Igualada transformed into urban fashion district this week with Rec.0

Rec.0, the fashion festival in the Rec district of the central Catalonia city Igualada that takes place twice a year, returns this week for its winter edition, with pop-up stores, concerts, workshops, debates and more until Saturday.

For this year’s winter edition, 52 spaces have been converted into pop-up stores in which emerging designers and major fashion and sports brands such as Levi’s, Munich and Vans line up to sell their products at special prices for a four-day period. 

As the event mainly focuses on fashion, the circuit also includes a space dedicated to sustainable and proximity fashion at the Museu de la Pell and an exchange market on Saturday.

Showcasing the neighborhood

Igualada is a city located about an hour northwest of Barcelona and has an urban industrial district filled with old factories and tanneries that get transformed into pop-up stores twice a year, giving local and international fashion designers and brands a chance to sell their clothes at unique prices.

The event was founded back in 2009 when six people from the Rec neighborhood wanted to spotlight their district by linking it with the creativity of the fashion world, leading towards one of the largest fashion, heritage and culture related events in Catalonia.

With the promotion of the urban neighborhood being one of the organizer's main goals, the circuit includes a route next to the Anoia river in which more than a hundred architectural works related to the industrial history of the city are shown.

On Saturday, a conference about the past, present and future state of the Rec neighborhood will be held to raise awareness on how the district has become more degraded and seems to be stuck in time, pointing out the buildings in ruins, neglected streets and the urban planning regulation.

Several of the old industrial factory buildings will be opening their doors for free guided visits throughout the four-day festival. The 18th century tannery of Cal Granotes and the Curtits Badia company show the tanning process, while the Adoberia Morera tannery where Punto Blanco is located allows visits for the first time.

On Thursday morning, the first guided tour of the Rec open doors project will be held in which several private initiatives such as the Ricard Vila interior design studio, coworking space LaMaca and the offices of Recstores open their spaces to the public.

More than fashion

In combination with Rec.0, gastronomic street festival ‘Cuina de carrer’ takes place in Igualada, offering different tastes in more than 40 food trucks and pop-up bars, supporting the "Quedem?" ('Shall we meet up?') slogan of this edition, which calls on  visitors to live, have fun and party.

A varied program of concerts is planned with a diverse line-up of local and national artists taking to the stage, including Paunezz, the musical project of Ingualada’s own Carles Pauné, Catalan trap group Flashy Ice Cream, pianist and singer Andrea Mir who just recorder her debut album, and several DJ sets.

Under the name ‘family day’, the last day of the festival is filled with activities designed for children, such as workshops, an initiation of pen on paper drawing, face painting and a kids related concert.

Rec.0 takes place until this Saturday in Igualada’s Rec neighborhood. All events are free of charge and the complete program can be found on the festival website.