Santa Eulalia hosts the largest private hat collection in Spain

In an atmosphere befitting the occasion, a display of more than forty 20th-century women's hats made by some of the most prestigious designers of the time, such as Cristóbal Balenciaga, was presented this Wednesday at the historic Santa Eulalia store.

Santa Eulalia, the art of the hat brings together the collection of the Antoni de Montpalau Foundation, the largest known so far in Spain, and the haute couture archive of the store itself which, for the first time, presents to the public a considerable number of its hats. The presentation was attended by the director of the foundation, Josep Casamartina, and its conservator, Ismael Nuñez; the director of the Palau Foundation, Anna Maluquer, and the owner of the iconic establishment on Paseo de Gràcia, Lluís Sans.

Maluquer has high hopes for the exhibition. In 2019, it was presented at her foundation's art center and was "one of the most visited" in the entity's history. At that time, it only featured pieces from Antoni de Montpalau, and now, thanks to the alliance with Santa Eulalia, it adds new and special incorporations. The exhibition is open to the public and can be visited free of charge from this Wednesday until August 3rd at the store.

In addition to the exhibition, the book Chapeau! From Casas and Picasso to Balenciaga and Pertegaz, by Josep Casamartina, has also been presented, edited by the Palau Foundation and published by Editorial Triangle. The work presents hats as aesthetic and symbolic values, and compiles 250 examples from the 20th century, both for men and women, providing a retrospective look. This book is the first published in Spain that delves into this topic, which is becoming one of the hottest this season in Barcelona, also starringan exhibition at the Museu del Disseny by Balenciaga.

For Casamartina, fashion is an "art of servitude" because it is obliged to fulfill certain functions to be useful. The hat, however, escapes this mantra. Being an ornamental element, it does not have to be functional, and this gives it a very wide field for creativity. In the book, the author shows us surreal pieces, which were even worn in conservative environments. The hat represents "madness" and, for that reason, it is the piece that "most closely approaches art."

Chapeau! is also written from a local perspective. It reveals the presence of hats in 20th-century Catalan art, taking authors of Picasso's caliber as a starting point. All this, without forgetting the great women hatmakers of the moment. Casamartina discovers in this work many Catalan artisans who, thanks to producing "cheap" pieces, took a step further towards their emancipation.

For Casamartina, the hat represents madness and, for that reason, it is the piece that most closely approaches art

L'Editorial Triangle has opted to make the work widely available with three editions, in Catalan, Spanish, and English. As of this Wednesday, it is already available in bookstores and at the Santa Eulalia store.

The activity of the Antoni de Montpalau Foundation does not end here. It has also organized an exhibition of the Badalona designer Pedro Rovira in his hometown. In January, they will travel to Madrid to present a book about his figure and work.