We speak to the employees of Berlin’s 5 best concept stores about what makes their stores so unique \u2014 and how their stores have shaped them. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":61262,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[10096,146,10097,10098,10099,135,10100,5761,10101,10102,832],"class_list":["post-61208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fashion","tag-aaron-jamal-marx","tag-andreas-murkudis","tag-berlin-concept-stores","tag-bless-home","tag-concept-stores","tag-darklands","tag-mi-marak","tag-personal-style","tag-soho-house-berlin","tag-the-store-at-soho-house","tag-voo-store"],"acf":{"legacy":false,"main_category":false,"hero_title":"Shop Girl\/Shop Boy: The Staff Behind Berlin's 5 Best Concept Stores","subtitle":"We speak to the employees of Berlin's 5 best concept stores about what makes their stores so unique \u2014 and how their stores have shaped them.","hero":{"video":false,"image":false,"header_color":"black","overlay_color":"","overlay_text_color":"black"},"teasers":{"video":false,"image":false,"width":"4","proportion":"default"},"related_articles":"","next_article":"","content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":false,"settings":{"fit_width":"10","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"
Working in a high-end concept store requires much more than simply scanning items and taking stock. The team members on the sales floor are chosen representatives of the store itself, embodying the brand in both ethos and aesthetic. Whilst we can often recall the decor and stock in our favourite stores, we\u2019re often guilty of overlooking the people who are responsible for making such retail experiences so pleasurable. So who are the trendsetters committed to these immersive roles, the ones who ensure our favourite shops stay up and running? We here at SLEEK wanted to get to know the friendly faces serving looks at Berlin\u2019s fashion hot-spots. We asked team members from\u00a0Voo Store<\/a>,\u00a0Darklands,<\/a>\u00a0Andreas Murkudis<\/a>,\u00a0BLESS Home<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0The Store<\/a>\u00a0to tell us about their experiences working as the shop boys and girls at Berlin\u2019s best concept stores.<\/p>\n Mi<\/a>\u00a0is a co-manager at Voo Store, one of the city\u2019s most famous and celebrated shopping destinations. Everything about the store\u2014 its industrial atmosphere, its\u00a0Oranienstrasse address<\/a>, its killer playlists and of course, its killer stock \u2014 screams Berlin. Its unique ability to embody Berlin\u2019s aesthetic makes it both a tourist destination and a cherished favourite of city residents. Its partnership with\u00a0Companion Coffee<\/a>\u00a0(who dare we say make some of the best coffee in Berlin) ensures the space is warm and welcoming, despite its formidable street cred.<\/p>\n Mi says that the Voo Store crowd is consistently diverse. \u201cThat might sound like one of those tacky clich\u00e9s\u2026 but in this case it\u2019s actually true, and something we personally value a lot. I\u2019ve been working in retail for a long time, and have never come across such a diverse customer base\u201d. The diversity of their customers is mirrored in the diversity of their carried designers; in Voo, a single rack packs looks from\u00a0Prada<\/a>,\u00a0Levi\u2019s<\/a>,\u00a0Gosha<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Acne<\/a>\u00a0side-by-side. This curation is not haphazard; their carefully selected pieces comprise a unified style, which is edgy, fun and functional. Mi gravitates toward the pieces which fit most into the \u201cfun\u201d category, like a yellow faux fur coat from\u00a0Marni<\/a>\u00a0AW17 and mirror-heeled slingbacks from\u00a0Proenza Schouler<\/a>. Voo is a high-end store with a unpretentious attitude, thanks to its team members who create an atmosphere of genuinity. \u201cTo maintain that, you need good and strong personalities as representatives on the shop floor, which we are lucky to have.\u201d<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery":false,"settings":{"height":"100","images_to_show":"1","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":" Darklands is a store with its own mythology. Often referred to as the \u201cBerghain of shopping\u201d, the nomadic, avant-garde store is notoriously difficult to find, often tucked away in unexpected and semi-abandoned locations throughout Berlin. Their strict no-photo policy is part of the allure, mandating those curious about Darklands to actually visit, rather than scroll through pictures online. The Darklands experience has more in common with visiting an art gallery than visiting a standard clothing store. Its blacker-than-black colour palette and disdain for mainstream and trendy garments has made it a destination for Berlin\u2019s most popular techno DJs. Their beyond edgy selection is matched with attentive customer service, who consider themselves ambassadors of the city as much as the store.<\/p>\n Livio, an employee of Darklands for three years, is originally from Erfurt, a \u201ccity characterised by its historical architecture and eco-intellectual attitude\u201d. Livio\u2019s interest in high-end fashion and inter-cultural exchange landed him a spot amongst the Darklands team, which according to him is \u201cfull of individuals and characters whose opinions, experiences and styles are always appreciated\u201d. Livio says his current wardrobe is the product of a Darklands \u201ceducation\u201d (rather than influence). \u201cYears ago I was wearing only black, distressed, deconstructed edgy clothes. Today I mix up my existing wardrobe with handmade shirts and artistinal jackets.\u201d<\/p>\n Livio believes it\u2019s impossible to identify Darkland\u2019s most \u201cpopular\u201d brands because Darklands stocks underground designers. He counts\u00a0Geoffrey B. Small<\/a>,\u00a0Carol Christian Poell<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Deepti<\/a>\u00a0as the three most worthy of respect and recognition. His favourite pieces twist \u201cartisanal craftsmanship\u201d and \u201cgeek charm\u201d \u2014 most notably, he picks out a dark\u00a0double-breasted coa<\/a>t from Geoffrey B. Small, which was made of handwoven alpaca and wool fabric on an 18th century hand loom. When not at Darklands, Livio spends quite a bit of time at the theatre. \u201cI rather prefer a stage performance to a techno party. But this is Berlin and sometimes an evening ends up in a unexpected way\u2026 and you get both\u201d.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery":false,"settings":{"height":"100","images_to_show":"1","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":" Claudia has worked at Andreas Murkudis for 6 years. A visit to the storefront on Potsdamer Strasse is an aesthetic and spatial indulgence. Murkudis is an ideal destination for those seeking an escape from the somewhat grim qualities of city life; the tranquil, gallery-like superstore is an ode to clean aesthetics and high-quality craftsmanship. Claudia says, \u201cOur customers are people who take their time and allow themselves to be immersed in our environment and space. I\u2019ve always thought that we invite customer in, and then engage with them in a kind of individual dance\u201d.<\/p>\n The store is known for its ability to elegantly balance major fashion labels (including\u00a0C\u00e9line<\/a>,\u00a0The Row<\/a>,\u00a0Yohji Yamamoto<\/a>,\u00a0Issey Miyak<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Comme des Gar\u00e7ons<\/a>) with beautiful objects by unknown brands and craftsmen. One of Claudia\u2019s favourite aspects of the job is interacting with Murkudis customers, \u201cwho are multi-dimensional with a discerning eye, and often come from a diverse international background. They are well-travelled, refined and extremely curious.\u201d<\/p>\n As the manager and buyer, Claudia lives and breathes the Murkudis vision, and her personal style is no exception. A self-described \u201cC\u00e9linist\u201d, Claudia enjoys mixing high end pieces with those from \u201csmaller individual brands, who push fashion to the max, with passion and fun\u201d. She says her style has become sportier since working at Murkudis. \u201cWe have no work uniform or rules for clothing, there\u2019s a lot of flexibility. Amongst colleagues, we personally advise each other, and give ideas and tips. I think that creates a unique atmosphere that reflects the members of the Murkudis team. It\u2019s instinctive and subtle.\u201d Claudia\u2019s favourite items in stock are a\u00a0Lutz Huelle<\/a>\u00a0bomber jacket, a toothpaste by\u00a0Selahatin<\/a>\u00a0and a candle by\u00a0IIUVO<\/a>\u00a0titled \u201cBullshit\u201d. Claudia considers \u201copen-mindedness\u201d to be the most essential quality of character for members of the Murkudis team.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery":false,"settings":{"height":"100","images_to_show":"1","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":" Saying that Bert and high-concept brand BLESS\u2019s styles are aligned is an understatement. The French-German label by Ines Kaag and Desiree Heiss doesn\u2019t identify as a brand, but rather as \u201ca project that presents ideas and artistic values by products to the public\u201d. Their mono-brand store, BLESS Home, is located on the 3rd floor of an altbau apartment on the border between Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg.<\/p>\n Those \u201cin the know\u201d about BLESS and its hidden delight of a storefront are greeted by Bert, the BLESS home resident since August 2016. Every item in BLESS Home (and Bert\u2019s home) is a BLESS product for sale \u2014 with the exception of Bert\u2019s shoes, which are lined up neatly against the bedroom wall. Literally everything, right down to the wallpaper (properly titled n.29\u00a0Wallscapes<\/a>) and bedsheets, is functional in Bert\u2019s daily life \u2014 and also for sale. The BLESS home is filled with curious wonders, like hair brushes made of actual hair, a bike helmet made from a pillow and the BLESS Home staple: a hammock made of fur, titled n.28 \u201cClimate Confusion Assistance<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n Bert, an avid collector of \u201cflea market finds\u201d, thinks the aesthetic of the store matches well with his \u201caffinity for cleanliness and fascination for curious objects\u201d. His style has changed since living and working at BLESS. \u201cMy personal style ranges from military or worker\u2019s jackets to GDR knits and tartan shirts with eccentric collars. Since working with BLESS, I\u2019ve enjoyed mixing my personal pieces with theirs, like the Bless\u00a0Padded Jeans<\/a>\u00a0or the\u00a0Prince Charles Jacket<\/a>.\u201d You can visit Bert at BLESS between 4 and 8pm, where he\u2019ll greet you with a cup of tea, before encouraging you to snoop around his home.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery":false,"settings":{"height":"50","images_to_show":"1","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":" The Store at\u00a0Soho House Berlin<\/a>\u00a0is the kind of place you can spend all day in. It\u2019s a harmonious combination of design and concept, equal parts cafe, co-working space and high-end retail. Although these kinds of hybrid spaces are becoming more and more popular, The Store is exceptional because each of these pillars is taken equally seriously. The 2800-square-metre space is a hub of creativity; it caters to freelancers as much as those searching for an innovative retail experience in a city notorious for its shopping void.<\/p>\n The atmosphere is warehouse-meets-library, one which is edgy enough to reel you in and cosy enough to keep you there.\u00a0Aaron<\/a>, a fresh-faced staff member, says, \u201cThe Store is a place where people from different professions of the creative industry come together. It\u2019s more than just a shopping experience, it\u2019s really a brand in itself.\u201d<\/p>\n Brutalist concrete columns are broken up by hoards of plants; the best of Raf Simons and Martine Rose are arranged in the space between. Their knockout selection is creative and fearless \u2014 The Store is one of the few places in Berlin which embraces completely impractical fashion, stocking statement pieces from the likes of Balenciaga, Vetements and GmbH. Aaron says that he and the other team members at the Store pride themselves on being extremely knowledgeable about the variety of products in stock, an essential component of their approach to customer service.<\/p>\nVoo Store: Mi<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":false,"settings":{"fit_width":"4","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"
Darklands: Livio<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":false,"settings":{"fit_width":"4","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"
Andreas Murkudis: Claudia<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":false,"settings":{"fit_width":"4","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"
BLESS Home: Bert<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":false,"settings":{"fit_width":"4","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"
The Store: Aaron<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":false,"settings":{"fit_width":"4","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"