Los Encajeros is one of those long-standing, beloved institutions from Bilbao — a true classic of the city, known for its custom-made home linens. Now, the story continues in the hands of the fourth generation of the Mendoza family, with the opening of a new store on Bilbao’s Gran Vía, marking a new milestone for this iconic brand.
It’s been over 130 years since Bilbao native Manuel Mendoza Miranda founded Los Encajeros, which began as a warehouse for high-quality textiles and was a pioneer in importing fabrics from Ireland, London, and Switzerland in the late 19th century.
With the opening of the new boutique, María and Mónica Mendoza — the fourth generation — continue to write the story of this historic family business.
Today, Los Encajeros is a benchmark not only in the Basque Country, but across Spain, Europe, the U.S., Asia, South America, and Canada, where María and Mónica frequently travel to present their collections. Fashion insiders like Lauren Santo Domingo are devoted fans of the house, known for its luxury homewear and custom-made children’s garments.
From the very beginning, Los Encajeros has been committed to the quality of its raw materials. “Our goal has always been to offer our clients the finest: Swiss embroideries, Irish linens, Egyptian cottons treated in Switzerland, and the purest silks — as we’ve done for over a century,” says María Mendoza. That’s why, just like their ancestors, the sisters go directly to the source: “Our suppliers are small artisans, whom we visit regularly to understand firsthand the composition, characteristics, and uniqueness of each fabric — from Irish weavers and Swiss embroiderers to Italian finishers.”
“To create truly unique pieces tailored to each client’s body and measurements, our seamstresses take precise measurements, hand-stitch each garment, and fit it as many times as necessary,” María explains. The goal is to offer designs that are one-of-a-kind and completely unrepeatable.
