Travel with us

It is fascinating whenever you realize that the history of a shop can serve to explain the history of a country. Today, in 2026, selling suitcases and travel bags is a prosperous business. In an era of taking planes and high-speed trains like one takes the subway, being well-equipped is as fundamental as breathing. Now, leisure and business travel is perfectly incorporated into the daily lives of the middle class – or what’s left of it – and the well-off. But what was happening sixty years ago? And seventy? And a hundred? Well, what was happening was that people, the average citizen, did not travel for pleasure. Or, if they did, it was very exceptionally.

At Vall Barcelona, also known as Vall, Articles de Viatge i Pell, they can tell us the history of travel in Catalonia. Or, at least, a very reasonable and convincing approximation. Indeed, in Catalonia, people began to travel for pleasure in the sixties, with the influx of foreign currency, tourism, and the famous international opening of the dictatorship. The person in charge of the business was Josep Vall, the second generation of the Vall family. And he clearly saw that it was interesting to transition the initial basketry business opened by his father, Ramon Vall, towards travel bags and suitcases. The object of desire was the famous Tauro brand suitcases, very well-known and present at fairs all over the world. It was like a Samsonite today. How interesting to learn about this adaptation of businesses to new times, to the ebb and flow of social needs. Esther Vall, who together with her sister Laura, are the fourth generation of the family business, tells us about it.

His father, Josep Vall, the third generation, is still very much involved and is the main architect of an achievement he is very satisfied with: having been able to celebrate the centenary – three years ago – of a business he has known since childhood and has grown to three stores, two in Gran de Gràcia and one on Escorial street. The cherry on top would be to get the plaque on the entrance floor that would certify these one hundred years. Let's see if the City Council gets to work.

The beginnings date back to 1923, when Ramon Vall and his wife Carme opened the basket shop. At first they were manufacturers and sellers, but when the second generation, his son Josep, came in, they saw clearly that the numbers didn't add up and that it was better to gradually move away from manufacturing. The evolution from baskets to women's bags was logical. Even today, a century later, bags and suitcases are Vall's star product all year round. The generational evolution has been pure naturalness. Both Josep and his daughters have always felt the business as a part of themselves. They grew up in it and have made it grow. That's why the pandemic period was so painful and uncertain, when the immediate future was unknown. Fortunately, as in so many other areas, normality returned and, for now, it doesn't look like people will stop traveling.

Therefore, Vall's services continue to be necessary. And with a future. The expansion to the Escorial store arrived in 1999 due to the good performance of the company. Expanding was a good option. Today, they are skeptical about the evolution and statu quo of local commerce in the neighborhood. Too many lifelong businesses are closing and franchises, cafes, and photocopied shops are opening.

Type of clientele? Well, the lifelong one, of course, the one whose parents and grandparents already bought backpacks for school. Those who renew their suitcase every so often. Those who trust them to buy an accessory or a gift. The offer is wide, not just bags – for women and men – and suitcases. Also wallets, cardholders, belts, keychains, bracelets, glasses, umbrellas of all kinds, fanny packs, socks, speakers, small lamps, alarm clocks... Everything that can be a good travel companion. Recently, they have incorporated water bottles and sandals. And it has been a good decision! They sell very well. And what does the tourist buy? Well, most likely a suitcase, either because theirs doesn't fit everything they've bought during their days in Barcelona or because it's already a bit worn out. Interesting range of prices. Bags between 50 and 200 euros and suitcases between 50 and 300.