Etnia Barcelona: Color, Natural Acetate and Art
At a glance: Etnia Barcelona is an independent eyewear brand from Barcelona, launched in 2001 by David Pellicer. It is known for colorful frames made from natural acetate by the Italian maker Mazzucchelli, and for sunglasses with mineral glass lenses.
The story
Eyewear runs in the Pellicer family. David Pellicer's grandfather opened the family's first eyewear factory in the 1950s. When David launched Etnia Barcelona in 2001, his goal was to bring color to a product that, in the brand's words, had until then been only brown or black.
Art is central to the brand. Its motto is "Art inspires our way to see the world," and it runs Etnia House of Arts, a cultural space in Venice. Since 2016 the Etnia Barcelona Foundation has provided glasses to people who don't have access to proper eye care.
What makes the frames special
- Natural acetate from Mazzucchelli. Acetate is a plant-based plastic made from cotton. Layering colored sheets creates depth you can't get from injection-molded plastic.
- Mineral glass sun lenses. Etnia's sunglasses use mineral glass lenses from Barberini, along with the brand's own HD Colors lens technology.
- Color, color, color. From soft translucent tones to bold two-color combinations, there is an Etnia for nearly every personality.
Finding your color
A simple rule: warm skin tones glow in tortoise, honey, olive and warm reds, while cool skin tones pop in blues, grays, purples and crystal. But rules are made to be broken, and Etnia is a great brand for breaking them. Try a color you would never pick for yourself. Our opticians love helping patients step outside their comfort zone.
Shop our Etnia Barcelona collection.
Browse the brands we carry on our luxury eyewear page, or visit the boutique to try them on with an optician who can fit them to your face.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Etnia Barcelona from?
Barcelona, Spain. The brand was launched in 2001.
What material does Etnia Barcelona use?
Its frames use natural acetate from the Italian maker Mazzucchelli, and its sunglasses use mineral glass lenses.
Are Etnia Barcelona frames good for prescription lenses?
Yes. Most Etnia optical frames work well with prescription lenses, and our opticians will help match the lens to the frame.
Visit Reimbold Eye Group in Alpharetta
Come find your color. Book online or call 770-776-9000. We are at 4180 Old Milton Pkwy 1-D, Alpharetta, GA 30005, open Tuesday to Thursday 10 am to 6 pm, Friday 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday 9 am to 2 pm.