Saturday 6 August 2011

HatQuarters, Barcelona

It was His Nibs turn to go shopping yesterday, as he's been after a pair of casual summer shoes. The weather here is pretty hot and humid at the moment, so leather shoes just feel too heavy, and you can't wear flips flops all the time, tempting as it may be.






Strangely enough, it ended up being a hat shop called HatQuarters that had the perfect pair. They're a brand called Maians that are made locally and designed by Barcelona designer Alfonso De La Fuente Rey. His Nibs went for the Sisto Basico pair. Luckily we managed to get them half price as the sales are finishing up here to make way for the autumn/winter stock, even though it will be hot for a few months yet.






When I got home and looked the brand up I found out that the company is actually named for and inspired by our barri, Barceloneta. Maians was an island which was located a hundred metres off the coast of Barcelona . It was absorbed by the city for creating the first port of Barcelona, and the area Barceloneta, in 1477 under the reign of King John II of Aragon. One for you history fiends out there.






I'm already planning to go back to HatQuarters to get a hat for the winter. They stock hats from American brand Goorin Bros. and are also planning to stock a new range called Indhy Sombreros, designed by the Maians company. I like to wear hats all the time but it's just too hot in the summer. I've experimented with straw hats and light cotton but I just end up with my hair plastered to my head, it's really not attractive. I end up feeling like this fella...






There are a couple of branches of HatQuarters here in Barcelona (we went to the one in El Born) and one in Istanbul and it looks like they'll be offering online shopping soon too. If you want to get your hands on a pair of Maians they're available in quite a few stores around the world, check out the store locator on the website to find one near you.  


I still haven't managed to get up to the big flea market at Glories yet, the early start required has defeated me so far, but I will do it soon. I swear!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Hello love!

Thanks for the lovely comment. Remember that you must be a follower to be entered to the giveaway (http://www.misfitsvintage.com/2011/08/fraggle-frock.html) It would be really helpful if you had your email address available on your blog or profile!

Sarah xxx

YvonneSedition said...

Ah, thank you, pretty sure I do follow you but I'll check. Good tip for the email address too, will update it now xx