KEY POINTS:
BARCELONA - It has all the trimmings of any luxury designer bridal shop - the only difference is it is for gay men only.
The shop, called By, which bills itself as the first in Europe to cater only for homosexual men, opens today in Barcelona. Made-to-measure suits,
some inlaid with 22-carat gold, will retail for between ¬1500 ($2775) and ¬6000 ($11,100).
Apart from traditional bridal suits, also on offer for the big day are a collection of rings, boxer shorts, bathrobes and other accessories by a collection of mainly Spanish designers.
Owner Santiago Porrero said: "We saw there was a gap in the market for gay men, though we are not only aiming for homosexuals.
"It is called By because each person can have a unique creation by one of our designers. There will be only one of these suits in the world."
The shop is in an area of Barcelona nicknamed "Gaycelona" because of the large number of businesses which target the homosexual community.
Today's opening is timed to coincide with a fashion show called Barcelona Bride Week.
Porrero said: "What we offer can be as varied and original as a bride's dress. You are now starting to see more traditional bridal shops offering something for gay couples, but it is only because they think they should."
He said he chose Barcelona because it was an "open-minded and modern city, very linked to design and an important tourist destination for gays".
Same-gender marriages were approved by the Parliament of this once staunchly Catholic and conservative country in 2005. Adoption by same-sex couples was made legal at the same time.
Porrero, 32, a Mexican who graduated from the prestigious Esade business school in Barcelona, said that once the Spanish politicians had passed the legislation, he decided to launch the business in this country.
"I saw the opportunity to do business after the law was approved. I didn't know of any other country that had a shop or boutique for gay weddings," he said.
"It will be an exclusive and personal product for a special day. It was obvious that gays, who also marry, needed their own bride shop."
Already some customers have placed orders for personalised boxer shorts with the initials of their beloved hand-sewn into the material.
- INDEPENDENT
