Berliner Style

Since the Berlin Wall came down on 9th November 1989, this reunited city has become the site of immense creative output, facilitated by an unprecedented availability of affordable and virtually non-policed space. Artists, designers and musicians from around the world relocated to Berlin, as East Berliners rediscovered their freedom and West Berliners reinvented their city. Whole new neighbourhoods of what was once no man’s land sprouted vast studio and gallery spaces, and welcomed willing young audiences ready to participate, party and community build. Over a decade on and Berlin is once again Germany’s capital. It’s now bristling with new developments, chic restaurants and innovative stores and is a magnet for cultural tourists. But the creative impetus is still strong, fuelled by a quality of life that combines the best urban amenities with a freedom to bend the rules. Groups of friends run non-regulated bars, the streets are canvases for graf artists and speedy communications technologies keep everyone connected, and facilitate much cross-disciplinary collaboration. Featured creatives include ic-berlin and their revolutionary eyewear; furniture and product designers Vogt & Weizenegger who love to play with neopreen; graphic and web designers Henning Wagenbreth, Eboy, Cyan and Superschool; multi-media magazine Shiftl; Redesign Deutschland, who started from scratch with an empty shop; Marti Guixe, the designer of Camper stores world-wide; fashion designers Frisch, Von Rot and Uli Dziallas; milliner Fiona Bennett; and record labels Bungalow, Kitty-yo, Parfum and Fire Station, to name but a few.