine with stylish burnt orange, chocolate-brown appeasers, the ivory tones – the fake whites – and the pink tones. It is not a season of excessive contrasts, rather of complementary shades that are simple and elegant without effort. Blessed discretion!

Embossed fabrics

As we noted above, the colour gives prominence to the fabric as you can see in the trend “Flor de Cala Blanca” on our website. Textures, outlines, floral motifs … give this counterpoint to details with fabrics that are pleasing to the eye and touch.  Also to be seen are blends such as chiffon and silk combined with crochet and the most original jacquards. Finally, matt textures prevail.  Better without shine.

If you want to discover the universe of neutral tones and textures, we invite you to discover the seasonal fabrics in our shop where we can advise you better.

August is the month of holidays -for the majority, a time for relaxation and leisure and to take life slower. It’s time to disconnect from work routines and the tempos we mark ourselves to honour the body and mind with relaxing moments. Today we want to propose some alternative festivals that combine a winning trio that never fails: fashion, music and cuisine in idyllic surroundings. A few recommendations to entertain you alone, with family or friends or in your holiday retreat.

La Santa Market

The Costa Brava opens a new bohemian market. It is called La Santa Market and is installed in the Santa Cristina d’Aro riding club, Santa Cristina Horse Club. During the weekends of July and now in August this exhibition gathers together local firms and craftsmen with clothes and chic accessories, the transgressive proposals for new creators and a space called Boho Market with ethnic style products. Amongst the proposals from designers and artisans, more than 20 food corners can be found with a wide range of food and drink for everyone. Live music is also present in this new outdoor market with a large agenda of groups such as Mazoni, Blaumut, Dolo Beltrán, Josep Pedrals or Xarim Aresté. And in the evenings, dj sessions and author cocktails to accompany the warmest nights of the year.

This family market also proposes plans for children with workshops and Pony Club in the annexe facilities of the market.

When? August in the grounds of Santa Cristina Horse Club (Santa Cristina de Aro)

White Summer

The classic Costa Brava Festival arrives this year in August and has established itself with its innovative formula of evenings (and nights) exposing the latest trends in creative business, leisure and gastronomy. The programme of this new edition of White Summer maintains the values of eclecticism and uniqueness of this market that opts for ephemeral designer shops for all target groups (including children) with signature dining and entertainment venues . At night, the most alternative music takes to the stage … Impossible to be bored if you summer on the Costa Brava!

When? From 5th to 27th August at Mas Gelabert de Pals

Palo Alto Market In September, when many of us have finished the holidays, the third season of the most renowned design markets begins in Barcelona: Palo Alto Market Again, the festival reaffirms
its commitment to the latest trends opting for social innovation, sustainability and local talent: young contemporary artisans with proximity products. Some values that have marked the character of this event since its beginning.

In this new edition, the new proposals in design are Atelier Fernández’s leather crafted complements, Mermi’s elegant foulards, Handmade Beauty’s natural and organic cosmetics, Peruvian artisans’ quilts and rugs from Puskay, precious tillandsias (or plants of the air) of Bromelia, handmade hemp backpacks made in Nepal by Hemper, or the gourmet caramelized almonds of Marmeles. Among the novelties, to mention, the ‘Casa Boheme’ space, which will promote exhibitors with proposals for home, decoration and handcrafted objects.

For almost three years, Palo Alto Market has gathered 4,000 exhibitors with 280,000 visitors.

When? 2nd and 3rd of September in the Palo Alto Barcelona site in Poblenou.

Making a name for yourself in the Spanish fashion industry is not an easy task, rather the opposite. And even more so if you are a young talent who has to deal with the obstacles of being small, being sometimes left out and trying to stand out in an already saturated panorama of firms with their own label and on top of this fierce competition from low cost  brands who dominate mass consumption.

That’s why we rejoice news like this: Moisés Nieto (Jaén, 1984) has won the National Award for Fashion 2017 together with Purificación García, in a ceremony chaired by Queen Letizia last week at the Costume Museum Madrid. An award in the category of ‘New Value’ in which the Jaen born designer shared nomination with Ulises Mérida and the tailoring brand created by Paul Gómez Oteyza and Caterina Pañera, and which on other occasions has been received by the designers Maria Ke Fisherman and Juan Vidal. A recognition to the textile universe, as much for its creative process of design as its cultural contribution based on three criteria: the originality and the quality of the work done;  The innovative character and the contribution that this work makes to the Spanish cultural life. This award given to Moisés Nieto seeks to provide the much needed institutional support to national designers to promote the brand ‘made in Spain’ inside and outside the country.

Moisés Nieto’s career has always been upward. He broke into the scene in 2011, the same year he established his own company in Madrid. Before he studied fashion design and he got himself several awards like the My Own Show, for which the Valentino Group took over part of the production of his first collection. A year later he won the award for the best collection of EGO, the Cibeles catwalk Fashion Week dedicated to the new promises of the fashion industry. The final push came in 2016 with the prestigious Who’s On Next Vogue Spain award that came with 100,000 Euros. In parallel, Moisés Nieto has expanded his company also reaching the masculine sector with ‘Two Studio’ and has begun a process of internationalization selling their creations in various countries around the world. For example, his designs are marketed in the great Opening Ceremony in Tokyo and Osaka.

Moisés Nieto confides in Gratacós

It is no secret that Moisés Nieto is one of our customers. In fact, he is a regular buyer. In the last shows we have been able to see some of our fabrics on the Madrid catwalk.

The current summer 2017 collection is inspired by the Olympics and is a tribute to the culture of struggle, effort, constancy and improvement in order to achieve the desired goals. A philosophy that the designer complies with without fail. It mixes references and styles from different disciplines from the Olympic era: mid calf pleated skirts with an air of English tennis player, oversize shirts in Oxford fabric that recreate judo jackets, long sleeved tight bodysuits in wool crepe, striped prints mixed with flowers in bias cut maxi dresses in an elaborate pattern exercise, viscose knitwear, denim and cupro that adapt to athletic bodies.

And in this winter collection, Moisés Nieto has also surprised us with the duality of women as the main thread in female proposals inspired by the work of filmmaker David Lynch and in his film Mullholand Drive (2002). Here we have seen metalized coats, armed raincoats, midi fluid cuts and printed dresses belted at the waist in a boom of fabrics, colors and silhouettes that emulate the two main characters of this renowned work of the filmmaker.

There are calls that excite us because of the enormous expectations they generate and the success of participation that certainly endorse their popularity edition after edition.  One of them is the Notebook of Trends  by Nelly Rodi.  This is an initiative that we have been promoting since last year to make known the main trends that will be of influence in the next year.  It is a guiding compass of the colours, fabrics and prints that people will be talking about.  This informative talk for design students will be led as always by Úrsula Uria, head of the prestigious research agency on trends in Spain.

This edition unveiled the four trends that will influence the summer of 2018, taking into account some of the global social, economic and cultural trends that influence fashion consumption.  These factors are:

1. In times of crisis there is a resurgence of nationalist values.  In this sense local consumption is prioritized and values such as origins and roots are given importance.  This is especially evident in areas as diverse as music or cooking.

2. It is a time of rebellion.  A consequence of the first macro trend. Tough times cause canons to be broken and new leaders, models and inspirations sought.  In fashion there is a commitment to diversity of mannequins.

3. Consumers are rational.  They know what they want, when they want it and how they want it and they apply intelligence above emotion. Purchases are no longer driven by impulse but by real needs. For example: healthy food with eco ingredients.

4. Free time is the new luxury.  It is what is most appreciated in a society so busy with duties and obligations.  Anyone who has time to travel, switch off and isolate themself … cherishes a real treasure.

Thus, taking into account these premises, the next Spring-Summer 2018 season will influence four trends in fashion: Booster, Horizon, Puzzle and Neodalisque.

1. Booster

A colourful trend based on a mix of technical and sports and inspired by the countries of South -East Asia, especially South Korea.

References:  Pop music, smileys, digital language, geeky references, digital consumers, musical gadgets, futuristic inspiration from the 60s and 70s by Andrès Courreges and Paco Rabanne patterns.

Silhouettes: Priority given to collage, patchwork and patterning technique. The garments are very technical with ergonomic designs and volume is the name of the game.

Prints:  Metallized dyes and surreal motifs.

Colours:  Most are racy – pop – optimist shades – and the range of pastels is like mints.  Explosive combinations like green with pink or violet with orange are all the rage.

Fabrics:  Wearing of patent leather and fabrics with sparkles.

2. HORIZON

A minimalist trend based on yoga, meditation and slow lifestyle.  Inspiration is to be found on surprise beaches facing the ocean.

References:  A cooler interpretation of the sailor style and nautical universe, Loewe, Yohji Yamamoto, the Nordic countries, the beaches of Galicia, stones, handicrafts, fossils, ropes and hues of the sea on a cloudy day.

Silhouettes:  Deconstructed, minimal air patterns, loose and light clothing.

Colours:  Cold palette as blues, muted greens, grays and off – white.

Prints: Scarcely any prints. Prioritizing smooth garments.

Fabrics: Artisanal and light fabrics. Rough details.

3. PUZZLE

A circus-influenced trend based on show and excess. More is more.

References:  theatre, performing arts, surrealism, mix & match, the locker room of Circ du Soleil, the world of majorettes and most glamorous cowboy style.  The trendsetters are Gucci, Prada and Roberto Cavalli.

Silhouettes:  Mix of volumes, shoulders are the new stars, ruffles and styles taken to the extreme.

Colours:  Chromatic chaos.  Bright tonalities, fluorescent and contrasted with each other.  Examples: orange with turquoise, pink with yellow…

Prints:  stripes, zig-zag … The graphic nmotifs abound.

Fabrics:  patent leathers

4. NEODALISQUE

An oriental trend with ethnic roots based on the silk route. A step beyond the boho-chic style.

References:  Persian culture, oriental minimalism, ceramics, details on cintería, Etro prints, trimmings, fruit elements, mosaics, antique vases, carpets and exoticism of Sri Lanka or India.

Silhouettes: very long garments in skirts, dresses and coats, kafkans, kimonos, harem pants.

Colours:  Old gold

Prints:  Prints of exotic flowers and cashmere.

Fabrics: Artisanal

This year celebrates its 70th anniversary and to commemorate this special date, the French maison has created an unprecedented exhibition to publicize the legacy of Christian Dior, as well as his exceptional talent with the needle.

Christian Dior, Couturier du Rêve

Under the name Christian Dior, a Couture Dream, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris is hosting the major retrospective of Dior, the largest exhibition of the firm so far.  The commemorative exhibition, which invites visitors to discover the universe of its founder, in addition to the creations of the six subsequent designers of the firm who succeeded him: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons and, recently, Maria Grazia Chiuri.  Emotions, life-stories, affinities, inspirations, creations and affiliations link this exquisite sample that gathers together more than 300 haute couture dresses designed from 1947 to the present.  A special feature is one of the rooms, inspired by the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles, which shows dresses worn by royalty, such as Grace of Monaco or Princess Diana, and other celebrities such as actresses Charlize Theron or Jennifer Lawrence, who are ambassadors for the company.

In parallel, and for the first time in such detail, there are workshop fabrics and fashion photographs, as well as several hundred documents: illustrations, sketches, images of reports, letters … and fashion accessories such as hats, jewelry, bags and shoes, among others.

Christian Dior was also an art lover and passionate about museums;  more than seventy years of creations are also represented with paintings, furniture and artistic objects.  These works highlight and prolong the look of Christian Dior by exploring the links he was able to to knit between sewing and all forms of art that define the imprint of the Maison.  The two commissioners of the exhibition, Florence Müller and Olivier Gabet, reflected this dialogue via a chronological and thematic route that unites and occupies, for the first time together, the areas dedicated to fashion with those of the nave of the museum, thus adding 3,000 square meters of exhibition.

The exhibition opened on 5 July during Paris Haute Couture Week and will be open to the public until January 7, 2018.

Dior et Granville

In parallel with this great retrospective, the Christian Dior Granville Museum located in Normandy is participating in the celebration of the 70th anniversary with an unprecedented perspective on the local origins of the Dior style, born in this French city in 1905. The family home has in fact been fundamental with regard to the sources of inspiration of the designer and the exhibition pays homage precisely to that period of his life which is not so well known and which marked all his future creations.  Among photos of the time and of his family, some of his most iconic costumes are on show, which cover both the history of the French  maison and his importance for his country.

Christian Dior and Granville: the source of the legend is open to the public until the 24th September.

Designers confide in Gratacos to produce their designs.  Proof of this is the presence of our fabrics in the garments exhibited at 080 Barcelona Fashion show.

On this occasion, artists such as Pilar del Campo, Colmillo de Morsa, Maria Roch, Gema Brain & Beast Sach confided in us and offered as every year transgressive catwalk creations with Gratacós fabrics. We paid attention to every detail to identify, at sight, some of the articles from the new season that you can already buy in our store.

Here are some references that did not go unnoticed:

1. Colmillo de Morsa

The debut of Elisabet Vallecillo and Javier Blanco in the Catalan catwalk did not disappoint.  Creators Colmillo de Morsa presented the proposal ‘Preludio’ inspired by the romantic sensibility of Chopin and the relationship with the writer George Sand. On this occasion, the collection Autumn-Winter 2017 was presented with garments as evocative as the music of the show. On the catwalk we saw bermudas and trousers with burgundy crepe, a cotton bomber jacket, a shirt with mini flowers and a beautiful silk organza blouse with floral inlays.

2. Maria Roch

This Barcelona designer surprised with elaborate staging inspired by the kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing ceramics with gold and silver adding beauty to the broken pieces with history. Under this common thread, Maria Roch presented an intimate collection with Japanese air that included ultra feminine fluid cuts dresses. Pastel colors were not lacking in the colour palette, as well as vibrant colors such as red, blue or grass green. We make special mention to the impressive lame in pearl tones seen on the catwalk.

3. Gemma Sach

The designer Gemma Sach, who has spent 25 years dedicated to fashion in the family business, debuted at 080 Barcelona Fashion with versatile garments from the ‘Eclipsi’ Autumn-Winter 2017 collection. Bright colors for the winter wardrobe, a variety of silks, treated velvets and sets of fabrics from the same range pursued by two of their principles: quality and comfort.

On a final note, we reveal details of some of the fabrics that you can already find in the store. Visit us and we will assist you!

The hottest month of the year coincides with the colour that makes us blush: flame red with orange hues that reminds us of flames in motion. This lively and passionate tonality ignites summer looks with its fascinating power of attraction.

This season red is being worn in monochrome blocks maximizing its visibility: carmine, garnet, red currant, scarlet or coral shades in matt or glossy fabrics.  The key is the same colouration.  On the catwalk, for example, companies such as Valentino  have not hesitated in going for flame reds in dresses with subtle prints,  Dior  too with their transparent tulle skirts and  Kenzo or Balmain with low - cut garments. As well  Oscar de la Renta with ruffles on dresses,  Salvatore Ferragamo with  original two - piece suits or Isabel Marant, who  presents this vibrant color with metallic sparkles in an throw-back to to outfits inspired by the eighties.

How to combine red?

Red is a flattering color that works by itself, although sometimes the combination with other tones makes it acquire new nuances. Beyond the classic blends with white or navy blue so characteristic of the looks of Mediterranean - style red is allied with other less frequent colours to take us out of our comfort zone.  For example, Emilio Pucci  goes for mixing it with turquoise, where red is relegated to the background. Valentino and Gucci intermingle it with pink in one of the most striking chromatic alliances.  Meanwhile Balmain dares to align red with purple in a glaringly strident combination.

Burning fabrics

The reddish hues constitute one of our inspirations of the season, as you can see in the trend “Hawaiian Flower” on our website. In it you can find an assortment of fabrics with totally different textures, all with the same common denominator: red. Some flirt with floral lace, silk satin sheen, embossed mikados or jacquards with geometric motifs. Diversity is the taste.

At all events, we invite you to discover all the fabrics impregnated with the most ardent Pantone colour in our shop where we will be able to offer you further advice.

Our fabrics take different forms in singular creations that are a sample of the know-how of each artist of the needle. Sometimes they become handicrafts by private individuals, local or national designers, also hallowed companies that symbolize luxury and elegance.

This time Chanel used one of our embroidered fabrics of gold sequins to shape a draped mididress with a rigid structure and dizzy cleavage that was part of the ‘Paris Cosmopolite’ collection of Métiers d’Art presented in December at the Hotel Ritz in the French capital. The Prefall 2017 creation reverts to the most classic style, but with a modern touch, in an exercise to bring out the detailed work of master craftsmen in a family environment for the maison,friends of the company and its founder. “The Ritz Hotel is my house,” Gabrielle used to say. Indeed, Coco Chanel herself lived (and died in 1971) in this luminous space, between whites and golds and exotic furniture.

In this luxury home Karl Lagerfeld opted for reverting to the essential features of the maisonin a creation inspired by lunches such as those taken by Gabrielle in the last century and by her dress codes with the emphasis on sophistication. An ideal occasion to show suits in tweed – her emblematic fabric – elaborate dresses with embossed textures, skirts below the knee, revisited levitas, details in gem-stones and a great spectrum of metallic shades that add a glamorous touch to what is on offer from Chanel this autumn.

You will find similar fabrics with gold paillettes and metallized embroidery on our website and you will be thrilled with the results.

080 Barcelona Fashion is celebrating.  The catwalk, which will take place from 26 to 30 June in the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau, is celebrating its 20th edition with a large fashion programme that goes beyond parades to include more parallel activities, business conferences, evening parties, special presentations and a guest of honour who will become one of the main advertisements for the Catalan catwalk.

The Missoni saga in Barcelona

In this edition, Margherita Missoni, third generation of the prestigious Italian firm, will collect the Fashion Tribute which the parade is devoting to his mother,  Angela Missoni,  current co – owner and creative director of the brand.  In turn, Margherita will offer a talk about the Missoni saga and its influence on fashion entitled “The Missoni Family.  Born into fashion “.  This talk will be shared with Vogue ex-director Lisa Lowatt-Smith.

The debut of new talents

In the field of design there are some absentees, such as Sita Murt, Menchén Tomàs or TCN, but for the first time on the catwalk there are emerging talents like Mietis, Jnorig, AMT or  the designers Colmillo de Morsa  who we interviewed a few months ago.  For the first time in Catalonia the designer  Maria Roch  will be in the parade with her feminine creations and the designers  Elena Estaun  and Gema Sach.  They will join the catwalk cast along with the regular brands and designers from which we highlight  Brain & Beast – whose daring and rebellious parade is always a must -. As is usual in summer editions, swimwear also takes centre stage on the catwalk with companies such as  Red Point, Como un Pez en el Agua or  Guillermina Baeza.

In total there are 37 designers and companies that will parade on the catwalk, with a clear modernist accent.

Special activities

To commemorate the 20 editions held over the decade,  080 Barcelona Fashion  has scheduled a special calendar among which is the presentation of the capsule collection by the Catalan company  Macson, which  is celebrating 75 years in the business.  It sees the debut as designer of the choreographer and dancer  Rafael Amargo,  the concert by Andrea Motis  which is part of the 080 Barcelona Fashion Nights and a special catwalk party entitled  Anniversary party by Zalando.  On the solidarity front the Catalan parade is also promoting a philanthropic action with the Casal dels Infants, by marketing a commemorative T – shirt designed from a figurine by the prestigious New York illustrator  Rubén Toledo.

Finally, the parallel activities include the holding of the 080 Barcelona Fashion Showroom, which will be transformed into a fair and will be held on 28 and 29 June;  it further includes the 080 Investor Day,  the International Investment Forum of the Fashion Industry  and the annual meeting of the textile-fashion sector,  Texmeeting by TEXFOR.

Access all the programming of 080 Barcelona Fashion here.

In connection with young designers and the industry ‘s future we want to highlight the new edition of  Barcelona Fashion Summit  as a meeting of professionals in the fashion business.  This time the conference will focus on the theme ‘Next Generation: the future of the fashion business’ with topics for analysis such as young business leaders, the new consumers, generational changes or new forms of management and business in the fashion industry.

Coinciding with the start of summer, La Roca Village houses one of the most impressive areas as an international window for local talent: the Barcelona Designers Collective.  This successful platform celebrates its fourth edition for discovery, promotion and support of the talent, creativity, innovation and sustainability of Catalan design firms.  It is a unique showcase that presents the talent of Catalan designers to the world and helps to position the city of Barcelona as a powerful reference in fashion, among other creative disciplines.

In this edition, inaugurated last Thursday, June 15, 70 designers and emerging talent selected by the FAD contribute 300 products of fashion, graphic design, product design, illustration, crafts, contemporary jewelry and art, as a new discipline that it is included in this so original temporary boutique . There is a selection of artworks by Safia art Contemporani with great names of pop art Andy Warhol, Basquiat, Haring or Lichtenstein among other conceptual artists.  The art will unite with design by such established companies as Ana Tichy, Arrels BCN, CarlotaOms, Clara Niubó, Walrus Fang, Costalamel, Edgar Carrascal, IKA, Maria Roch, Miquel Suay, Mireia Playà, Pau Esteve, Rita Row, Ssic & Paul , Victor Von Schwarz, All Sisters, Berta Riera, Carla Garcia Durlan or Anna Grimal, among other participants who will be presenting their work at La Roca Village this summer.

Once again the design of the boutique will be a talking point.  This edition features a light installation by the internationally renowned designer and ceramicist Xavier Mañosa from the studio Apparatu , which will undoubtedly draw the attention of visitors.  Mañosa’s creation consists of 70 lamps representing the 70 talents participating in the Barcelona Designers Collective.

Another of the novelties of this year will be the development of design workshops aimed at a family audience, run by some of the talents participating in this or past editions.

Two exceptional guests at the opening

Apart from being a meeting point for emerging talent,  Barcelona Designers Collective is also supported by the great and good.  On this occasion two special guests will be present at the opening: the work of Javier Mariscal  will also feature in the pop up together with the product of the designers and selected artists. Furthermore, during the summer months the Village will host a retrospective selection of his most recognized creations.  In addition Roland Mouret, who celebrates 20 years as a designer, participated as special guest at the official presentation of the fourth edition of the project with an interesting talk entitled “In conversation with” where the celebrated designer, along with other experts, shared his professional experience and knowledge to inspire and guide the participants of this summer 2017 edition.

The pop up store  Barcelona Designers Collective  will be open until 30 August.  A visit to discover and identify a significant sample of Catalan talent is strongly recommended..