6 spanish brands from the 80s you should be thrifting
the decade that changed fashion in spain (and the world) forever
Hi everyone! Starting this newsletter and finding this community of thrift lovers was one of my 2025 highlights. So wanted to give you a very heartfelt thank you for reading :)
For no real reason I hit a bit of a wall a few months back and got quieter here. But I miss it! So, will you join me as I jump over my made-up wall?
Aaah España 🇪🇸
Home to some the world’s greatest hits: churros, Picasso, Dalí, Penelope Cruz, Almodovar, Nadal. And to a crazy rich fashion scene.
On one end, there’s Balenciaga and Loewe, on the other Inditex (Zara & co), and in the middle, trendy contemporary brands Bimba y Lola, Paloma Wool.
Spain’s textile industry dates back to the the Middle Ages. With so much local production and expertise, it’s no wonder the Spanish are leaders in ready-to-wear fashion. And the 1980s is where a lot of the magic happened.
I asked my amiga, Patricia, to enlighten me (and you) about Spain in the 1980s, fashion and the brands we should know. She also drew the lovely illustrations in this post, make sure to give her a follow on Instagram :)
The 1980s: La Movida Madrileña
After decades of dictatorship, Spain was transitioning to democracy in the 80s. So much bottled up creativity could finally run free.
Here’s what Patricia told me:
Spanish fashion was conservative for much of the 20th century under the dictatorship. But after Franco, there was a counterculture movement called La Movida Madrileña: people went all out with color, creativity, and self-expression.
Pedro Almodóvar was a key figure in that movement, and you can really see it in the aesthetics and fashion of his films.
Fashion exploded during this time: from Madrid’s subcultural movement to new brands and designers in cities like Barcelona and Galicia.
Below are a few notable ones to keep on your radar.
1. Adolfo Dominguez
This iconic brand introduced casual style, with the wide use of linen and the famous slogan “La arruga es bella” (“Wrinkles are beautiful”). It was a total break from the rigid, formal clothing of the Franco era, and still feels so current today.
Secondhand Adolfo Dominguez is full of treasures you can wear every day. It’s also easy to spot authentic vintage pieces: the tag is navy blue.
Love this wrap cardigan:
It most definitely is not the season for a cute dress yet. But when it is, wouldn’t this be lovely to wear?
2. Jesus del Pozo
Designer Jesus del Pozo was a key figure of La Movida and built his brand to empower women through unique and artistic fashion. I love his use of sheer fabric:
His brand is officially discontinued but it’s alive and well on the secondhand market. It’s a great search term for finding the perfect dress for your next special occasion.
Love this brown one:
And how cute is this top/jacket:
3. Sita Murt
The booming fashion scene in the 80s is a direct result of decades of textile and production expertise preceding it. Sita Murt is a great example of this: she took over her in-law’s knitwear business founded 60 years earlier and transformed it into an international success in 1984.
If you’re looking for feminine, soft knitwear that’s made in Spain: this is a great place to start.
You can find a lot of boatneck lighter sweaters that are great for layering, like this cropped purple one:
And this knit tank is nice for spring:
4. Pedro del Hierro
In the 1970s, Pedro del Hierro launched his label selling couture-influenced pieces. But it was a decade later that he gained national notoriety, dressing celebrities and the royal family.
I’m a big fan of lesser-known couture vintage brands. They’re the perfect search terms to find unique, well-made pieces in great fabrics.
For example this top is simple, but the belt detail is classy:
I am really loving these sets I found on Vinted, which feel like great alternatives to dresses for spring weddings. Here’s a pink one:
Or a three-piece in red:
5. Camper
My favorite shoe brand. Admittedly, I tend to get them new because I’m a sucker for all their recent collections.
But I wanted to feature it here because a) the brand was founded in 80s and b) it should be on your general shoe-radar if it isn’t already c) you can find loads of newer, barely worn pairs on secondhand sites.
Lorenzo Fluxà started this brand in Mallorca, inspired by the local work shoes. He quickly expanded his offerings and is the genius behind the fun Twins concept: the left and right shoes are complementary, not identical.
Today the shoes are still designed and made in Mallorca and honestly, it just keeps getting better.
If you’re still looking for some nice winter boots, these are brand new:
Or these cute mesh Mary Janes:
6. Amaya Arzuaga
Ok I’m cheating, this brand is from the 1990s. But Amaya Arzuaga is one of the most influential fashion designers of the late 20th century so she deserved a spot here. Her early designs were known for their volumes and sculptural silhouettes.
1990s brands are some of my favorite to thrift, and I’m definitely adding this one to my rotation.
Loving this dress with the sheer overlay:
Or you can also find more casual items like this velvet brown jacket:
France and Italy are loud and proud when it comes to culture and fashion. So when I started writing this post, I didn’t know much about Spain’s fashion history.
Yet it’s been so instrumental in contemporary fashion.
I watched this interesting short video about Zara: it’s the darker side of fashion, but a success like Zara can only happen given the right circumstances.
Behind Zara’s story is the context 1980s Spain: the end of a long dictatorship, La Movida, an explosion of creativity, decades of textile expertise passed down through generations. And all these great brands for us to thrift (instead of buying Zara 😏).
Muchas gracias to Patricia ❤️💛 for all the insights and illustrations and to you all for reading.
Xxx
– Laure
She's back!
Secondhand Adolfo Dominguez is so underrated. Are there handbag and jewellery brands that you'd recommend?