A visit to the coolest (and latest) examples in Berlin

By Hermano Silva

Berlin, the ever-changing city, is not always recognized as being a mecca for shopping. The area of Kurfürstendamm is actually a destination for consumerism since 125 years (birthday celebrated this year), while Mitte district went through a radical transformation after the German reunification and hosts now some of the most known local and international brands.

In 2011, the city gained another fresh breeze with the opening of some new concept stores. But what is a “concept store” after all? The term describes a store that sells various products without splitting them in different sections or categories. It reflects more the idea of lifestyle (or concept) rather than the idea of specialization in one segment. In other words, the success and charm of a concept store depends on a striking curatorship of objects.

Below we present a selection of three charming shops that were opened in the city recently. All of them present items in menswear and womenswear, but most of all they have very interesting architecture.

OUKAN 71 – Kronenstrasse 71, 10117

This shop is only two months old and is localized in the district of Friedrichstrasse – not far from the department stores Galeries Lafayette and Quartier 206. The concept of Oukan is to be a comfort zone, which is well represented by their tea bar and the relaxed atmosphere across the two floors.

The interesting aspect of Oukan is their offer of minimalist clothes from Japanese and international designers. It will for sure not disappoint those who like to wear black clothes since the range is wide and diverse. The shop also displays books, CD’s, accessories and fine art objects.

Other shops to visit nearby: The Corner and Quartier 206.

HAPPY SHOP – Torstrasse 67, 10119

The shop’s concept is to be a friendly place for people who are looking for “happy fashion”. It means not only irreverent clothes from humorous designers, but also fair prices. The idea came from the owner, the German designer Mischa Alexandra Woeste, and the creative director Marck Christian Windekilde. They offer an interesting mix of brands from Bernhard Willhelm to TopShop, including Meadham Kirchhoff and the amazing bags of Piet Breinholm.

The shop is placed in Torstrasse, one of the most interesting streets of Mitte district. The German architects Fingerle&Woeste conceived it as a flexible space. This is shown for example through the racks, mannequins and walls that are hanging from the ceiling. This allows the shop to be transformed into diferent locations at anytime, for example, into an exhibition space or a room for a fashion show.

Other shops to visit nearby: 14 Oz, N.74  and Mykita.

ANDREAS MURKUDIS – Potsdamer Strasse 81E, 10785

The shop is based in an impressive space of 1000 square meters with high ceilings, in the former offices of the Berlin newspaper Tagesspiegel. The architecture is minimalist, all white, like an art gallery. They present an exclusive selection of design, cosmetics and fashion brands, such as Celine, Maison Martin Margiela and Yohji Yamamoto. But the special shopping experience comes from finding unexpected delicacies. It could be the bitter chocolates from Erich Hamann or the porcelain skulls of Nyphenburg.

Murkudis had a previous shop in Mitte district and moved to the current location in July 2011. The new address in Potsdamer Strasse, in the west part of Berlin, is not the most obvious location for a concept store since there are no boutiques around. However the neighbourhood has everything to become the “next real state hype” considering that several art galleries are moving there as well. Murkudis is convinced of the potential of Postdamer Strasse, securing a lease contract for 15 years for their shop, according to an interview for Hilker website. (The gentrification of the city is one of the favourite topics of Berliners).

Other shops to visit nearby: Reading Room

Read more about Berlin fashion here and also about a very cool concept store in London.

Credits of the images: © Oukan 71 Achim Hatzius; © Happy Shop Liam Scott Ward and Jacques & Brigitte; © Andreas Murkudis Mirko Zander/Colorstorm Digital.