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.

This week, as its 080 Barcelona Fashion, we had the pleasure of interviewing Pedro Covelo. A young fashion designer who originates from Galicia, but is now based in Barcelona. Thanks to his talent, effort and meticulous handiwork, he won the last edition of Modafad – the young creators fashion show. Consequentially he also won the scholarship given out by Gratacós in collaboration with this organization.

Do you remember the moment when you decided you were going to focus your career in fashion?

As I always say, I never decided anything at any particular moment. It was all progressive and I gradually got more and more involved. It is something I feel very at ease with.

From Vigo to Barcelona. What brought you to this city?

The truth is I have always liked Barcelona for its European movement and its design. It is a city which has a constant flow of people from all over the world, with projects and very interesting ideas. A city where you can get a learn lots of things if you know how to make the most of it.

Do you miss anything from your home town?

I have never been very nostalgic, I live the present and enjoy life every moment. If I was to mention anything, I would say living with my parents and not having to worry about anything related to my house.

Which icons have helped you develop your own style?

The way I see it, each person’s taste is created from millions of little inputs that you receive from all over. In terms of design, my top three are Prada, Anderson and the new Gucci.

Have you had any experiences that have marked your creative outlook?

I could tell you so many things that in the end it is the summary of the last 5 years in Barcelona, different people I have met and travelling.

Where do get the ideas for your collections? Which is the first step you take when creating them?

In my case, I usually start off from an image I have seen and I associate it to a concept which I have in mind at the time. Following that, I think of a final idea I would like to undertake, a fabric, the cut, the type of beauty, the essence of collection in general.

How important are the fabrics in your design? Do you have a preference for a specific one?

VERY IMPORTANT. And more so in my case, as the patterns are cleaner and without volume. The fabrics are what I experiment most with; printing, embroidering, combining them and using unusual fabrics in masculine fashion. I cannot say I have a preference for any particular one, as each collection breathes a different spirit, and has completely different fabrics and theme.

With which materials would you like to experiment in the future?

Now I am at a phase where I am interested in patchwork, mixing leather with other fabrics such as denim. However, as an idea for the long term future, I would say that my leitmotiv, in each collection is to try printing different fabrics with completely different textures and see how each one works. I find this very interesting.

If you could choose any place, where would you like to see your designs?

Amberes or Asia.

Can you give us anything away about your upcoming collection?

America, end of the sixties, country music sounds, the smell of earth and a bit of women.

Gratacós has the great pleasure of collaborating with GG Fashion Market, one of the most important book fairs for fashion publications in Spanish. The event will take place on Thursday 16^th and Friday 17^th April at the headquarters of the publishing house Gustavo Gili (C/Rosselló 87-89, Barcelona).

The book fair will offer a wide variety of publications that analyze the industry of fashion from various sectors: design, pattern, illustration, marketing, history and sociology. All the books on sale will benefit from a 10% discount.

As has become customary in past editions, this year the competition GGmoda will also be held for fashion students. The common theme of this edition is sustainable fashion with publications such as: “Moda ética para un futuro sostenible” (Ethical fashion for a sustainable future) by Elena Salcedo, and “Moda sostenible” (Sustainable Fashion) by Alison Gwilt.

The jury is made up by Gloria Casacuberta (responsable for communication for the Gratacós shop) acting as president with the participation of Fiona Capdevila (textile artisan and founding member of the Association of Sustainable Fashion in Barcelona), Charo Mora (fashion journalist) and Carmen H. Bordas (fashion editor for GG). The winner will be announced Thursday 16^th at 7pm.

The 10 participating schools: 7 from Barcelona, 1 from Sabadell, 1 from Palma de Mallorca and 1 from Valencia, will exhibit their designs in the hall of the publishing house during the GG Fashion market. Furthermore, as part of the prize, the winning designs will be exhibited in our new space opening shortly in Riera Sant Miquel (Gràcia).

Amongst the novelties this edition we mention the Student Market. An outdoor market which will be set up in front of the publishing house headquarters, where design students can sell their creations. For more information, you can visit the following link for the Gustavo Gili website.

The world of fashion is in luck and we are more than delighted with this initiative. It is the first Film Festival documentary about fashion taking place in Barcelona the upcoming month of May, on the 15^th, 16^th and 17^th in the Aribau multicines.

Moritz Feed Festival is an initiative impulsed by the brand of beer who, together with the Charo Mora coordination have launched this first project which aims to offer a programme in which the cinematographic quality of each and every one of its productions prevails.

Apart from perceiving fashion as a cultural expression, this festival hosts and exhibits a dozen documentaries about fashion and various premieres with the objective of showing the audience the richness and complexity of fashion as a phenomenon and as a reflection of society and its history.

In Gratacós, we have noted the dates in our diary and we will be sure not miss it, following up on each and every one of the steps that will be taken in this first edition of the Festival, and in many other editions.

We will tell you about our experience then.

Once again we have packed our bags to continue our travels, this time to Morocco. Here is where the most important textile fair in North Africa, Marocco Style, Fashion and Tex took place. We were there together with many other companies from the international fashion industry participating to present our articles, the fabrics that will be in fashion in the upcoming seasons.

Casablanca is the largest city in Marocco and also has the main port which accounts for 80% of the countries´commerce. Thanks to their location, this fair is gaining more and more importance in the fashion and textile world.

From the 10th to 12th March, visitors have flocked from the Middle East, the Gulf, Europe, Russia and many other countries of the world. An opportunity for us to continue expanding our brand and position the Gratacós fabrics in all parts of the world.

For us, this is the start of a big friendship with the fair Marocco Style, Fashion and Tex.

We will keep you updated.

A few days ago the fashion world mourned the loss of another of the most talented designers in Spain, Raimon Bundó, founder of the bridal fashion brand that carries his name.

It was in 1969 when he set up the company which became one of the great predecessors of prêt-à-porter in the bridal fashion world. An outstanding designer and better person who dedicated his life to his great passion. He managed to introduce his brand in up to 30 countries and position himself as competition for large companies such as Rosa Clará or Pronovias.

From Gratacós we just want to thank him for his work, inspiration and the legacy he has left behind in the Spanish fashion world.

R.I.P. Raimon Bundó.

31 editions later, Gratacós is still present and giving it all at the Premiere Vision Paris fair. An event we look forward to each year to show the fabrics from our new collections. We always come back from the fair with a good feeling and pleased with the result.

This year, as always our presence at the fair has not gone unnoticed. Thanks to the 10 people working on our stand that made each and every one of our clients feel the warm welcome of our fabrics and capture the essence of Gratacós.

This fabric fair in Paris brings together each year more and more people from all over. Customers from the 5 continents that travel to discover the novelties that will be tendency for the upcoming season and that have been welcomed under the slogan “Heres fashion comes to life”. We love it.

Furthermore, in this edition, more than ever, we have noticed the presence of Asian customers who are increasingly interested in the novelties of European fashion.

In Gratacós, we are very happy with our participation in Premiere Vision Paris. Our customers are delighted with the novelties we are exhibiting and we are back feeling very eager to continue innovating and to show our fabrics to other corners of the world.

Once again this year we have exhibited at the international fair Munich Start. We have been attending this fair for four years now and it has been an opportunity to present the new fabrics which will be in fashion next season. And this time with more novelties than ever.

This time our visit to Germany has been to gain a foothold and establish the presence of Gratacós in this country, with the opening of an agency that represents our fabrics (Ralph Fuhrmann).

In Gratacós, we have taken a step further to continue expanding our presence on an international level and to introduce our fabrics in many other countries.

We are now back and are very happy to transport the passion we have for our work and the results it brings with it to other places. In this way we give the international fashion world a bit more of ourselves every time.

080 Barcelona Fashion Week is back for another edition. Plenty of novelties and fresh young talent determined to make a strong impression and gain a foothold in the world of fashion. And it is in this way that our fabrics are back on the catwalks with two designers that will give plenty to talk about. All positive.

Manuel Bolaño is without a doubt one of the most awaited for designers on the Catalan catwalk. As he himself says, he has a show prepared to present his collection “Palomo Cojo” for the upcoming season Autumn Winter 15/16. And moreover he is using Gratacós fabrics.

We are also anxious to see the designs presented by Pedro Covelo on the Modafad catwalk, winner of the last edition. We are sure this young designer will go as far as he wishes to and we also support him fully.

We will be there, in the first row as we do not to miss a thing. If you would also like to attend, you are in luck, because we are GIVING AWAY TWO DOUBLE PASSES; one for the Manuel Bolaño fashion show and the other for Pedro Covelo.

Manuel Bolaño: Wednesday 4th February (4pm)

Pedro Covelo: Thursday 5th February (7pm)

¿How to participate?

Leave a message in this image (here) saying which of the two shows you would like to attend. All those who participate will take part in the draw. You have until Tuesday 2^nd February at 2pm to participate.   Shortly after, we will publish the names of the winners on Facebook.

The passes can be collected at the Gratacós shop, in Calle Pau Claris 162 – piso 2º, Barcelona. (Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm)

Good luck to you all, we’ll see you at 080!

This year, the 080 Barcelona Fashion Week has made an impressive debut and people are already talking about the young designers who once again have the opportunity to present their collections and introduce themselves into the world of fashion. Furthermore, this new edition is full of surprises and one of them – if not the most important – is the new award for these emerging young talents.

The Generalitat de Catalunya National Award to emerging design 080 BFW.

The objective of this 20.000€ prize is recognition of the talent of these designers and the diffusion and notoriety of the winning brand. It is also recognition of Catalan fashion in general, both at a national and international level.

This 15th edition of the 080 fashion show will take place from the 2^nd to 5^th February in the Maritime Museum in Barcelona – DrassanesReials. A space which is being prepared and converted to accommodate the maximum number of people possible during these 4 days.

From Gratacós, we will be present at the show offering our support to those young talents who work so hard to find their place in the fashion industry. We are already very impatient to see all the novelties.