Shopping - The Rough Guide to Barcelona - page 371

MADE IN BARCELONA
The world owes Barcelona, big time. For a start, in the fashion world there are the global
brands Mango (women's clothes), Camper (shoes) and Custo (designer T-shirts), each of
which started out in the city. Suitably togged up, you don't just drink a beer here, it's an
Estrella Damm (tagline, the “beer of Barcelona”), a brew that sponsors everything from
the Primavera Sound rock festival to America's Cup yacht racing - in a neat bit of local
synergy, they got Custo to knock up a typically colourful limited-edition design bottle to
celebratetheir130thbirthdayin2006.Andthenthereare ChupaChups (fromtheSpanish
chupar , to lick), the lolly on a stick invented by one Enric Bernat in 1958 - Salvador Dalí,
noless,designedthecompanylogo.Kojakinthe1970sTVserieswouldn'tbeseenwithout
one,andChupaChupsevenmadeitaboardthe Mir spacestation.Meanwhile,radicalpoet,
publisher and inventor Alejandro Finisterre (admittedly, born in Galicia) was convalescing
outsideBarcelona afterabombinjurysufferedduringtheCivilWar,whenhefirstcameup
with the idea for the game of table football ( bar football, foosball ). He took out a patent
in Barcelona in 1937 and, though there are competing claims, is often regarded as the man
subsequently responsible for endless hours wasted in bars worldwide.
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DESIGN, DECORATIVE ART AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS
Cubiña c/deMallorca291,Dretadel'Eixample 934765721, cubinya.es ; Verdaguer;
map . The building itself is stupendous - Domènech i Montaner's modernista Casa Thomas
- while the inside holds the very latest in household design, from slinky CD racks to €5000
dining tables. Mon-Sat 10am-2pm & 4.30-8.30pm (closed Sat June-July); closed in Aug.
Ganivetería Roca Pl. del Pi 3, Barri Gòtic 933 021 241, ganiveteriaroca.cat ; Liceu;
map . Handsomeoldshopdatingfrom1911,sellingabigrangeofknives,cutlery,corkscrews
and other household goods, including a fine array of gentlemen's shaving gear. Mon-Fri
9.45am-1.30pm & 4.15-8pm, Sat 10am-2pm & 5-8pm.
Germanes Garcia c/dels Banys Nous 15, Barri Gòtic 933 186 646; Liceu; map . Who
knewyoucouldmakequitesomuchstuffoutofbasket-,raffia-andwickerwork?Theenorm-
ous warehouse-showroom has everything from cradles to tables, plant-holders to wardrobes.
Mon 4.30-8pm, Tues-Sat 9.30am-1.30pm & 4.30-8pm.
Gotham c/de Cervantes 7, Barri Gòtic 934 124 647, gotham-bcn.com ; Jaume 1;
map . The place to come for retro (1950s to 1980s) furniture, lighting, homeware and ac-
cessories, plus original designs. Mon-Fri 11am-2pm & 5-8pm, Sat by appointment only.
Indio c/del Carme 24, El Raval 933 175 442; Catalunya; map . When locals of a certain
age want linen, pillows, blankets, sheets and tablecloths, this is where they come - and the