On 13th June this year we commemorate the birth centenary of Pere Rovira i Planas (Badalona 1921- Badalona 1978), an exhibition and the publication of a book.
A great admirer of Balenciaga, Pere Rovira trained in Paris and, when he returned in 1948, he founded his own haute couture workshop in Barcelona, although he continued to live in Badalona. He soon became the leading seamstress of some families of the Catalan bourgeoisie, and over the years he also had clients throughout Spain, in several European countries and even in the United States and Mexico. Having been acclaimed internationally and have recognition from critics in 1964 finally Rovira was admitted to the Cooperative of Haute Couture, which brings together the most elite fashion designers in the country. From 1968 he also made ready-to-wear collections, which allowed a greater diffusion of his fashion, at more affordable prices. After his sudden death in 1978, the firm still operated for a time, but in 1980 it had to close.
Josep Casamartina i Parassols, promoter and director of the Fundació Antoni de Montpalau -which brings together a textile collection of more than 16,000 pieces, mostly haute couture- has been the author of the book and curator, along with Ismael Nuñez Muñoz, of the exhibition.
The exhibition shows about a hundred costumes, as well as some accessories and original drawings by Pere Rovira, coming, in large part, from the Fundació Antoni de Montpalau, but also from the collections of the Museum itself, as well as from several individuals who have borrowed for the occasion.
The book, which is presented profusely illustrated, with both old photographs and images of his models, collects the biography of the seamstress and is complemented with texts by people who knew him or who have been involved in the project.
With this project, the Museum of Badalona vindicates the figure of Pere Rovira, a great professional today a little forgotten who, by his own merits, deserves to go down in the history of fashion and join the illustrious people of our city.
