BORIS BIDJAN SABERI BARCELONA SHOP

Boris Bidjan Saberi, whose meticulously and complexly constructed menswear graces the racks of carefully picked boutiques around the world, has quietly opened his own boutique in Barcelona, his adapted hometown, some time ago. It is nestled in the industrial district of Poblenou, Barcelona’s once run-down textile industry hub that is now enjoying a renaissance and that still has large industrial spaces suited to Saberi’s vision. It is his only boutique besides his New York City outpost.

For any auteur, opening a space of one’s own, in which you can control every detail, is a dream come true. “After several seasons, it was natural to think of a space dedicated to years of work where you could tell the whole story of the brand,” said Saberi. “It is very emotional to see your ideas embodied on a runway; but it the end it is ephemeral, and I wanted a place for the pieces to remain.”

The shop carries a range of garments from the current season, as well as a number of key pieces from seasons past and one-offs. “The store is somewhat like a gallery, a ‘walhalla’ where key pieces reflect the complexity of the brand and its evolution,” said Saberi.”Our atelier has always been like a chemist lab. We had so many pieces there, experimental ones and also ones which cannot be found in any stores because they have no commercial purpose. And I wanted those pieces to find their place, to unite these years of work.”

Besides unique and archival pieces, the store offers a bespoke version of its classic J2 leather jacket, made to order and body-molded by the designer himself.

The interior of the store is as you would expect if you are familiar with Saberi’s hard-hitting esthetic – all steel and concrete. The garment racks lining the walls are suspended by chains that loop through steel tubes, a system of Saberi’s design. Actually, it came as no surprise to find out that Saberi designed the store down to the last detail. “I worked on the store design as I work on my collections or on the set and light designs of my presentations,” said he. “We already had a clear esthetic as we had worked on furniture, racks, and other necessary elements to present the garments during our sales campaigns. Our Atelier also reflects the brand aesthetic, and this is a continuation.”

In the end what matters to Saberi most is to have the ability to mold his universe like he molds his leathers. “It is a global vision, a coherent aesthetic and basically a lifestyle which is not limited to clothing design,” said he. “It is about my generation, my cultural mix of aesthetic references from Persia, from Hip-Hop, from skating, and from Germany. The store shows this. It is a mix of crafts and roots, applied to shapes, textures, lights, smells. In the end, the space carries the handprint of the brand and reflects its story.”

The shop is by appointment only, and Saberi would not reveal its exact location. You can make an appointment with the store manager, Silvia by writing to storebcn@borisbidjansaberi.com

Images courtesy of Boris Bidjan Saberi.