Stefanel, Berlin

This brand is a slight blast from the past.  Do we still have this one in London?  Giant sweets props and slightly unappetizing looking popcorn support the product although a great bit of fun to end our visit here. 

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Sammlung Boros Collection, Berlin

We have included this place previously as it is quite a staggering experience just to be here, and it is Visual merchandising, well of sorts anyway. In a former Nazi bunker (as well as several reincarnations)  this building houses the Boros Collection; an incredible gallery of the most amazing contemporary Art works. You need to book a tour through the space as it is essentially a home as well as a gallery.  If you are one of the super privileged then you may even have had the opportunity to visit the apartment situated on top of this building.  In the meantime, we could only take limited images but do go and check this place out as it is quite a corker of an experience.

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OK, Berlin

If you like your goods recycled, up-cycled or just interesting then look no further than OK Berlin.  This amazing store has a fantastic variety of handmade goods from around the world to tantalize you, and at very respectable prices too.  So if you are searching for some religious candles which offer hours of worshiping for free or some industrial lamps to make your interior look cool then look no further than this store.  Unfortunately we couldn't find their website so just wander around Mitte, possibly on Alte Schönhauser Str.  (on the same street as the fabulous Monsieur Vuong)

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Bugaboo Diesel, Berlin

This is one brand we never thought we would include here - ever.  However, for a store which essentially sells posh pushchairs or strollers (depending on where you are reading this) this is actually incredibly interesting.  A Fine Artists studio space complete with paint splattered chair, books, table and so on fill this space.  This is not quite what we would have expected to see from this brand, but a nice surprise and ties in very nicely indeed with their website. 

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Nudie Jeans, Berlin

When was the last time you washed your jeans?  Today? Yesterday? Or several months ago?  At Nudie, who have a fantastic sustainability philosophy in place as part of their branding suggest perhaps that we should be a little more hesitant with washing our denim so frequently and maybe we might actually be better leaving our fav. bits out of that hot washing cycle and wearing them that little bit longer, in fact 5 months longer.  What we have found however is one of their amazing repair shops, so if you find that *those wears and tears are not on trend, *you are finally over the hipster look,  *after 5 months you manage to crack those trusty Jeans in half (*delete as appropriate) then drop them off to these guys who will cheerily repair them for you (if they don't actually manage to walk there themselves after 5 months).  In the meantime, great philosophy and fantastic to see this 'make do and mend' option although we will be washing our denim as frequently as normal. #wouldntwanttoworkhereinsummer

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LNFA, Berlin

We feel that we are having an affair with Bikini Berlin as this place is just filled with the best stores.  Live Through Network Fashion and Art (or LNFA) where not only is the merchandise superb, from Women's and Men's Fashion to home ware the space is absolutely delicious too. If you happen to visit Berlin then do head for Bikini Berlin, just forget the name of the place. 

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Foundry, Berlin

In a city which takes bicycling seriously, is one of the best places to ride around safely (some cycle lanes even have their own traffic lights) and you appreciate your two wheeled transport a little more aesthetically pleasing then you could do no worse then have a look at Foundry (at Bikini Berlin).  This is difficult merchandise to show well but with their timber covered pillars and incredible swing in the middle of the space these guys make it a whole lot more fun. 

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Address Gallery, Berlin

One of the coolest places we have come across, which was also new to us is Bikini Berlin.  We were a little hesitant about going to see this place (essentially it is a shopping mall) as the name did put us off a little because of course we anticipated seeing, well, you know, Bikini's (not the most exciting merchandise).  We couldn't have been more wrong as this mall is filled with the most amazing independent stores with merchandise we cant see anywhere else - bliss.  Here at Address, while not the most lavish store we have ever seen we were struck by this fantastic inflatable structure which breaks up this enormous retail space in to one which feels rather more intimate.  Great fun too.

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Alexa, Berlin

We've just landed in Berlin for the week to explore some of the fantastic boutiques and to search for new innovative windows and stores.  While Alexa, situated in central Berlin in Alexanderplatz is not the most exciting place in the world to visit it is a little step back in time and even though it appears to be a remnant from the communist period it is actually relatively new (apparently 2007).  We had a scan around here and there isn't much happening that we haven't seen before and window schemes are rather thin (well actually non-existent) in this mall, so we've included some shots around the space instead.  Ultimately, if you are searching for inspiration and innovation when in Berlin then we wouldn't waste any time here other than going in to shelter from the current freezing cold weather. 

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Harrods, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Justso.eu

Where else do you launch a fabulously luxurious car than Harrods here in the centre of it all.  The new range of convertibles by Rolls Royce, both an iconic and historic brand was recently showcased with features including an interactive screen which imitates the actions of the user.  To get a better idea of this installation do check out the video through the link here.  https://vimeo.com/152545488

David Jones, Australia

Images Courtesy and Copyright http://global-display.co/

We rarely receive images from places such as Australia so it is a pleasure to include these to share with you all.  David Jones is one of Australia's leading department stores offering a wide range of high quality merchandise to its customers across its 38 stores which it has done now for an incredible 178 years..!  Working in conjunction with Global Display, this project featured design and production of over 300 unique items of metal work, joinery, upholstery and acrylic to create this uniquely contemporary retail environment.  From Studio-W (Women's Fashion for young urban consumers), JT One (women's lingerie) to RE Denim (Men's Fashion) it really is fantastic to see a space so unknown to us previously.  Just in case you don't know them,  Global Display are leaders in creating contemporary retail spaces, who adopt a cohesive approach to their work incorporating retail design, fixtures and fittings, mannequins, and visual merchandising for brand leaders around the world.

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Zzegna, London

We had no idea that this brand was part of Ermenegildo Zegna (although the name should have done it..!).  We've also never seen one of these stores elsewhere so assumed it was an independent.   We were drawn into this scheme as we are beginning to see these pentagonal and nonagon forms (or nine sided polygon) at other brands and trying to make connections here (possibly part of the Sensitive Science or Material world trends, who knows?).

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Smythson, London

Earlier in the week we made reference to Massimo Dutti and another trend which we are seeing across several brands is the use of interior spaces, dwellings and atmospheres.  We've also seen the use of a lot of these over dyed rugs in places such as New York (in particular the new Diesel store).  At Smythson the use of the Grey here allows the product to pop out from against its background.  In order to capture the atmosphere we have of course included a video of the overall space which can be found either below or through this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bZDP3dKd1Y

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Fendi, London

In a freezing cold London, Fendi, naturally have already launched their SS16 collection (Resort) at their Bond and Sloane street stores.  We don't often see products in windows used in creative ways so this 'Old School' approach is most welcome.   Signature belts (we think) have been used to create what look like sun rays around mirrors and their bags in a repetition and radiation format.  You can check out our video here through this link or below https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6MYNq4aFyU

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Coach, London

With just one or two products in a window space a retailer really does need to be confident with their products.  At Coach the brand are highlighting pieces from their AW16 collection (yes already) with the promotion of this coat by Stuart Vevers and surrounded by rusty steel girders in a vertical alignment.  You can check out our video here below or through this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m80OOj5i-Ys

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Sub-Age, Tokyo

Images Courtesy and Copyright Hidemasa Miyake

Its always such a pleasure to receive such interesting content from places which we aren't normally able to include ourselves here.  How amazing is this place?  Sub-Age is a Tokyo based pop up space inspired by the UK's anti-social youth subculture and showcasing their current collections within a space complete with large formatted baby image and punctuated by a suspended Milk bottle piercing pressed Beer cans.  If you happen to be in Harajuku do try and visit places like this. 

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