Short version: in Lisbon, sardines are dinner, a June street party and a city symbol all at once. That is why three of them ended up on our t-shirts, sweatshirts and caps.
Why are sardines such a big deal in Lisbon?
Because every June the city smells of them. During the Festas de Lisboa, and especially around Santo António on the night of 12 to 13 June, the old neighbourhoods fill with street grills, paper lanterns, plastic chairs and music until very late. Alfama, Graça, Bica and Mouraria turn into one long outdoor dinner, and the menu is simple: a grilled sardine on a slice of bread, a cold drink, and someone’s aunt telling you to eat more.
Summer is sardine season in Portugal, when the fish is at its fattest and best. So the sardine stopped being just food a long time ago. It turns up on tiles, tins, posters and shop windows all over the city. Ask someone from Lisbon for a symbol of the place and there is a good chance it swims.
How do you eat a grilled sardine like a local?
With your hands, on bread, without too much ceremony. The bread catches the juices and is arguably the best part. Salty fingers are part of the deal. If you are in Lisbon in June, follow the smoke; you will not need a map.
Why did we draw three sardines?
Every Contrast drawing comes with a short story. This is the one behind the sardines:
I was walking around Lisbon. Noticed a lot of people in the street. I didn’t know why. I was just visiting. All of a sudden, a local guy offered me a beer. Another asked me if I wanted some sardines. They gave me three sardines on bread and a beer. Two hours later I was dancing in the streets of Alfama. They call it Santos Populares. I call it a hell of an experience.
That is the whole idea. Three sardines, the exact portion a stranger gets handed on a June night in Alfama. We are a small, family-run brand from Lisbon, and we wanted a sardine that felt like that night rather than a fridge magnet: drawn by hand, a little graphic, a little ironic, and quiet enough to wear in January.
Where can you find the Contrast sardines?
- Sardines Graphic T-Shirt in Honey, Stargazer Green and Fiesta Orange: 100% GOTS organic cotton, 180 gsm, unisex.
- Sardines Embroidered Sweatshirt in Khaki Green and Deep Plum: heavyweight 350 gsm organic cotton, brushed inside.
- Sardines Embroidered Cap in Washed Camel: organic cotton, one size, adjustable.
Or see them all together in the Sardines collection.
Is a sardine t-shirt a good souvenir from Lisbon?
We would say yes, but we are biased. The honest test: will you still wear it at home, on a grey Tuesday, far from the grills? A drawing that nods to Lisbon without shouting it, on organic cotton that lasts, has a better chance than most things sold near the tram stops.
You can also find the sardines in our three stores in central Lisbon: Chiado, Trindade and Sé, open every day from 10am to 7pm (closed for lunch from 1pm to 2pm).
