I’d heard about Desigual before, but I’d never actually been inside the Barcelona-based clothing store or even seen any of the merchandize. My first impression was favorable; I liked the casual, cultural mish-mash vibe the store is renowned for. I could see myself buying clothes here, I decided, and made a mental note to come back when I had more time to shop.

As I picked my way past racks displaying bright patterns and vibrant mosaics, one garment in particular caught my eye. It was a dark, long-sleeved tunic dress with two large white clown faces imprinted in the centre. An array of stark pink flowers and wild stripes surrounded the faces. I walked over to the dress, intrigued. 

What surprised me was how instantly recognizable I found the motif of the dress - the clowns were not iconic figures or famous portraits - but the combination of  colours and images created an instant impression: Cirque du Soleil.