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FASHION IN THE STELLING BUILDING

May 2023

 

Can you run a fashion shop on the first floor of a building in a city (and in a world) where ground-level shops are closing, one after another?
Can you run a business without launching a new collection every season?

You can if you’re Cathrine Lundgren-Andersen, the woman behind Andersen-Andersen, who for years ran a successful shop in a side street near Langebro bridge in Copenhagen, far from other shops that might draw shoppers in, and who also runs a well-established wholesale business.

This is not just any first-floor location, however – it is the first floor in one of the most iconic buildings in Copenhagen’s central shopping area, the Stelling Building on Gammeltorv, designed by Arne Jacobsen and built in 1937 as an office building and shop for the paint manufacturer A. Stelling.

For a number of years, Andersen-Andersen has had its offices and a showroom on the second and third floors of the Stelling Building, and recently, the firm added a shop on the first floor.
The entire floor has been gently renovated with great respect for the building’s original architecture but with modern colours and furnishings. The result elevates the historical setting, which is strong enough to shine through despite a coat of pink and orange paint – or, perhaps, because of it.

The collection consists, in all simplicity, of 30 knitted unisex pieces. The new space suits the collection well.
The idea is to combine the knitwear with varying exhibitions. That will make it even more inviting to climb the stairs to the first floor, even if your sweater from last year, or from five years ago, still looks great and does not need replacing (although you might want an additional one). If your old sweater has a hole, you can buy a beautiful mending kit that includes instructions, a neat little specialized tool, two darning needles, some yarn and a knitted patch.

 

Andersen-Andersen was founded in 2009 by Cathrine Lundgren-Andersen and her late husband, Peter Kjær-Andersen.
The collection is designed in Denmark and knitted in Italy from high-quality wool or cotton yarn.
The company’s website provides thorough explanations about materials, dyeing methods and design choices.

 

The shop has only been open for a few weeks when I visit. The furnishings are not quite in place yet, but it’s getting there, says retail manager Cathrine Louise Mahler, who also mentions that during 3daysofdesign in June, all three floors will be open and offering special events – programme pending. Keep an eye out for updates!

Kan man drive detailbutik i tøjbranchen på første sal i en by, (en verden) hvor butikkerne i gadeplan lukker på stribe?
Kan man lave forretning uden at skifte kollektion ud fra sæson til sæson?

Det kan man hvis man er Cathrine Lundgren-Andersen, kvinden bag Andersen-Andersen, og i øvrigt i en årrække med succes har drevet butik sidegade tæt på Langebro, langt fra andre butikker at dele kunder med, og hvis man har en veletableret engrosforretning.

Der er ikke tale om hvilken som helst 1. sal, men om førstesalen i en af strøgområdets mest ikoniske bygninger, Stellingshus på Gammeltorv, tegnet af Arne Jacobsen og opført i 1937 som kontorbygning og detailhandel for malerfirmaet A. Stelling.

Andersen-Andersen har i nogle år haft kontor og showroom på 2. og 3. sal, og nu tillige detailbutik på 1. sal.
Etagen er nænsomt renoveret i respekt for husets oprindelige arkitektur, men farvesat og indrettet moderne, hvilket klæder de historiske rammer, som er stærke nok til at gøre sig gældende på trods af en spand pink og orange, eller måske netop på grund af samme.

Kollektionen, som i sin enkelhed består af 30 strikkede unisexdele, gør sig godt i de nye rammer.
Tanken er at strikken skal have selskab af skiftende udstillinger, det vil øge lysten til at tage turen op ad trappen, også selvom ens sweater, fra sidste år eller fra for fem år siden, ser ud som ny og ikke skal erstattes (men måske suppleres). Er der gået hul i den gamle trøje, kan man købe et smukt reparationskit, som indeholder en vejledning, et fint lille specialværktøj, to stoppenåle foruden garn og strikket lap.

 

Andersen-Andersen er etableret i 2009 af Cathrine Lundgren-Andersen og hendes nu afdøde mand Peter Kjær-Andersen.
Kollektionen er tegnet i Danmark og strikket i Italien af højkvalitets garner i uld og bomuld.
Hjemmesiden her, forklarer udførligt om valg af materialer, indfarvningsmetoder og designmæssige valg.

 

Butikken har haft åbent i få uger da jeg er på besøg, ikke al inventar er 100% på plads, men det er på vej, forklarer Cathrine Louise Mahler, som er butikschef, lige som hun lufter, at der i de dage i juni, hvor København står i 3daysofdesign´s tegn, bliver lukket op på alle etager til et eller andet, som endnu ikke er lagt fast. Hold øje!

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