Many people love the fact that a store can reflect the authenticity of the people behind it, a perfect example being Berlin-based retailer Burg & Schild. The shop was founded in 2007 by Kay Knipschild and Shane Brandenburg, whom during this time also launched the Red Wing Store in Berlin and Hamburg.
Burg & Schild Interior
Brandenburg describes his shop as “an authentic and consequent mens store with jeans and vintage from the heart”, which is exactly what someone feels when walking inside the store. Authenticity with considerable heart.
Burg & Schild retails brands like Tellason, Eat Dust, Pike Brothers, Viberg Boots, Our Legacy, 3sixteen, Buzz Ricksons, Aero Leather, Pendelton, Edwin and Stetson. Despite the abundance of brands the shop has in stock, Brandenburg keeps a special place for four brands that has been with him – and support of him – since the start of the store. Each holds a particular story.
Indigofera, a small Swedish brand, has supported Burg & Schild since the very beginning. Brandenburg and Mats Anderson, owner of Indigofera, became good friends through the years, consolidating a strong relation in and outside business.
Davida helmets and Pendelton blankets
Indigofera jeans with handmade Zip Stevenson belt
Red Wing Shoes, the American boot maker, showed their ties with the store by manufacturing a collaborative model. Burg & Schild is the only store in Europe that have their own model, the 2007, referring to the opening year of the store. This boot is limited to a 100 pair run.
Red Wing 2007, the only collaboration in Europe
The third brand that Brandenburg offers with close ties is Mister Freedom. Visiting L.A. at least once per year, Brandberg and Burg & Shild keep a great relationship with Mister Freedom‘s Christophe Loiron. Brandenburg admires his natural “coolness” and the way his authenticity is accurately reflected in his clothes.
Mister Freedom and Stetson
Last, but by no means the least, is Stetson; who was in support of Brandenburg prior to opening his shop and have produced a special hat for Burg & Schild.
There are several other notable collaborations Burg & Schild has created with important brands. For example, to commemorate their fifth anniversary, they released the Black / Black Kaihara Raw Denim with Edwin, a pair of Model 2007 boots with Red Wing, and black bandana together with Indigofera.
Collaborations wall Edwin, Stetson, Red Wing, Indigofera and the Anniversary T-shirt
Not to pigeonhole themselves as just a retailer of jeans, the store also carries a selected collection of vintage garment; curated by Brandenburg every year at the Rose Bowl Flea Market in California. What once started as a hobby, vintage goods have now become an important part of the selection offered by the shop. Deck jackets, leather coats, motorcycle jackets, CPO jackets, flannels, belts, t-shirts, helmets and much more find their way across the Atlantic to Burg & Schild’s shelves.
Vintage leather jackets
Vintage deck jacket and accessories
Brandenburg can’t hide his excitement when he talks about motorcycles. He admits to be a crazy about them, and as proof there is a fabulous motorcycle on display at the store. He himself designed the bike using a Knucklehead 1945 as a base before having it built by “Motortechnic Mfg.” “I’m in love with that bike, it is everything that I wanted, exactly…” he explains before sets out to describe and explain all the customization involved on it.
The motorcycle that Brandenburg designed, based on a Knucklehead 1945
Burg & Schild exudes an interesting authenticity that is a melting pot of various eras and sub-cultures from the last century. If Berlin is ever on your radar of cities to visit, do yourself a favor and drop by shop.
