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Spanish brands organised an evening of shopping, tapas and style, undoubtedly, this summer’s most refreshing event in the cool New York neighbourhood.
SoHo
June 17, 2010, 6 pm: Dusk in SoHo, the BoBo (bourgeois-bohemian) neighbourhood of Manhattan. Spanish shops, usually about to close at this time of day, are now filling up with people who are not only shopping, but enjoying feasts of every kind, all made in Spain: good wine, delicious tapas, Spanish beer, bread with tumaca, Spanish potato omelette. Flamenco music is playing...
What’s going on? “Is there a bull loose?” is the thought that springs to the minds of less clued-up passers-by. But no. This is the fifth edition of the Spanish Mile in SoHo, an event organised by Spanish brands with shops in the neighbourhood who have set out to make this the city’s best showcase.
To make the most of the evening, you have to buy a Fashion Card and then, for a very reasonable five dollars, you can go to the parties and enjoy all the discounts, music, aperitifs and cocktails on offer at the six shops running the show: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Camper, Custo Barcelona, Sol de Ibiza, Desigual, Tous and joint venture Designer footwear from Spain, which showcases Spain’s most universal footwear brands.
Along with your Fashion Card, you get a map of “party” shops, to help you get around on your evening with a Spanish flavour as easily and conveniently as possible.
We started out at the event’s most original offering, Designer footwear from Spain, set up like a pop-up gallery featuring Spanish footwear in Poltrona Frau, an Italian furniture showroom at 145 Wooster Street. Collections here are by top Spanish brands like Biviel, Chie Mihara, Magnanni, Pura López, Pretty Ballerinas and Sendra Boots. Each has its own space, with decor and ambiance to match the brand spirit, but one common bond: the exquisite furnishings which, if possible, enhance still further the beauty of the different designs. As if that weren’t enough, the excellent selection of Spanish tapas, washed down with ice-cold beer and Spanish wine was provided by Boqueria, Soho’s popular Spanish tapas bar at 171, Spring Street.
According to the organisers, this edition received even more visitors than last year, with 200 people attending, including customers and journalists; magazine editors from publications such as Glamour, Bravo, Lucky and Latina were also on the scene. Visitors have their views on the footwear on show and we took notes in a notebook we were given as we came in. Much praise could be heard for the rich colours and textures of the Biviel autumn/winter 2010/2011 collection, and the intricate detail on the spring/summer 2010 and autumn/winter 2010/11 designs of Chie Mihara. Flattering too were the remarks on the colour and variety of the brand new collection by Pretty Ballerinas, the comfort and high fashion of Pura López (according to Lucky, “a woman with a great feel for trends”) and the bold spring/summer 2010 and autumn/winter 2010/11 looks for both sexes from Sendra Boots, which delighted Glamour’s editor, who couldn’t stop taking photos and left announcing that we would be hearing more from him in the magazine’s upcoming issues. Magnanni footwear dazzled customers, impressed by the craftsmanship and history of this long-established brand. Journalists, for their part, couldn’t stop asking for more information about a brand that is “venturing out in the Americas”.
Accompanied by Flamenco guitarist Cristian Puig, the party was in full swing at 7 p.m. and it took something of an effort to take ourselves off to 125, Prince Street, to the Camper shop, which had been decorated like a beach bar for the occasion and where a lively soirée was underway. Here, amid the world’s most comfortable shoes (on sale at a 20% discount), we savoured smoothies and fruit, while dancing to the warm rhythms played by the DJ.
With strawberries still in our mouths, we headed off for 474, Broome Street, where Custo Barcelona has its New York shop. Here we were given free bags decorated with the brand’s colour signature patchworks, as we walked through the door. Inside, the shop was jam-packed with people trying on and buying garments at attractive 30% discounts. Custo was pulling out all the stops and customers and journalists were treated to beer and chocolates.
Next stop was 594 Broadway where the Desigual party was in full swing, with more free bags (reusable in this case) and 10% discounts. After stopping to sample Spanish delicacies on the way, we went upstairs drawn by the pace and verve of a group playing live music as rebellious and unconventional as Desigual’s clothes.
Off to Tous, at 109 Greene Street, bursting at the seams with visitors curious to see its silver bears and admiring the ready-to-wear accessories by the brand from Manresa, which served Catalan cava and chocolate cakes. Discounts ranged from 10% to 20%. Still in Greene Street, we moved on to 52 and joined the party in the spacious Sol de Ibiza boutique, where we find a select atmosphere and a generous supply of Spanish delicacies. The visitors were a mixture of Spaniards and Americans, all enjoying the delightful freshness and summer style of the products on offer in the multi-brand shop. According to the owner, the Americans are particularly crazy about Castañer shoes and garments by Charo Ruiz and Piluca Osaba.
8 pm: The sun has gone down and it’s dark in SoHo. With all our bags to carry, we have one last stop left, not in SoHo, but Tribeca, where Agatha Ruiz de la Prada has just moved her New York shop. The premises at 466, Greenwich Street are due to open in October, so everything is at an early stage, but well decked out nonetheless, with multi-coloured balloons, boxes and bags, true to style. The party was brilliant, with live music and free beer. Between dances, visitors tried on fun T-shirts and colourful dresses all available at reduced prices to celebrate the Fifth Spanish Mile in SoHo. A huge organisational success story and a big hit with participants, the event improves with every new edition. So all that remains to be said is, see you next year!
