In a creative metropole like Berlin, there's no lack of cool initiatives. Berliners keep themselves busy with a wide range of artistic pursuits, from fashion design, publishing, furniture making to creating unique perfumes. We selected our top ten of Berlin's greatest 'homegrown' brands.
1. Bless
The recently relocated and renewed Bless Shop Berlin can easily stake a strong claim as the most interesting and curious store within this Top 10. It’s hidden away on the third floor of a backyard apartment on Oderbergerstrasse and literally is a ‘Bless Home’; the shop owner actually lives there. In this way all the Bless products - clothes, but also bags, bed sheets, furniture and much more - are integrated with daily life. The desirable interior of the ‘store’ and Bless’ cool designs makes it a perfect number one.
By appointment only.
Open for public thursdays 4 - 8 pm
Oderberger Strasse 69, 10435 Berlin
Tel: 30 27 59 65 66
web.me.com/blessberlin/BLESS_new/News.html
2. Konk
The arty fashion store Konk is one of the few that stocks the collections of the Berlin labels C.Neoon, Kaviar Gauche and Anntian. Owner Ettina Berríos-Negrón, who founded the shop in 2003, strives for a smooth blend of art and fashion and Konk’s interior definitely supports this concept. Trying on the well-designed clothes is a treat; especially the dressing room looks great! This store is also the right place to shop for exclusive jewelery and accessories. They sell pieces by labels like Alex Monroe, Louise Kragh or Tatty Devine, among others.
Kleine Hamburger Strasse 15, 10117
Tel: 30 2809 7839
www.konk-berlin.de/
3. Starstyling
When you are seeking for a splash of colour, pop into the Starstyling shop on Mulackstrasse. This Berlin-based fashion label is well-known for their use of metallic and bright colours, playful details and non-conservative designs. The store is pretty unique as well, brimmed with plants and aluminium foil-covered furniture. All their hoodies, t-shirts, dresses and shawls are reasonably priced as well, so grab your creditcard and shop till you drop!
Mulackstrasse 4, 10119
Tel: 030 97005182
ulugu.starstyling.net/
4. Wasted German Youth
Wasted German Youth has been synonymous with the Berlin techno underground for over 5 years now. The brainchild of Art Director Paul Snowden, the brand exploded around 2004 with their tongue in cheek slogan t-shirts seen all around Berlin ('Minimal My Ass' was one of their best) and they bombed their WGY stickers all over the city, in every club toilet, on every lamp-post. Now somewhat more mature, they have even launched a beer brand and have their own flagship store on Memhardstrasse and host the ‘Rave Tut Gut’ parties. Make sure you stop by their store where you can shoot the shit with the man himself, drink a wasted german beer, buy a wasted german t-shirt, look at some art, and generally feel very Berlin. Sounds good, right?
Memhard Strasse 1,10178 Berlin
Tel: 0177 2484858
shop.wasted-german-youth.com/pages/about-us
5. Not A Wooden Spoon
Berliners are not only talented fashion designers; the hauptstadt is also home to creatives with an eye for furniture. Michael Ferguson, owner of the Not A Wooden Spoon shop, is one of them. His little store and workshop are located on the lovely Oderberger Strasse, just around the corner of Bang Bang Berlin’s home base. Ferguson creates unique pieces of eco-furniture - from bar stools to whole kitchens - using only raw recycled materials. Not cheap as chips, but definitely worth a look.
Oderberger Strasse 2, 10435
Tel: 0176 6153 1025
notawoodenspoon.com/
6. LaLa Berlin
Berlin’s ‘modemeile’, the Mulackstrasse, is home to the elegant women’s luxus fashion brand LaLa Berlin. Set up by former MTV editor Leyla Piedayesh, this label represents a mixture of urban casual design and eveningwear using always the chicest fabrics – they are famous for their fine knitwear, cashmere and silk. The shop itself is as well designed as the clothes: white walls and furniture, chandeliers, carefully arranged pieces and some raw details like an exposed brick wall. Their motif-printed scarfs have become one of Berlin's most recognized products. Definitely one of our favourite brands!
Mulackstrasse 7, 10119 Berlin
Tel: 030 257 62924
www.lalaberlin.com/
7. Frau Tonis
Because a good fragrance is as important as a good outfit, Frau Tonis can´t be missing from this Top 10. They recently opened a new boutique on Zimmerstrasse, that combines a nostalgic atmosphere with a cool, but simplistic plain white interior. All their perfumes are manufactured in Berlin and some are even named after the hauptstadt, like the fresh ‘Berlin Summer’ scent or the sweet ‘Unter den Linden’ fragrance. The perfect place to get - or create - your own ‘Eau de Berlin’.
Zimmer Strasse 13, 10969 Berlin
Tel: 030 20215310
www.frau-tonis-parfum.com/
8. BFN Concept Store
The Berlin Fashion Network is not only a successful fashion agency: they also own one of Berlin’s most refined concept stores. The shop in the Hackesche Höfe comprises 350 square meters full of accessories, bags, jewelry, men’s as well as women’s clothing and home accessories. Spread over two levels, the BFN Concept Store offers established and young Berlin designers (plus some international labels), like German Garments, Burkhardt Möllman, Barre Noire and Prodotyp.
Rosenthaler Str. 40/41, Hackesche Höfe, Hof III, 10178 Berlin
Tel: 030 40529818
berlinfashionnetwork.com/
9. C'est Tout,.
Founded by former MTV head of Style Katja Will and her husband Michael, the Berlin-based label C’est Tout is one of the more new elegant and classy local designer brands. They sell comfortable but very chic clothes, made from high quality materials like cashmere, silk and leather. Both C’est Tout stores are simple, but stylish and stock accessories made by other designers as well.
Mulackstrasse 26, 10119 Berlin & Schönhausser Strasse 38, 10119 Berlin
Tel: 030 5481 0570
www.cesttout.de/index.html
10. Aus Berlin
Aus Berlin calls itself ‘Das kaufhaus für produkte aus Berlin’. And that’s just what they are: a good looking shop - concrete walls, smooth black shelves - loaded with hundreds of articles made by local designers. They stock fashion, music, magazines and books, as well as accessories, souvenirs and design objects. The brands they represent are as diverse as the products: from the quirky Muschi Kreuzberg to the more classy Sawadeedesign or Komat. Their whole collection is also featured on their stylish website, if you’re more into online shopping. Nice extra: Aus Berlin regularly organises in-store DJ sets at Saturday afternoons.
Karl-Liebknecht Strasse 17, 10178 Berlin
Tel: 030 4199 7896
www.ausberlin.de/index.php
