Concept Store: “Concept is an idea. A notion that with the right tools can go from abstract and hypothetical to structured and organized. A concept store applies those two different states of being to a physical space where visitors can experience shopping on a whole new level. Thoughtful curation and design are at the core of any concept store worth its name and if done properly it offers more than just a retail service, it allows you to live and breathe that lifestyle.”

As consumers, we hate being called consumers. People don’t just want to consume the stuff you give them. They don’t want to just buy thoughtless product. They want an experience. To live in the space, to see things the way they were intended to exist, to fall in love with the idea of owning something. The rarer, the more exclusive, the better. That’s why concept stores have been on such a massive rise. In streetwear the need for spaces that encapsulate the different elements of its culture and providing customers with the very best, most distinct labels it has to offer is especially important. Around the world streetwear concept stores are cropping up and are becoming the ultimate fashion and lifestyle destinations.

Anamesa

Anamesa means between. Between the street and the underground, between fashion and homewear, between shopping and a hot cup of coffee, this space, in the centre of Athens feels like an ultra cool, ultra laid back boutique/café. Never compromising but rather combining Anamesa is a meeting point, a hub for urban aesthetic and streetwear. Gorgeous womenswear and menswear collections from exclusive European and Greek brands, curated with a minimalistic approach. Hand-picked accessories, unique home design objects and candles complete the store’s meticulous collection. Bring a friend, have some coffee and spend a few hours immersing yourself in the alternative shopping experience that is Anamesa Concept Store. 

Ministry of Concrete 

Athens based Ministry of Concrete is anything but the grey cityscape its name would suggest. It’s a vibrant, colorful boutique that collects the best of sneakers, streetwear and skate goods. Initially loved by sneakerheads for its premium selection of limited edition sneakers MOC has now become a cult destination for both locals and tourists looking for some sweet street gear. Amongst the brands you’ll find here are legendary international labels like Stussy, Parra, Butter Goods, Nike, Puma and Polar as well as Greek ones like Mohxa, Reigning and Athens Hood Boycott representing Athenian streetwear culture. With its wry, cynical tagline “finally a ministry you can count on” MOC is a concept store you can count on for a punchy antidote to boring style. 

Nous

When Colette shut a few years back it sent major shockwaves through the fashion world and left a huge gap. Nous, founded by two ex-staffers of the legendary Paris store is looking to fill that gap and then some. Located a few doors down from where Colette once stood, Nous is a passionate project that takes on street culture and luxury fashion putting its own lifestyle spin on the concept. From magazines and books, to sunglasses and expensive watches, to skateboard decks and tech merch the concept store is built around the idea of carefully selected designers and labels drawing in people’s curiosity. Visitors here are more than just customers, they are a community gathering at the cross-roads of art, design, street culture and fashion. 

Dangerous Minds

Un-conformity. A need to be unorthodox and uncompromising youthful. A thinking mind is a dangerous one and Dangerous Minds provides the paraphernalia for one’s passionate and youtful rebellion.  A high-concept, minimalist space in the heart of Athens, that’s made up of polished, clean lines and architectural features and lets the product speak for itself. A collection of wearable, everyday pieces for men and women, sneakers and accessories from the most sought-after streetwear brands today. The philosophy is clear. Experience style beyond the boundaries of fashion directives and trends, create your own unfiltered look, limited only by your imagination. 

Case Study Atelier 

Designed to look more like a gallery than a clothing store, Case Study Atelier whose flagship is located in Manila, Philippines is a uniquely styled concept store full of mid-century furniture and art, and an enviable selection of both international and newly-emerging local brands, including Chinatown Market, Bow3ry, Jungles, Tonal, Rare Panther, as well as their own eponymous line of must-have t-shirts. Highly wearable, with a contemporary street aesthetic Case Study’s products vary from the art-centric to the pop-culture infused, with frequent collaborations transforming the space into a unique shopping experience.

Actual Source

All around wonder Actual Source is an American clothing brand, design studio, independent publishing house and book store. A microcosm of collaborators who create anything from websites, to apparel, to brick-and-mortar spaces and publications, manifests in Actual Source’s physical location. A concept store with a crisp, minimal aesthetic which translates into the products they sell. Limited edition books and magazines, art, everyday objects, t-shirts and hoodies, all with a simplistic yet creative approach to design and graphics.