Closed (Hamburg, Germany)

Here's just a quick addendum to my Hamburg trip I thought was worth posting. Because the city is more famous for designer goods on the one end, or vintage and independent clothing on the other, I wanted to highlight a Hamburg brand that doesn't belong to any of these categories. Though Closed was originally founded in Italy in 1978, it was three business partners that took over the company in the 80's and opened up the global headquarters in Hamburg's upscale Eppendorf area, thus creating a trendy German basics label.

Closed Spring '09 collection (images: Closed)

Closed can be considered the nation's answer to Replay or A.P.C. and like many brands, it's roots lie in producing jeans. The classic Pedal Pusher was the first jeans style that made the brand popular, but these days you'll find a large number of other denim collections to choose from. As with most initially unknown brands, Closed was also subsequently discovered by celebrities and everyone from Sarah Jessica Parker to Katie Holmes has been spotted wearing the brand's comfortable jeans.

left: SJP and Katie Holmes wearing Closed jeans, right: the Jeans machine

Most recently, the label started making headlines by developing the world's first ever vending machine for jeans, aptly named 'The Magnificent Jeans Machine', which was introduced during this year's Berlin Fashion Week. Currently the prototype is still on tour, but the idea is to actually produce more machines and place them in train stations or airports, so consumers in need of a quick denim fix can quickly purchase the product without having to go to a store. I have no idea if this will be a success - I personally need to try jeans on, even if it's a brand or style I already own, but I know a lot of people who don't, so who knows? At the very least this will definitely be a PR boost for the company.

But hype and marketing aside, Closed is essentially a high-end retail brand specializing in sophisticated casual wear. The designs are simple, but there's a lot of attention to detail and the aim is to produce comfortable, wearable clothes with an innovative twist, either with regard to material or cut. When I visited the flagship in downtown Hamburg this time around, the first thing I noticed were the bright colors. Tables displayed a wide array of vibrant knitwear in the softest materials, very suitable for Spring and chillier Summer weather.

As with most basic stores, this one was well laid out, with the entire jeans section towards the back and big tables displaying tops and cardigans near the entrance. Because of the wooden floors and simple decor, which resembled home furnishings more than it did retail props, the feeling I got was more like browsing someone's very busy living room than hanging out in a boutique. I found quite a few patterned and more hippie styled tops and scarves, such as the blue Lanvin inspired dress featured in the ad campaign above or the vest in the collage below. Rest assured that not all items are your typical basic gear, as they do stock a lot of pretty dresses and funkier tops.

One thing I noticed was that their shoe selection has grown drastically. While they still stock a small selection of other brands (such as UGG), they had their own range of strappy sandals, wedge heels and fringed ankle boots.

The staff are helpful and if you need any advice when it comes to the various jeans styles, cuts and colors, they'll be happy to help. Like most labels, Closed have jumped on the bandwagon creating clothes that reflect this season's hottest trends, including heavily bleached jeans and colorful jumpsuits. While the materials used are usually cotton, wool, cashmere or even alpaca, there are a few sheer blouses and silk tops or dresses to choose from. I spied a beautiful pale ruffled tank top in a light chiffon material that would make a very versatile Summer staple.

The good news is that Closed has an online shop that ships worldwide, so take a look if you need some great well-made basics. Yoox also stocks last season's stock and if you're near one of the stores (they have several outside Germany and their range is available in various department stores), I can definitely recommend a visit. Otherwise, you'll just have to wait for that vending machine to hit a train station near you...

(individual images: Closed online shop)

Address: Bergstraße 11, 20095 Hamburg
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 10:00-20:00
Closed Homepage and Online Shop