Santa Maria del Mar is the Gothic basilica at the heart of Barcelona's El Born neighbourhood, right in front of the Etnia Barcelona Flagship Store. Its stone, its light and its stained-glass windows inspired the Santa Maria sunglasses: cat-eye acetate frames with polarized HD lenses, in three colours.
The Cathedral of the Sea in El Born
Built in the 14th century by the citizens of Barcelona, Santa Maria del Mar is one of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic, and many people know it as the Cathedral of the Sea. Its stones were carried to the site by the city's porters, the bastaixos, and that popular origin is still part of what makes it special.
Our Flagship Store sits in front of the basilica, so we see it every day: its stone changing with the hours and the coloured light that falls through the stained-glass windows.
From stained glass to acetate
The Santa Maria del Mar capsule began in 2023 as a tribute to the basilica. The colours and the light of the stained-glass windows became coloured acetate, and the details looked back at the building: 24K gold overlays, flower pins echoing the main door and a hinge trim engraved with a Gothic window.
Even the names come from the neighbourhood. Santa Maria and Espaseria are streets around the basilica and our Flagship Store. Read the launch story.
Meet the Santa Maria sunglasses: Black, Havana and White
Today the Santa Maria sunglasses come in three colours. All share a cat-eye / butterfly shape in acetate, polarized HD lenses, caliber 48 and a regular bridge fit.
- Santa Maria Black: the colour the capsule started with, the most versatile of the three.
- Santa Maria Havana: a warm tortoiseshell tone that softens the cat-eye shape.
- Santa Maria White: the lightest and most summery of the three.
Visit the Flagship Store in El Born
The best way to understand these frames is to see them with the basilica behind you. Our Flagship Store is right in front of Santa Maria del Mar, in El Born, and you can also shop the whole collection online: see the Santa Maria del Mar collection.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Santa Maria del Mar basilica?
In the El Born neighbourhood of Barcelona's old town. The Etnia Barcelona Flagship Store is right in front of it.
What inspired the Santa Maria sunglasses?
The basilica, its Gothic architecture and the colours and light of its stained-glass windows.
What are the Santa Maria sunglasses made of?
Acetate frames with polarized HD lenses.
Where can I buy the Santa Maria sunglasses?
Online and at the Etnia Barcelona Flagship Store in El Born.
