Gràcia Fashionista: 10 fashion boutiques to hit for a wardrobe makeover

As one of the most eclectic cities in Europe, Barcelona accommodates a wide range of shopping tastes. Flashy designer labels live happily next to unique, handcrafted pieces with a local touch. Just north of L’Eixample, Gràcia stands as one of the most charming, and trendy neighborhoods with its own unique history and culture. In recent years, new concept stores and upcoming fashion designers have cropped up in the neighborhood, making it a fashion boutique one-stop destination for shoppers looking beyond fast fashion for anything from bespoke tailoring to sustainable denim.

1. BOO

Named after the character Boo Radley from the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,” this little jem offers a contemporary mix of European-established and emergent labels like Maison Labiche, Portuguese Flannel, Colorful Standard, and Saint James among others. BOO’s mens- and womenswear collections bring together a variety of urban styles that can help create a wardrobe full of high-quality, casual staples.

ADDRESS: Carrer de Bonavista, 2
WEBSITE: BOO

2. Sueños Negros and Sune

These sibling fashion boutiques, catering to women and men, respectively, are located across from each other on Gran de Gràcia. What makes them special is not only the luminous, open space surrounded by plants in a marble and wood setting but the carefully curated selection of clothing and accessories from both popular and lesser-known firms. Here the likes of Adidas or Converse find their place among local favorites like Pons Quintana and Maians, or European indie firms like Rains and Liebeskind.

ADDRESS: Passeig de Gracia, 115 & 118
WEBSITE: Sueños Negros and Sune

3. Mushi Mushi

This cozy little fashion boutique, run by Brittany-born Virginie François, carries a carefully curated selection of chic labels hailing from England, France, Denmark, and Spain. François aims to cater to her “urban and romantic,” female clientele who “comes to shop for something different and locally made,” she says, smiling widely.

Some of Mushi Mushi’s brands include French labels like Sessùn, Des Petits Hauts and Soeur, LabDip and Danish label Custommade, as well as accessories from Spanish designers like Adriana Llorens and Mimi Scholer. More recently she added the French Brand Macon&Lesquoy, which specializes in cheeky, hand-embroidered brooches.

ADDRESS: Carrer de Bonavista, 12
WEBSITE: Mushi Mushi

4. byAppointment

After 52 years in the fashion business, working for the likes of Antonio Miró, Josep Maria Vila opened his own fashion boutique in 2012 to cater to the dapper and modern gentleman. The handsome store, outfitted with contemporary furnishings, rich wood, and leather accents, focuses on ready-to-wear designs and bespoke suiting and shirting. Some of his standout pieces include 100% wool knitwear, exquisitely made leather accessories and impeccably cut suits. Except for the knitwear, everything is locally sourced and made.

ADDRESS: Carrer de Bonavista, 7
WEBSITE: none

5. Malahierba

Established in 2008, Malahierba is the brainchild of fashion designer Marijo Torres and graphic designer and illustrator Jesús Moreno. They both believed there was a better, more ethical way to produce clothing that could also allow them to unleash their creativity by combining their multiple artistic talents. Their aesthetic blends retro-inspired pieces with original prints —like a black panther print blouse, for example— and clever infusions of color. All of the garments are made in Barcelona.

ADDRESS: Carrer de Bonavista, 26
WEBSITE: Malahierba

6. Colmillo de Morsa

Founded in 2010 by Elisabet Vallecillo and Javier Blanco, this charming mono-brand fashion boutique instantly gives a homely, intimate vibe as you see designers and pattern-makers working the back of the shop. This feeling is heightened if you’re lucky enough to have the warm and enthusiastic Elisabet show you around herself. “We work with silk, organic cotton, viscose, modal; everything is made here in the atelier,” she explains, adding that her clientele includes both tourists and locals. The brand’s designs are ideal for women who seek high-quality casual clothing with special details, like one-of-a-kind prints and natural fibers.

ADDRESS: Carrer de Vic, 15
WEBSITE: Colmillo de Morsa

7. Maria Roch

This the second store of Barcelona-born and raised Maria Roch, who has quickly made a name for herself in the international fashion scene since launching in 2012. Her ultra-feminine designs evidence her penchant for bold hues and luxuriously shiny silks, which are dyed in 100% natural colors, and mixed by her personally. More recently, she began working on collections that also carry her minimalistic, unrestrained flair.

ADDRESS: Carrer de Santa Teresa, 3
WEBSITE: Maria Roch

8. IKA Editions

IKA is a handmade clothing label and store founded by Polish-born Dominika Niczyporuk in 2015. She focuses on crafting long-lasting womenswear wardrobe staples, which are sourced and produced locally. However, trendy fashionistas can also find edgier pieces, like a white ruffled day dress or a blouse in a bold geometric print, for example. Indeed, Ika’s overall aesthetic offers an eclectic mix of styles sometimes infused with a retro inspiration —perhaps a nudge to the designer’s first venture, Psychocandy Vintage.

ADDRESS: Carrer de Bonavista, 9
WEBSITE: IKA Editions

9. Botó & Co

In this exclusive multi-brand store stands out for its unique mix of cool up and coming labels — like Hungary’s Nanushka, Italy’s forte_forte or Spain’s Lebor Gabala — and established labels like Sigerson Morrison, Equipment or Current Elliot, to name a few. While the selection of clothing is geared more towards casual wear, you will still find a few festive options from Missoni and also trendier accessory brands like Elena Ghisellini and Gema Galdón.

ADDRESS: Carrer de Bonavista, 3
WEBSITE: BOTO

10. GreenLifeStyle EcoFashion

Inspired by the sustainable fashion events she saw in other European countries, Carolina Simón decided to open her own eco-friendly fashion boutique in 2011. Her clothing selection, logically, focuses on classic styles that can be worn for a long time, and she only carries European brands with GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and Fair Trade certifications. Some of the standouts include Suite 13 clothing, Yuccs shoes and Aikyou underwear. GreenLifeStyle considers itself to be the second most sustainable option in fashion; the first being nudity.

ADDRESS: Carrer del Torrent de l’Olla, 95
WEBSITE: GreenLifeStyle