Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair (Stockholm, Sweden)

When I lived in Germany, I used to frequent an area that specialized in Swedish fashion - and no, I don't mean H&M. These boutiques stocked the sleekest most avant-garde clothes you could imagine, so for the longest time, I was convinced that everyone in Sweden ran around looking really edgy and artistic. Of course as with most countries, the spectrum of looks you end up finding there is far broader. I sighted everything from tacky 80s nylon to sophisticated business attire. Imagine my delight when I finally visited Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, a label I knew only from the limited collections stocked in select high-end department stores, and found entire racks of cool clothes that embodied everything Swedish design should represent.

SS10 runway looks (images: Copenhagen Fashion Week).

FW10 lookbook (images: Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair).

Founded in 2004 by Astrid Olsson and Lee Cotter, the label initially only released knitwear and jersey pieces for women. The brand name is inspired by an old family-run shoemakers shop in London which passes on its knowledge of craftsmanship with each generation. As such, Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair follows much of the same values in being a "dedication to traditional tailoring, pattern making and the old ways of the trade." According to the missions statement the priority lies in their love of quality and details - something that is immediately evident once you view the lookbook filled with clothes ranging from quirky and feminine to minimalist and androgynous.

Overview of the ground floor.

Cute and colorful floral Liberty prints.

These days the brand can be found worldwide and the collections now also include menswear. For the best range though, nothing beats heading to one of the flagships in the heart of Stockholm. While I visited the first ever boutique (in the hip 'Sofo' area) as well, I decided to review the larger concept store instead, which only opened a year ago. Housed in an old building, the interiors are of course anything but ancient. Stark white walls contrasted with the clothes perfectly, while the black architectural shelves featured accessories and footwear.

More from the ground floor. Gotta love those architectural racks and shelves.

One floor down... more florals and nude shades.

The ground floor while small gives a good indication of what the rest of the collection holds. A current selection of Liberty printed pieces, including suitcases and accessories might be a little too matchy with the floral dresses but stood out perfectly amongst the black blazers and trousers. I fell in love with a cool looking trench and marveled at the impeccably tailored suits and deconstructed coats. Although black and white dominated most of the looks, touches of color such as bright yellows or reds could be found in between. The general aesthetic reminded me strongly of Japanese designs, most notably Comme des Garçons / Junya Watanabe, with a charming Nordic touch thrown in.

The jeans area (left) and the minimalist changing rooms (featuring some random guy).

So much to choose from. More goodies included LBDs and suede wedges.

Much like the ground floor, the decor on the lower level is relatively spartan and simple, which allows the clothes to do all the talking. I found a great range of nude colored dresses and jackets, along with black parachute skirts and a number of draped knitwear. If this seems a little too basic or dark (though the beauty lies in details such as the unique hemming or shape), there were more Liberty printed floral gowns to choose from. Entire shelves of jeans were displayed towards the back and the cute wedges, hats and purses scattered throughout the sales area provided a nice distraction.

Overview of the lower level from the back. The parachute skirts were quite popular as were the classic knits (right).

With pricing falling somewhere between high street and designer, you will definitely get your money's worth, considering the high-end materials and sharp tailoring. And for the ultimate, there's always their "Shoe Repair by the No." line, a very experimental couture collection only available on special order, which showcases the more dramatic theatrical looks. Though Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair can be found in retail spaces around the world, ranging from Barneys to Selfridges and even outlets like Yoox, the easiest way to get your hands on some of the lovely pieces is via the official online store, so take a look if you want to treat yourself to something that's both cool and long-lasting.

The very cool "Shoe Repair by the No." line featuring handmade couture designs (images: Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair).

Address: Mäster Samuelsgatan 2, 111 44 Stockholm
Opening Hrs: Mon-Fri: 11:00-19:00, Sat: 11:00-17:00
Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair Homepage & Online Shop