The Munich concept store Falkenberg offers a range of fashion, furniture and home accessories at its location on Franz-Joseph-Straße, which is curated by Sabine Falkenberg and her team. The special thing about the store is the adjoining old apartment, which is used as a showroom to present interior design concepts. In the interview, the owner explains what is behind this concept, what role trends play in it and why she does not currently offer fashion in her online shop.
Falkenberg brings furniture and fashion together in one store.
The unique idea – twelve years ago – was to create an integrative department store that, right from the start, combined fashion and furniture collections on an unprecedented level.
Customers can find furniture and lights – which until now have only been sold in traditional furniture stores – such as those from Cassina, Louis Poulsen and Thonet, from us. We also present high-quality yet wearable fashion from Paul Smith, Marni, Plan C, Johnstons of Elgin and Odeeh, among others. Furniture and fashion stand side by side on an equal footing. The range is supplemented by niche products and exciting newcomers. We also carry some collections exclusively for southern Germany, such as the furniture by Danish designer Finn Juhl.
To do this, you rely on a concept consisting of a store and ‘apartment’ showroom…
The ‘apartment approach’ is the ideal form for this. It was realized by directly connecting a classic store with a wonderful Art Nouveau old apartment. It’s always an ‘ooh and ahh’ experience for customers because it’s not what they expect from the store. Here I present new collections and indulge in fabric and textile designs. We work with galleries whose art I can select and present for my premises.
What intentions do your customers have when coming to the store? Are they looking for a home accessory and then take the matching cardigan with the sofa cushion?
Our customers appreciate our way of treasure hunting. It is important to filter out from the large and diverse range of manufacturers and collections what is rarely found and fits harmoniously into a larger whole. There is so much to discover outside of the design mainstream.
It is important to provide a framework for these beauties, which have sustainability, tradition and craftsmanship as a common denominator, to curate them so that customers themselves develop this desire for discovery and are inspired by the haptic and visual experience. It’s actually a kind of ‘slow shopping’.
What criteria do you use to select the items of clothing?
I like items of clothing that are made according to the atelier principle – be it a dress, a skirt, a jacket or a scarf. The fabrics used are processed by the best weavers and silk printers; production takes place exclusively in European ateliers, manufactories and master workshops. The result of this consistently implemented desire for ‘anti-industriality’ is fashion that not only meets the highest demands in terms of appearance, but also in terms of craftsmanship. The goal is to present products that are enjoyable not just for one season but for many years to come, while perfectly complementing your own personal style and being wearable but with a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’.
Do you pay attention to the interaction with home accessories in the store?
I really enjoy styling, rearranging and placing things again and again. The store has three beautiful large shop windows, which is just perfect for this.
Do trends also play a role?
Trends play a relatively minor role; they can be inspiration; we primarily follow our own instincts.
There is no fashion in your online shop, why?
Fashion is fun – all the more so when you offer customers the opportunity to experience textiles with all their senses, to experience the feeling of wearing a piece of clothing and to find a treasure that will accompany them for many years. That’s why we currently offer fashion offline.
Our online shop is constantly being developed, carefully considering various criteria. Home accessories and fragrances are already integrated.
The holidays are just around the corner. Which pieces should not be missing from the wish list of fashion and design enthusiasts?
The Radiofonografo by Brionvega, the Trunk Bag by Marni, the Reclining Stag by Nymphenburg, the Pelican Chair by Finn Juhl and the PH 2/1 table lamp from the Pale Rose Edition by Louis Pouslen.
But the difficult overall economic situation is also becoming more and more noticeable in the higher price segment. What are your expectations for the holiday season?
Personally, I’m looking forward to the festive season before Christmas. To make your loved ones happy, we convey the tradition of giving gifts thoughtfully and happily in the store. This reflects our advice and commitment from choosing Christmas surprises to lovingly wrapping the gifts.
I’m less worried about the overall economic situation than the changed world situation, which may affect customers’ purchasing behavior. But I can’t confirm this yet.
The interview was conducted in writing.