Design-conscious young Athenian FIT FOR BUSINESS entrepreneurs are reigniting their Working Title city, while Berlin is bringing its past Designer Antonia Goy and architect to life with a retrospective of 1970s Björn Kubeja – partners in business and life – founded Working Title art and a vintage-clothing shop. in 2018 on the principle that sustainability had to become the Writers Daphne Karnezis, Carlo Silberschmidt and guiding principle in their work. Sandra Winkler They set out to create plastic-free collections: no plastic zips, no glue EXHIBITION and no polyester. Everything is biodegradable, much is made-to- order and very little is wasted. And Claudia that’s not all. “If the client does not wear a piece any more, they can Skoda bring it back to us,” says Goy. Athens Goy and Kubeja are committed In late-1970s , the to scaling the business by having spectacular avant garde fashion customers assess the true worth of shows by knitwear designer DAILY BREAD DELI BELLY made-to-measure clothing. The duo also believes that they’re well prepared Claudia Skoda became cool underground meeting places, with Wild Souls to weather the fashion industry’s an audience including Iggy Pop, Gudrun Gut and . KORA battle to become environmentally For her unique knits, Skoda used new techniques as well as The shopfront of Wild Souls deli is as eye-catching as the jars of friendly. “It all starts with customers’ Lurex and elastane yarns or even raffia, straws and cassette tape. Journalist Maria Alafouzou nut butter, honey and jam that line its shelves. The deli’s high needs,” says Goy. “Many companies Her “fabrik” studio in Berlin was compared to Andy ceilings, terracotta walls and cacti-filled interior were designed by and medicine student-turned- have forgotten that.” Warhol’s Factory and she was called the Queen of Texture. Athens-based designers Studio Materiality, while the brand’s workingtitlestudios.com pastry chef Ianthi Michalaki identity was handed over to the Howdy Design Family. “I wanted Encouraged by Bowie, she set up a shop in New York in 1982. But have brought sourdough to the word ‘wild’ to reflect our ingredients, which we keep as close when the Wall came down she returned to Berlin to open her Athens at Kora. The chocolate to their natural state, as unprocessed, as possible,” says 32-year-old first German branch on Kurfürstendamm. sourdough, pastries, brioche, founder Areti Kiriotou, whose passion for making her own nut She is now the subject of an exhibition at the Kulturforum. croissants and pain au chocolat butter became the Wild Souls brand in late 2019. Cashew, In Claudia Skoda: Dressed to Thrill, 200 pieces by Skoda and the peanut, almond, hazelnut and sesame (tahini) butter are now are all made on site. “We aim among her most popular products (the jars can be refilled), as artists she worked with – such as Ulrike Ottinger, Jim Rakete and for quality over quantity,” is the range of salads and sandwiches. “All our recipes and – recreate the spirit of Berlin before reunification, when says Michalaki. ingredients are Greek and made in Greece,” she says. “art, music, fashion and film flowed together, and works were korabakery.com wildsouls.gr created through friendships,” as curators Britta Bommert and Marie Arleth Skov put it. “Skoda had an integrative power.” smb.museum TALKING SHOP NEW GROUND MIRINA St Torstrasse St Oberholz on Berlin’s Rosenhalter Platz, TSANTILI one of the first “working cafés” in , is regarded as the birthplace of the so-called This multi-brand “digital bohème” of bloggers, intellectuals and shop stocks fashion, authors. Now, 15 years later, its founders have opened another space on Torstrasse. accessories and “We are always looking for special spaces objects selected by for our locations,” says co-founder and ceo Ansgar Oberholz, who says that the cafe’s founder Mirina handcrafted furnishings are made from Tsantili. A modern, sustainable materials such as wood and slate. “The façade of St Torstrasse might look dreary industrial interior at first but at its core it is a great building allows the clothes to from the Bauhaus era.” take centre stage. sanktoberholz.de CONTEMPORARY ART “I like Scandinavian ALADDIN’S CAVE brands,” says Tsantili, Gagosian who studied fashion MIMI business in Milan Mimi Grese’s 20-year-old vintage-clothing shop Gagosian has had a gallery and Paris before is the insider destination that costume designers in Athens for more than a returning to Athens. for films and shows such asBabylon Berlin, The decade but its new, expanded Grand Budapest Hotel and Inglourious Basterds “They tend to be don’t want you to know about. But go in, rifle space is not to be missed. minimal and through the dainty cupboards, run your hands The listed art deco building over lace peignoirs, silk kimonos and hand- oversized but always crocheted curtains and try on top hats, velvet was renovated by Athens- top quality.” Expect gloves and silk-clad shoes – the likes of which based architect Stelios you might wear to a tea dance –and you’ll be Malene Birger, transported. At the back of the shop you’ll find Kois, who has retained its Cathrine Hammel, racks of the most incredible vintage dresses, art deco features. and homeware. men’s jackets and suits in perfect condition. gagosian.com mirinatsantili.com But keep it to yourself. mimi.berlin

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