DC4 is a premium denim shop in Berlin, Germany that has been offering the best of Japanese brands since 2004. Daniel Cizmek, the man behind the store, embarked on this project due to his self-proclaimed “denim addiction”. He initially kicked off retailing brands including Somet and Pure Blue Japan, before finally managing to stock Iron Heart.
As time passed, he gained more experience and knowledge about Japanese fabrics, and with the help of his crew, Ollie Paff and Frank Heitmann, Cizmek put together years of experience to create the best possible store.
They eventually became an official retailer for brands like The Flat Head, Dry Bones and Samurai Jeans; as well a gamut of other beloved labels, including Studio D’artisan, Souvenir Jackets, R.J.B., Manifold, Joe McCoy and soon Toy McCoy.
Cizmek was introduced to denim at a young age from his own father. He vividly recalls being told “real men wear denim” by his Croatian dad when he was just 5 years old. Over time his interest naturally evolved into a passion, and after a brief stint in fashion design school, he decided that denim was his business.
Samurai Denim Collection
Though his experience and passion can be seen and felt within the shop (and its success), one critical ingredient to the success thus far of DC4 has been his special care for his customers beyond a closed sale. Cizmek gives each customer the capability to customize their leather patches with material (calf or deer), edge finishing, graphic design, and other personalized options (e.g. include monogram of their own name).
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A soaking room is already on the go as well, giving clients with little to no knowledge about the shrinkage process better access to unsanforized denim. Of course DC4 also offers a free chainstiching and repair service for all the jeans purchased at the store, using their own vintage “Black Head” Union Special 43200 specially tweaked for their mechanical expert, Frank. To top it all, an embroidery service is also offered.
The Berlin shop also makes an effort to maintain special relationships with their brands, including The Flat Head. At the time we were there, a crew from the Japanese label were visiting the store, exhibiting their new products in the Bread & Butter event together with DC4.
From left to right: Frank Heitmann, Daniel Cizmek, Takeshi Kojima (R.J.B.Designer), Yamada Shunsuke, Masake Horiuchi (TFH president Kobayashi’s right hand man) and Ollie Paff.
Cizmek does have a second love after denim, namely motorcycles. At the moment, he’s eagerly awaiting a specially built bike from Herzbube Motorcycles next summer called the “Twiggy”. He’s so excited for the completion date that he intends to display his custom steed at the Race 61 Festival in Finowfurt.
The denim and rockabilly worlds will also be tied in as the rockabilly band, The Rob Ryan Roadshow, are slated to perform; co-sponsored by both DC4 and the The Flat Head.
From left to right, Rob Ryan(The Rob Ryan Roadshow), Bernhard Elflein(Herzbube Motorcycles) and Ralf Summers(The Rob Ryan Roadshow)
Needless to say, if you are ever in Berlin and on the lookout for Japanese premium denim or simply high calibre goods, DC4 is your place to go. Period.
