Santa Eulalia, a Barcelona shop since 1843

Santa Eulalia, a shop that opened at the end of the 19th century and pioneered what was once haute couture in Barcelona, last week unveiled its refurbished new space, bringing back furniture from the past: Art Deco counters, period signs, an oak staircase, parts of a 1920s lift, clocks and other furniture, almost all of it from the house’s old shops. Its interior architect, William Sofield, a ‘choreographer’ of luxury spaces, has successfully brought past and present together.

Santa Eulalia’s history goes back to 1843, when Domingo Fabernier i Prims opened the first dressmaking shop on the Pla de la Boqueria. In 1926 it presented its first haute couture collection, under Pedro Formosa, brother-in-law of the owner at the time, whose talent and creativity marked the most important period of haute couture. In 1941 it opened its first shop at Passeig de Gràcia 60, and three years later it moved the menswear department to number 93 on the same street; the department later moved to Avinguda Pau Casals 8.

In the 1960s prêt-à-porter was born and Santa Eulalia launched its first collections. It had more than 750 employees, some of whom worked in haute couture and made-to-measure tailoring.

Today, covering some 2,000 m², Santa Eulalia brings its womenswear and menswear departments together under one roof. It also offers a luxury pop-up store (a blank space for temporary retail where other internationally renowned brands will be sold, starting with the French milliner Maison Michel) and a bar where customers and the curious alike can stop for a coffee.

A shop with 168 years of history that has been handed down from generation to generation and has managed to keep the spirit of luxury fashion alive over the years.

To coincide with the opening, Santa Eulalia has set up a space for a temporary exhibition on its history, where you can see period dresses, some of them lent by their owners.

Congratulations, Santa Eulalia, on a job so well done!

If you’d like to find out more, visit the official Santa Eulalia website.

Address: Passeig de Gràcia 93, 08008 Barcelona

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