Costa del Sol
Feeling the warmth of the sun and being able to swim in the sea during autumn is appreciated by many Scandinavians - myself included. I am happy to have spent some days in Spain, Costa del Sol with friends and family.
We were given the opportunity to have a conversation with Laura and Javier, two fashion lovers and founders of Peninsula Vintage Store. We visited their shop in Malaga and had a great time trying out their handpicked pieces.
Among avocado and mango trees, we were guided by Antonio, an organic and exotic fruit grower. I can tell that the taste of the fruits is, for sure, 100 times better in Spain compared to Sweden. Also, a short story titled "The Fashion Drama" was written exclusively for Nunc Publication for Edition 11.
Johanna wears a maxi skirt from peninsula vintage store and bag from BELFbags made from waste material.
Johanna Karlqvist, Editor
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The Fashion Drama
When a prized vintage dress becomes the center of a rivalry, their friendship is put to the test in a tale of chic payback. A short story written exclusively for Nunc publication.
Words by JOHANNA KARLQVIST
Once upon a time, there were two girls, one blonde and one brunette. They shared a deep bond, their likes ranging from food, wine, and magazines to a shared taste in clothing. They could talk about everything, admire and support eachother. Just the way a female friendship should be like.
They where living in a small town nestled between rolling hills and lush greenery. These two girls were known far and wide for their love of chatting and gossiping about everything in their town. It was the latest news about the ongoing feud between the local bakery and the neighboring coffee shop, with rumors of stolen recipes or the unexpected romance brewing between the town librarian and the rugged fisherman, a love story that seemed to be lifted straight from the pages of a classic novel.
And so, Ana and Lucía’s bond remained as unshakable as the tides, a testament to the enduring magic of gossip by the beach.
One sunny afternoon, Ana and Lucía sat by the pool, their feet playfully skimming the warm water, engrossed in a discussion about what to wear for the evening's town dinner party.
That night, in the picturesque Spanish town, sangria flowed in large glasses, infused with cut pieces of orange, apple, lemon, and peach. People at the party was sun kissed wearing colourful maxi long dresses.
Lucía, arriving early, scanned the scene with her discerning eye, recognizing an array of brands such as Chanel, Miu Miu, and Loewe, among others. The aroma of paella wafted from where Manuel stirred it over an open fire next to the waiving palm trees. Lucía was just about to savor the first bite of the paella when she suddenly froze. Her eyes fell upon Ana, who was wearing HER vintage black Prada dress. It was not what they had agreed on. Lucia managed to maintain her composure that evening, but one thing was for sure, she would have her revenge.
Illustrations by EMMA SALDNER
The following morning followed the usual routine - a brief stroll to the "panadería" for freshly baked bread, with an added detour to pick avocados hanging from a tree over a fancy garden fence. Later they visited their favourite beach tucked away from the bustling world, accessible only through a winding path shaded by ancient, swaying palm trees. The water is crystal-clear turquoise that stretch as far as the eye can see, with a surface inviting you to take a dip.
As the evening bathed the town in a luminous, honeyed glow, Lucía plotted her revenge...
Península vintage store
Illustrations by EMMA SALDNER
We walked down C. Mártires, 7 street in Málaga, where closely packed houses formed a charming alleyway. Outside the shop, the sun illuminated a sign bearing the message 'Your clothes shouldn't cost the earth, buy vintage.'
Península was founded in 2018 by Javier and Laura, both with a passion for fashion. “We wanted to create a sustainable business and do something good for the planet”, says Laura.
“We wanted to create a sustainable business and do something good for the planet”
Since its inception, Península has expanded to include a store in Sevilla and an online shop.
Originating from Barcelona, Javier ventured into the vintage business nine years ago with the establishment of Flamingos Vintage Kilo another vintage store located in Malaga whitch they still run.
Laura was born and resid in the city of Malaga and later on she studied advertising and graphic design.
“I wanted to try living in a new city”, Laura stated. She lived abroad for some years and upon returning to Malaga, started to work at a advertising agency , eventually crossing paths with Javier in 2018.
Javier informed us that the pieces featured in their stores are sourced from various locations worldwide, including Europe, Japan, and Thailand, with an emphasis on reducing the environmental impact of transporting goods by also procuring stock locally in Spain.
“The style represented in our store is characterized as elegant, modern, and minimalist,” says Laura.
Each shelf and rack seemed to whisper a specific story. From sleek '90s shirts to Japanese kimonos and timeless Levi's jeans from America, every garment bore the marks of the past, waiting to be uncovered by eager hands and curious minds.
“We have something for everyone, no matter what you like!” Javier proudly declares.
“We have something for everyone, no matter what you like!”
Inside the store, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as customers streamed in, drawn by the allure of unique finds and sustainable fashion.
Between the hanging headwear, there was a large stand with sunglasses in many different colors and shapes.
We tried everything from rectangular sunglasses with bold frames to mirrored lenses with a sporty flair. Emma spotted a pair of pilot-shaped sunglasses, reminiscent of a Gucci model, and tried them on. She directly got a 'they look great on you' nod from the staff.
Illustrations by EMMA SALDNER
Our discussions highlight the upward trend of secondhand purchases, a movement that is also gaining ground in Spain. According to Laura, the demand for second-hand items has significantly increased, reflecting a growing interest in vintage fashion and sustainable shopping practices.
For the team at Península, the most exciting aspect of their work lies in discovering unique vintage pieces that are no longer manufactured, while simultaneously contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly fashion industry.
A typical day at the store involves constantly replenishing the inventory with new clothing, providing guidance and assistance to customers, and engaging with people from diverse backgrounds, creating an atmosphere that is both dynamic and fulfilling. “We are privileged to meet so many different people who share the same love for vintage,”Laura says with a big smile.
Space gray baseball jacket. Peninsula vintage store.
Sporty sunglasses. Peninsula vintage store.
Blue and white baseball jacket. Peninsula vintage store.
Blue sunglasses similar to Loewe Paula's Ibiza . Peninsula vintage store.
Meet Antonio, organic fruit grower
Antonio speaking about how the star fruit grows besides a small mango tree..
We are taking a minibus from Nerja, passing through Almunecar, and up into the mountains. Pedro, the bus driver, tells us that the owner of the orchards lives with his family in Almunecar, which we just passed by.
Once we arrive, we take a short walk that leads us to the fruit orchard. I gaze out at all the fruit trees planted in rows. “Hola amigos”, calls out a friendly and cheerful voice.
We are greeted by a spirited and delightful Spaniard named Antonio and his calm and friendly dog called Zimba.
Antonio's orchards are heavily affected by water scarcity, “It’s a sign of the climate crisis”, he says with a firm tone.
“It’s a sign of the climate crisis”
“If there's anything politicians should do, it's to ensure that the trees get water,” he says.
Beautiful banana flower.
We begin our walk among the trees, and Antonio enthusiastically talks about the different types of fruits, when they are best to eat, how they grow and their positive effects on the body. He has a lot of different exotic fruits sutch as avocado, mango, papaya, banana, blood orange, star fruit and cherimoya.
We pause by the sugar beets. “When I was little, I used to steal sugar beets as they loaded them onto the trucks”, he says, demonstrating how it was done.
“When I was little, I used to steal sugar beets as they loaded them onto the trucks”
There are still remnants left from the San Joaquin's sugar factory, which was active a few years ago. “Back in my day, there were no iPhones, so we had to find our own fun” he says, laughing.
Antonio is talking about the special avocado variety that produces miniature avocados without a seed.
We arrive at a small yellow house with a spacious rooftop terrace. Antonio's sister welcomes us. As we settle onto the terrace, gazing out over the orchards, we are treated to a three-course lunch infused with fresh fruits from the surrounding orchard, paired with their signature wine, Finca El Pinero. As I walk past what appears to be the kitchen, I catch sight of Antonio's mother, who has prepared all the food, dressed in a Spanish apron, black slippers, and well-groomed hair. I try to express in Spanish how pleased we are with the visit, she nods and smiles.
Antonios mother sorting cutlery after lunch. In the foreground, cherimoya.
At the beach, where time stands still, souls unwind and hearts refill
Beachfront alive. Burriana beach, Nerja November 2023. Photo by Johanna Karlqvist
Protects from the sun. Burriana beach, Nerja November 2023. Photo by Johanna Karlqvist
Elegant elderly duo. Burriana beach, Nerja November 2023. Photo by Johanna Karlqvist
The dilemma of embracing the sea, Nerja November 2023. Photo by Johanna Karlqvist
Relaxing reads, lost in the pages. Burriana beach, Nerja November 2023. Photo by Johanna Karlqvist
Parts of the writer's life
Shawl vorn as a top . Toteme via Arkivet.
Maxi long jeans skirt. Tailored pants made by Emma Saldner.
Shawl vorn as a top . Toteme via Arkivet.
Maxi long jeans skirt. Tailored pants made by Emma Saldner.
Dads old sunglasses. Sweden vision.
Maxi skirt from Peninsula vintage store.
Bag made from waste material. BELFbags.
Dads old sunglasses. Sweden vision.
Maxi skirt from Peninsula vintage store.
Bag made from waste material. BELFbags.
Dads old sunglasses. Sweden vision.
Maxi skirt from Peninsula vintage store.
Bag made from waste material. BELFbags.
Popswap x Vogue scandinavia
In honor of Anti-Black Friday, Popswap and Vogue Scandinavia have come together in a collaboration aimed at fostering circular fashion by swap, borrow and inspire using the Popswap app.
Me and 5 of my friends have been given the opportunity to take part in weekly challenges, which runs until November 24th. The other day, we received a statement piece, a black leather dress, specifically for our group to style. The app provides an easy and fun way to get inspired and exchange clothing with each other. Check out their app!
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