Waving its trademark rainbow-colored stiletto flag for the sixth year running, El Zapato Rojo unfolds its wooden stalls in Born’s Sant Agustí convent, which in the noble name of supporting local independent designers (80 this year) plays hostess to a knitted, sewn, scribbled, cut and pasted banquet of homegrown talent. A glance at the refreshingly eclectic list of designers tells us that the glamorous be-feathered hat-piece lady from Secretos de Alcoba will be in attendance along with market circuit regulars Brass&Copper, armed with their delicate vintage-infused accessories.

Expect a good line in t-shirts, from the automobile-etched of El Coche de tu Padre to the psychedelic graphics of Riot Flesh. Literary types will find themselves gravitating towards the wares of typography enthusiasts The Font Hunter and the pretty book-covering services of Trapitos al sol, while make-up, image and personal shopping advice is doled out by experts from the Ártidi School. And record labels Galaktia and its sublabel aPersonal have got the soundtrack covered, so throw out that Christmas list and save your relatives that piece of mass-produced tat that seemed so funny at the time.

elzapatorojo.es