Vans AfterParty

To celebrate the end of Bright trade show, Vans held an after party. We were told about the event at Bright and that we could just turn up, so we headed to the club quite early as we had all just been out for dinner. Their was a guestlist at the door, but we still managed to get through, still unsure as to how, but im not complaining! There was a massive stage and DJS playing sets, I expected not be enjoy the music but i was suprised, it was a laugh! With a free bar (hello jagermeister cocktails!), my good friends and music, it shaped up to be a pretty awesome night in Berlin!

Bread and butter: VM

The visual merchandising featured at Bread and Butter was a reason in itself to attend, brand had obviously spend thousands to ensure that their few square foot of space stood out amongst their competitors. Many were inspiring and really helped to showcase their products, whilst walking round bread and Butter and trade shows Premium and Bright i discovered a few trends occuring in the way the products were styled, hung or displayed. These are my findings...

Storage/Luggage.



Food displays.

Colourways/Popular product: bleached denim

Bread and Butter: Puma

My favourite brand at Bread and Butter was Puma. I had a level of appreciation for the brand and their advertising before i travelled to Berlin, as i feel their after hours athlete campaign is a really interesting concept, which they have been running (probably walking!) with for while. To get you up to speed here is one of their videos...

Their stand at Bread and Butter was set up like a social club, you came into a room, with trophies and certificates on the wall, decorated like an old pub, inside was seating areas, a photobooth, were you could get your own afterhours photostrip, a stand where you could get free sandwiches and cocktails, then onto the next room which was set up like a night club, with models in lit coloured boxes wearing Puma and dancing and the DJ too. (see the above photographs)

Bread and Butter

I went to Bread and Butter trade show on behalf of disorder magazine. It was very exciting, it was held in the old airport of Berlin and was absolutely huge, it was split into different sections: The treasury (a new area for accessories), L.O.C.K, Fire Department - pure goods, D.O.C.K - grown-up streetwear labels, The Denim Base and more.

This Video explains the Bread and butter experience (with dramatic voiceovers)...

Berlin Fashion Week/Taxis

Berlin Fashion Week was on whilst we were in berlin and was just a short walk from our hotel, right by the Brandenburg Gate. Though not as prestigious as Fashion Weeks in Paris or Milan and the freezing cold weather, the Berliners still managed to look stylish in their many layers! Outside of Berlin Fashion Week their were Mercedes Benz taxis which you could catch for free to Premium trade show, so off we went. Felt quite luxurious, naturally our photographer/worlds biggest tourist Vicky, was on hand to make sure the event was documented.

Alcohol/Nightclubs

It is legal also to drink anywhere on the streets of Berlin or around the city. The nightclubs in Berlin, definetly favour the electronic/techno/dance styles of music. This is what is played at most venues, their is a strong following for this music across Germany. In general however the Germans are not a fan of the British, well groups of British girls it would seem. Many friends were turned away from clubs, with only a reason that they were British, or perhaps being too loud. The German culture is very reserved, until inside the club i resume. I guess they felt we would live up to the Brits Abroad stereotype they have seen around. Like i said this wasn't actually me, as i seem to have acquired the art of blagging myself into and/or out of anything in Berlin! See Metro tickets, Sebastian Ellrich and Vans AfterParty.

Prostitution

Prostitution and Brothels, in Berlin and all of Germany is legal. In 2002 the law was changed to make to improve the legal situation for prostitutes. Prostitutes can actually work as an 'employee' witha  contract to a particular or several men, though the vast majority work independantely. As prostitution is legal, and they are making money it counts as their profession so they are required to pay income taxes and charge for VAT. In Berlin their is a set amount prostitutes have to pay a day- roughly $30. Advertising for Brothels and Prostitutes is also seen in newspapers and around the city. One of the only things that is illegal about the sex trade in Berlin is Pimping, no-one is allowed to be in chrage of the prostitutes they must work for themselves.

There is even places in Berlin where there are parking meter type machines were a prostitute can pay her money for a certain amount of time, and then that is her corner, or strip of street! We were told all of this by our alternative tour guide, he has said since the law was abolished, there have been less problems as the situation can be monitored easier.

The Alternative Tour

We went on the alternative tour, and it definetly has to be a highlight of Berlin. You meet under the TV tower and are taken on a 3 hour-or-so walking tour of Berlin. It was amazing as with one tour guide and small groups it means the tour can be altered somewhat based on your groups interests. Our tour guide was very funny and informative. Told us lots of interesting facts about Berlin, advice on nights out, and showed us hidden parts of Berlin we may have missed otherwise. I learnt so much from the tour, and even better that it is a free tour, with an optional (though you areally should) donation at the end of the tour. Places we visited were Tascheles, The Berlin Wall, Mitte district, The Street art walkway etc. I really would advise the tour as a first thing to do to give you a feel for Berlin when you arrive.

TV Tower

The TV Tower or Fernsehturn i believe it is translated, is situated in AlexanderPlatz and is where the alternative tour begins. We found ourselves rushing towards this as we were running late (as always) for the tour. The TV tower was supposed to be 365 metres high (the same as the amount of days in the year, so to be easy to remember) however it is now 368metres! You can venture up the tower, it is seven stories high, and offers panoramic views of Berlin, aswell as having a restaurant inside. The TV tower is still the only TV Tower in Europe so is very unique and has over a million visitors a year.