Twice a year, SEEK opens its doors for the press for an exclusive preview of their featured labels and breakfast on-the-go. After checking in for ΠStories, I received a paper bag equipped with a map, baguette brie and a bracelet for free drinks. Before I started my tour, I sat down together with Julia from Style.de for an americano. While drinking our coffee, my eyes were drawn to a corner with pastel coloured bags, where I decided to begin my expedition.
PB 0110 ( ) is a brand new label from Hannover, producing leather bags and small goods for women, men and children. The colour palette of their AW 2013 collection is comprised mostly of peachy nude, light turquoise, slate grey and white, all made of vegetable tanned natural leathers. The name of the label comes from the initials of its owner, Phlipp Bree, son of the acclaimed German bag-dynasty. 0110 is his birthday and coincidentally also the founding date of the label. The brackets stand for “becoming”. The concept is that the bags age in dignity. With time they become your personal bag, because the leather accumulate scars and good signs of usage. The bags will be available starting June 2013. We can’t wait to have one…or ten!
My second catch is another new label called Ambivalent, and was founded by a group of skateboarder friends in Berlin. Besides boarding, they also developed a passion for art and style, which inspired them to set up their own clothing line. Basic t-shirts and sweaters in black, white and heather grey are printed with abstract illustrations of geometrical shapes. Their look book is shot in such a pretty location, that I wouldn’t want you to miss it, photography by Stephanie Meine.
I was introduced to Hannibal several years earlier. Based in München, Simon Hannibal Fischer and Yvonne Perner launched their label, finding most of their inspiration in fairytales and old movies. Fischer and Perner take these inspirations and translate them into wearable and timeless menswear.
Usually Πserves as a platform for German designers, but these wooden sunglasses from SHWOOD are definitely on my wish list for this summer. Every step from veneering and precision lens cutting, to shaping and finishing is conducted in their own Portland-based workshop, delivering handcrafted wooden eyewear. The collection is comprised of vintage inspired classics and more modern models. Because of the wood medium, the spectacles are very light weighted and comfortable to wear.
Another one of my discoveries was menswear label YARDEN. Berlin based designers Daniel Ramirez Perez and Celina Böning founded YARDEN in 2012 and entered the market with their first collection during Berlin Fashion Week. Their collection offers classic dress shirts and t-shirts with printed surfaces, embroideries and handcrafted details adding to its sophistication.
And last, another label that is not from Germany, but that is too cute not to share with you- Happy Socks. Designed in Sweden, the label offers high quality socks for women, men and children who like to include a colorful surprise underneath their shoes. The company was founded in spring 2008, and ever since, they have been churning out playful socks with bold colored prints.
