Discovering Mietis and the Barcelona of María Fontanellas

Febrero, 4, 2023. Written by Clara De Nadal Trias

Born and in love with Barcelona, María Fontanellas ​​is a young woman passionate about the world of fashion who studied in Milan to receive the best training, before returning to Barcelona as Co-Founder and Creative Director of the Catalan accessories and leather garments fashion brand, Mietis.

Personally she is a sensitive, creative and funny person but also a bit stubborn. She openly recognizes that her family and friends are her priority and confesses that she cannot go to sleep without eating a piece of chocolate every night. Professionally, María describes herself as a hard worker, very passionate and involved worker, emphasizing: "what really moves me in life, I put a lot of effort into it".

Hi Maria, please tell us more about the beginnings of Mietis.
Mietis started in 2017 after studying in Italy and I founded the brand with my father, a lifelong tanner with extensive experience with luxury brands. Together we launched the brand, starting with a fashion runway at 080 Barcelona Fashion, which we won by the way, and where we showed Ready-to-wear garments and some accessories. Some time later, we decided to focus on accessories, we did a Pop-Up in Los Angeles, we launched the website and that's how the brand took off. Consecutively, we opened the first physical space of the brand in Barcelona named ​​Espai Mietis, created with the intention of offering an incredible customer experience.

If someone has never hear about Mietis… What will they find?
Mietis is a fresh, original accessories brand with a wide color range of products. Above all, we rely on leather bags and jackets and we always try to ensure that everything is very carefully treated and detailed. All our products are made entirely in Barcelona and for us quality and design are essential.

What is the greatest contribution of Mietis brand to a city like Barcelona?
I think that in the fashion scene, Mietis brings freshness and novelty. It is a brand that is committed to luxury, with international expansion and also promoting the Barcelona brand (especially due to the fact that everything is locally manufactured here in the city). The idea is that the brand is always 100% linked to Barcelona, ​​which in the end is where we are from, and is also the place where I am most inspired thanks to Gaudí's architecture, based on an aesthetic that is part of the DNI of Mietis.

Speaking of Barcelona… What is your favorite corner of the city?
I do love Montjüic, specially for the views it offers of Barcelona.

According to your personal experience... What is the best thing about living in Barcelona?

Barcelona is perfect for enjoying the good weather, it is so easy to walking up and down everywhere, and the possibility of going to the beach, or the mountains in a very short time.

Please tell us your 3 favorite restaurants or bars in Barcelona and why:

Molino de Pez because the food is delicious, has a great variety of dishes and he space is super nice and “cozy”.

Terraza Martinez because I love the space, the location, the views. I love this restaurant to go with friends and family, especially because it seems that you’re outside Barcelona without leaving the city. I also love the fish they make and especially their baked sea bass.

And also Lluritu because of the quality of the product and perfect value for money. It is unpretentious, easy and fun.

If someone who has never been in the city asks you... What can't I miss, do or visit in Barcelona?

Without a doubt I would tell you to visit Casa Batlló and La Pedrera (both from Antoni Gaudí). Also to explore by foot the old part of the city and the El Born neighborhood, La Barceloneta neighborhood and the new Moco Museum.

What is your favorite plan in the city?

First, going to a terrace to eat with family and friends. Then taking a walk along the city center and end the day visiting an exhibition that can be at Moco Museum, MACBA, or any other gallery that I will discover along the way. In Barcelona there are many!

If you were not living in Barcelona... Where would you live?

If I didn't live in Barcelona, ​​I would certainly live in Milan.

If Barcelona was a person... Who would it be?

Easy answer, Antoni Gaudí.

Last but not least... Please, tell us someone I should do this interview with:

My friend Lidia Martínez, creator of Eyewear Club, a multi-brand sunglasses store.

More plans and people from Barcelona here

Interview written and translated by Clara De Nadal Trias