As I walked towards the address on Nou Sant de Frances, I wasn’t so sure it was a chic place like the website said, but it definitely turned out to be. The Met Room is an underground space, lined with stone walls and nifty floor designs. For the Destino Clandestino event (Thursday through Saturday), it was tastefully separated into small areas for each designer; all showcasing unique creations of clothing, jewelry, and fashion accessories.

Some designers made purses using details from famous paintings as backdrops; others featured geometrical shapes and one designer even created stylish purses out of pink, blue, red, and green water bottle bags (the ones you use when you have a stomach ache) somehow cut into hearts, stars, and fish… There were also rings with the Coca Cola or Voll Damm logo pressed into them and unique-looking belts. Of course there were clothes too: a multitude of unique looking t-shirts with silk-screened poetry printed on them (combining graphic and fashion design), pastel-coloured tops and pants (just in time for Spring sales), and black, white, and red flowered skirts. Lots of jewelry: necklaces that reminded me of the 70’s Retro Movement; others made with tassels and some made from dried and dyed natural seeds, ceramic and natural bone pieces, in addition to delicate butterfly pins.

Pepa Iturriaga, the Coordinator of Destino Clandestino, explained that the organization started out two and a half years ago as an informal meeting between 23 friends and acquaintances to find out if between them, they could sell their creations. In such a short period, it’s turned into this; now 89 designers participate. Destino Clandestino rents the space, equipment, DJ, staff, and sets-up the event; the only thing the designers have to do is contribute their designs. For the organization’s efforts, they receive 30 to 40% of the designer’s sales; compared to most stores that take a 50% cut.

In this year’s edition, 52 designers exhibited their creations; seven from Barcelona and others from all over Spain, Europe (Italy and Great Britain), and the Americas, (Brazil and Argentina). The designers I spoke to were thrilled to be a part of the event as they felt that Destino Clandestino is a great way of getting a foot in the door, since starting out in the fashion world is so difficult. Plus, being part of a larger group typically attracts more attention from the press and the public which ultimately results in heightened sales. Pepa mentioned that the organization serves as a launching pad, that in just a short time; two participants have been hired by stylists for magazine shots… one of the designer’s target markets.

In this year’s edition, Pepa estimated that between 1,600 to 2,000 people passed through the event (the bad weather being a significant deterrent) but was nowhere near the record attendance at last year’s show during the Christmas season where approximately 7,000 attended. Organizers hope to break that record in subsequent editions.

She also projected that 1 out of 4 attendees walk away with a purchase as prices were quite reasonable, comparable to store prices. Most customers were thrilled with their purchases. One young man, who bought a black sweatshirt with a printed red human heart (placed exactly where a real heart goes) and another shirt for his girlfriend mentioned that the prices were “de puta madre” loosely translated from the Spanish lingo as “fantastic.”  

At the far end of the space, a cool chill-out zone was created with a local DJ spinning relaxing, but hip, tunes: a trendy ambience with an interesting mix of tourists, older and young “fashionable” Barcelonese, and even a few scattered children. Martini (one of the events sponsors) continuously offered drinks to all those attending… a nice aperitif for a Saturday afternoon.  In this same chill-out zone, about 150 to 200 hundred people waited for the catwalk to begin, mostly sitting on cushions on the floor or standing around the periphery. It turned out to be far from a traditional fashion show… Instead, it was a modern and jazz dance performance mixed in with ballet and ballroom, showcasing the clothes and accessories -- in movement -- a truly unique way of appreciating fashion.

For more information:
Destino Clandestino: http://www.destinoclandestino.com