Ibiza’s famous destination-shop La Galeria Elefante have announced the launch of their new website. You can can now access their beautiful designs online without having to visit Ibiza. However, if you are in Ibiza don’t go home without paying a visit. The store is an unmissable twinkling jewel box, packed full of delightful treasures and rare finds from around the globe.
For 2019 the store is hosting pop-ups at Ibiza’s best loved restaurant La Paloma and also in destinations as far flung as Miami and London. As well as being a shopping destination for Ibiza style-lovers, the store is a magnet for the on-island glitterati as well as English royalty for it’s unique furnishings and exquisite one-off pieces. Owned by British-born Victoria Durrer-Gasse who has lived on the island since her early 20s, a visit to La Galeria is a must-do when in Ibiza. In-store you will find unique high end fashion, as well as accessories, jewellery, interior furnishings, homewares and art. Not only is this shop a visual feast full of colour and a haven of style, but a local business that has an important key philosophy of giving back. Every year, Victoria works carefully alongside a number of NGOs from developing countries, to sustainably produce and manufacture her collections, to ensure that each piece has been ethically made and that each worker is fairly paid.
La Galeria’s philosophy is all about giving back. Most of the homeware products and Victoria’s own fashion line have been created involving NGOs from developing countries including a foundation for children in Nepal and also another NGO in Delhi called SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association). SEWA’s mandate is to strengthen women through establishing a common identity as informal workers with proper and fairly paid salaries.
From the simplest hand-painted birthday card for just a few Euros to a €9,500 carved bench made entirely out of an enormous tree root, there is something for everyone. For culture lovers, La Galeria’s former yoga studio is now a haven for art. It houses a collection of rare African tribal museum pieces collected by Victoria’s husband (a French Doctor who pioneered the Tetanus Vaccine programme) from his trips to the Congo, Rwanda and Madagascar whilst working alongside UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontiers.
Wander through La Galeria’s cave-like rooms and you will find vibrant Bollywood posters and carved antique giant doors from Rajasthan alongside two colourful antique Puriwallahs from Delhi. A ceramic chandelier from South Africa hangs above a pretty Provençal Welsh dresser. Soft furnishings include vibrant hand-stitched scatter cushions with messages of ‘Besos from Ibiza’, or an enormous giant denim patchwork ‘hand’ floor cushion that you can literally sit in (arriving soon). From Ibiza you will find knotted macrame lampshades and bohemian hanging swing chairs with floor coverings that include sumptuous rugs and kilims from South America, Pakistan and Turkey. For a contemporary twist check out the 1960s furniture upholstered with yellow velvet or the vintage mackintosh chairs upholstered with gorgeous Guatemalan fabric. La Galeria also make many of their products to order – the beautiful nest lamp (pictured) is made by Victoria in her studio, as well as fragrant lavender nap cushions with eye masks.
Browse the rails and you’ll find Victoria’s own label of beautifully stylish hand printed swishy ‘Victoria, made with love and laughter’ dresses (from €180 and available in cotton or silk) – the ultimate Ibiza midi dresses in gorgeous prints. Another collection in-store is a vibrant and casual collection of separates – ‘Sunny Day’ a collaboration with Penny McIvor.
For summer beach-style, traditional straw beach bags can be teamed with her frilly ‘Rock’ bikinis (€98 in silk) under tunics. There is also an expanding collection of menswear for 2019 in relaxed velvets and high quality cottons as well as swim-shorts designed using hand-blocked prints. Reworked vintage pieces, velvet embroidered jackets, coats and even a collection of antique wedding dresses are also among some of the delights you will discover.
About Founder and designer Victoria Durrer-Gasse (pictured):
Victoria has been coming to Ibiza since the 70s and moved to Ibiza permanently in the late 90s with her husband and son. Studies in textiles have allowed her to further develop a childhood passion. This passion has led her in the direction of designing clothes and artwork, with extra special attention to embroidery and needlework, inspired by her grandmother. With an inherent philosophy of keeping disappearing crafts alive and supporting underprivileged and victimised people around the world, Victoria designs, creates and sources unique pieces with a twist. La Galeria is situated just outside the town of Santa Gertrudis in Ibiza and recognisable by the pink elephant logo. For 2019 Victoria has also designed an exclusive capsule collection for John Lewis in London and in June, TV chef and author Jasmine Hemsley was spotted wearing one of the designs at Glastonbury.
La Galeria Elefante also offer interior design consultancy for private villas and houses on island and worldwide.
On 30th July 2019 La Galeria Elefante also participated in the Atzaro 15th anniversary celebration event and their beautiful designs appeared on the catwalk alongside World Family Ibiza, Rixo, De La Vali and Isabel Moore among other international designers and the event was reviewed in Vogue.es
