There is a phenomenon that apparently occurs all over Spain but I've just seen it in Barcelona. It's called top manta (top blanket). It is the illegal sale of counterfeit products on the street.
Ive seen it along the beach in gava on the boardwalk/sidewalk. Sellers lay out a blanket and put their products on it . In this case it was blanket after blanket of sneakers, purses, sports jerseys, belts and the list goes on. These products all look like the real thing with nike swoops and jerseys that look like the real thing.
These products are produced in factories in China, India, Spain. They are sold mostly by illegal and legal African immigrants. They are know as manteros. Some work for larger scale criminal organizations and make very little. Others do it because finding a job as an African migrant can be impossible.
This was a huge problem pre-pandemic in central Barcelona along streets frequented by tourists. It would often be set up near subway stations. When the police approached they take the blanket in a bundle and run down into the station to escape.
They have met with mixed reaction in the past, sometimes ignored by city officials. There has been a crackdown after a couple violent incidents and they are much less present in the central area.
I've seen them in parks, at landmarks selling on a much smaller scale selling jewelry, fans, water.
Anywhere there are tourists, you will find them.
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October 25, 2022 at 09:39PM
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