In-scene Shopping in Berlin

Berlin, January 2011 Berlin is coming to be recognised increasingly as an international fashion metropolis. Away from the major fashion shows, catwalks and fashion events, fashion-conscious residents and visitors to Berlin will also have no problem identifying the trends of tomorrow. The streets of the German capital are the catwalk – it is here that fashion from the international, German and Berlin-based design houses is cleverly showcased. Not for nothing is the Kastanienallee in the eastern quarter of Prenzlauer Berg popularly known by its soubriquet of ”Castingallee“ whilst Friedrichshain is visibly transformed into the creative district of ”Fashionhain“. Thanks to a total of nine fashion schools in the “City of Design“, there is no need for anyone to worry about our creative legacy.

(Neighbour)Hood-(S)Hopping

Berlin is the city that sets trends: the capital’s style is popular at home and abroad. But where can you get it from? More unusual gear with just a hint of exclusiveness and off-beat concepts can mostly be found away from Berlin’s major shopping miles. In particular in Mitte, Kreuzberg and the trendy areas of Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain in the east of the city, style-conscious Berliners and their visitors will find that taking time out to explore the smaller side streets is well worth the effort. A large number of trendy boutiques and hip “in” shops are mushrooming here. With their unusual collections and way-out accessories, they beckon visitors to come window shopping, search around and to buy. Each neighbourhood has its own totally individual range and its own flair.

In Mitte there are some interesting galleries and any number of fashion stores to be found in the numerous small side streets between Oranienburger Tor, Hackescher Markt und Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. The shop windows not only display the collections of Berlin-based fashion designers, but also collections featuring national and international labels. Mulackstrasse und Gipsstrasse willingly espouse the title of “Berlin’s Little Soho”, a nickname acquired because of their mixture of art, regional and international design. Neue Schönhauser and Alte Schönhauser Straße as well as Münzstraße are prime locations for the flagship stores of young international brands. An important address for denim and brand-lovers: the 14oz. on the Neue Schönhauser Straße 13. Founded by Karl-Heinz Müller, read & Butter´s managing director, the store offers exclusive, progressive and authentic collections for both, men and women. Of course these collections are also part of the worldwide leading trade show for Street and Urban Wear. www.14oz-berlin.com

The “in“ district of Prenzlauer Berg is likewise a popular destination for self-confessed fashion aficionados. The “Castingallee“ is, due to its large number of boutiques and the patrons to match, regarded as the epitome of designer fashion for young Berliners. This is the point of convergence for real models, those who would like to become real models and fashion-conscious ordinary mortals. What’s more, Oderberger Straße, the streets around Helmholtzplatz and Kollwitzplatz offer loads of hip shops and showrooms. On Marienburger Straße, for instance, “Wertvoll Berlin” – a sustainable concept store has just opened its doors. Everything on sale like fashion items, accessories and gifts are either fair traded, made of ecological materials, hand-made, manufactured from recycled raw materials or some of the proceeds go to charitable projects www.wertvoll-berlin.de

Between the Frankfurter Allee and the Warschauer Strasse, the eastern quarter of Friedrichshain has a huge amount to offer when it comes to Berlin’s creative scene. More and more young designers are being attracted to this district. All round the Boxhagener-Platz, the Simon-Dach-Strasse and in the side streets there are numerous individual shops just waiting to be discovered by fashion aficionados with their own style. Frequently, the stores are also ateliers and visitors can look over the shoulders of the designers while they work and commision their very own designs. The Wühlischstrasse and its prolongation, Kopernikusstraße, are developing into a new, chic fashion mile. Under the name of “Fashionhain“, a range of fashion shops have got together in testimony to the creative diversity of their district. Selected Saturdays feature an organised shopping night when the participating shops remain open until midnight. In addition to gear from brands that really make a statement, such as “Superschlüpfer“, “Prachtmädchen“ or “Latte wie Hose“, there is music and promotions on the theme of fashion and culinary snacks to fortify visitors in the meantime. www.fashionhain.de

One important address for trendy (s)hoppers in Friedrichshain is the “F95 Store“ (in the) on Frankfurter Allee: there for all to admire in this stylish shop are international fashion highlights straight from the Premium fashion show. www.f95store.de
In the multi-cultural district of Kreuzberg, the Oranienstrasse first and foremost as well as the Wrangel- or the Bergmann neighbourhood are all good for a spot of in-scene shopping. (In the) On lively Bergmannstrasse and on the Mehringdamm there are a number of bric-a-brac and antique shops, second hand fashion and smaller, individual shops with unusual fashion collections, out of the ordinary shoe creations or way-out accessories.

Fashion “made in Berlin“

Of course, Berlin’s young designers need space to present their collections. And if they aren’t yet sufficiently well established to have their own premises, they are fortunate in that there are enough shops prepared to support up and coming design talent and to offer a platform for creative expertise. The fashion store “Molotow“ has been in existence since 1986 and was the first to present fashion exclusively by Berlin designers. www.molotowberlin.de
The “BFN Concept Store” in the Hackesche Höfe in the district of Mitte likewise has a big selection of Berlin fashion ranging from casual to high on two floors. Here the emphasis is likewise placed on the right background music with Berlin songs by Label Bpitch Control. www.berlinfashionnetwork.com

Style-conscious local patriots can count on a “fat haul“ (“Fette Beute“) not far away in a shop of the same name. In a luxuriously-appointed setting on the Boxhagener Platz everyday designer fashion featuring selected young local and international labels is presented. Just the ticket for anyone looking for that special outfit. www.fettebeute-berlin.de
The “Flagship store“ (in the) on Oderberger Strasse in Prenzlauer Berg has on sale highlights from the collections of 30 up-and-coming designer labels, most of them from Berlin. In addition to the company’s own brand, Hazelnut, owned by proprietress Einat Zinger Feiler, Betty Bund and Butterflysoulfire are just some of the brands represented. www.flagshipstore-berlin.de
Not far from there fans of Berlin fashion are sure to find something in “Heimzucht”. Besides clothing made in Berlin the shop also offers original gifts crafted by creative Berlin artists (Danziger Straße 10, U-Eberswalder Straße)
The fashion store “Konk” in Mitte is a top address for Berlin fashion from the up-market and avant-garde segments. The colourful clothes by C. Neeon are only on sale in Berlin in Konk. Kaviar Gauche’s collection is also on display in this boutique with its original design. www.konk-berlin.de

Original City Souvenirs

We all know that small gifts help to keep a friendship going – and the same applies to unusual or jokey souvenirs for the folks back home. And Berlin’s shops have more to offer than East German “traffic light man“ accessories, shrink-wrapped pieces of Wall or Spreewald gherkins. Unquestionably originating in the German capital is anything that is offered in the small department store “ausberlin“ on the Alexanderplatz. The products have been specially designed and manufactured in Berlin. From biscuit cutters in the shape of landmarks to the “Neuköllnisch Wasser“ liqueur and the Rütli shirt , the shop offers a wide range of more unusual souvenirs of Berlin (www.ausberlin.de). The same goes for the BoxoffBerlin: in addition to original travel souvenirs for Berlin enthusiasts, the “Bob“ also incorporates a Café and a gallery with rotating street art exhibitions. www.boxoffberlin.de
A selection of items featuring Berlin design as well as the literature of Berlin and unusual gifts from Berlin including fashions, cosmetics, lifestyle items, literature and stationery are available in ”Ach Berlin“ on the Gendarmenmarkt. www.achberlin.de
The “O3 Berlin“ in Prenzlauer Berg is an innovative shop concept by two young women. Berlin artists and designers can rent space to present their wares to the hip Prenzlberg population or international tourists. Only hand-made products are on sale: funny and crazy knick-knacks for home decoration, wearing or the perfect gifts. A paradise for everyone who likes individual fashion from Berlin. www.o3-berlin.de

The “Kaufhaus der Berliner” in Friedrichshain comes with the guarantee that everthing on sale is made in Berlin. The range extends from printed t-shirts and jewellery over cushion covers down to snack stand kits (Krossener Str. 18, S Warschauer Straße).
“Ostalgia” fans are sure to strike lucky in the pre-revolution store in Friedrichshain. The owner has more than 10,000 items from the 40 year history of the GDR including tableware from the Palast der Republik which has since been torn down. The store is a bit like a GDR museum. (Thaerstraße 16, U Frankfurter Tor)

Design and flea markets

Anywone who is lucky enough to spend the weekend in Berlin simply must go to one of the flea and design markets. Both the flea market on Boxhagener Platz in Friedrichshain, Sundays from 10am to 6pm, and the flea market in Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg, Sundays from 7am to 5pm, have long since moved on from just displaying second-hand wares and junk to many stylish products by Berlin artists. Because the demand is so high, there are now also markets that specialise in crafts objects by young designers from Berlin. The Trendmafia is staged the first Saturday of the month in the Brunnenviertel. www.trendmafia.de
Sideseeing-Berlin also offers creative items made in Berlin, at various locations but not on a regular basis on Sundays, mostly in the district of Neukölln. www.sideseeing-berlin.com

Treasure trove for vintage fans

Berlin is not just the place for new trends but is also home to innumerable second hand and vintage stores where even international stars are happy to hunt for unique pieces. In the Sommerladen in Mitte many people from the music and fashion scene frequently commission brand clothing from the latest collections. The prices for designer garments by designers like Vivienne Westwood and Martin Margiela are reasonable. Men, too, will find something to please them. (Linienstraße 153, S/U Oranienburger Tor). Anyone on the lookout for truly chic items is sure to find something at nearby Sterling Gold. In the Heckmann-Höfe in Mitte there are second hand robes that are perfect for a grand entrance: evening dresses and cocktail fashions from the 1950s up to the 1980s. Each piece is unique and anyone shopping here need have no worries that someone else may be wearing the same dress (Oranienburger Str. 32, S/U Oranienburger Tor).

Wolfgang Joop, one of the most well-known fashion designers in Germany, has likewise opened a vintage store in Mitte. At Wunderkind Vintage (150 sq.m) he sells breathtaking unique pieces from his haute couture label Wunderkind which are two seasons old as well as some vintage pieces (Tucholskystraße 36, U Oranienburger Straße).
In the City West Menzel&Menzel, a second hand boutique, has been a haven for very upmarket fashions for 20 years. It sells second-hand garments from celebrities and aristocrats (Fasanenstraße 41, Charlottenburg; U Spichernstraße).

Berlin Curiosities

The “Kwik-Shop“(in the) on Kastanienallee is a type of kiosk, complete with a shop window that delivers an innovative solution to the shopping dilemma for anyone in a hurry or anyone who has no desire to forage around for a suitable gift in cramped shops chock-a-block with people. In the shop window the range of cheerful and bizarre gift ideas is spread out for all to see. All you need to do is make your choice and the desired article will be handed out to you via a sales hatch as you wait in the street. www.kwikshop.de

The “Kaufbar“ (or “Buying Bar”) owes its name to the fact that you can buy anything in it – from the cup you’ve just drunk your coffee from, the lamp in the corner right through to the sofa or armchair on which your neighbour is sitting. www.kaufbar-berlin.de
In “Kauf Dich glücklich“ it’s not just the ice cream and the homemade waffles that make the customers happy: here visitors are able to purchase bric-a-brac, jewellery, sunglasses and toys dating back to the 50s, 60s and 70s. A similar state of symbiosis may also be observed in its smaller branch “Glücklich am Park“: instead of a furniture shop, the ice cream parlour is combined with a fashion shop in which hot labels such as Lucid 21 are on sale. www.kaufdichgluecklich.de

Friedrichshain also boasts unusual store concepts like, for instance, Spitzen&Spätzle. The little shop sells lingerie alongside southern German culinary specialities. www.spitzen-spaetzle.de

The following offer shopping tours

www.berlinagenten.de --> Shopping Scout Tour
www.berlin-shopper.com
www.modekultur.info

(14,303 characters)