In this issue of The Club’s style segment, Barcelona-based fashion history consultant Vera Ciria takes a tour of an iconic Spanish artisanal handbag brand

The Galeria Loewe, located on Barcelona’s Paseo de Gracia, is a mecca for bag lovers, each of its five floors showcasing the best of Spanish artisanal techniques.

In the entrance, a deconstructed bag floats in the air, a vivid demonstration of the expertise and knowledge that Loewe has acquired during its 167-year history. The message is further emphasised by a projection showing a craftsman at work in his atelier, while the tools of his craft are also on display. The message is clear: this is a brand with a history and a story to tell.

Dotted around the floors are interactive panels offering information, historical facts, videos and detailed glimpses of catwalk shows and campaigns. The top floor is reserved for temporary exhibitions relating to fashion, from The Sartorialist to the photographer Anna Bauer.

The two lower levels are dedicated to Spanish fashion history. There’s a life-size window display replica from the 1960s and handbags and other leather goods from throughout Loewe’s history.

On the floor dedicated to silk scarves is an installation by artist Daniel Wurtzel. Surrounded by six electric fans, an iridescent scarf dances and swirls, weaving an intricate dance through the air, never repeating a single move. It’s a living, breathing, tactile experience of Spanish fashion history.

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This article has been tagged Fashion + Style, Culture