A Place
Stockholm’s leading international designer boutique, A Place is deceptively located in Sweden’s oldest department store, Pub (Paul Urbanus Bergström), in the city center. The store-within-a-store has evolved from occupying a small corner to covering nearly the entire second floor with a number of Sweden and the world’s most avant-garde labels, including Resteröds, Anna-Sara Davik, Diana Orving, Bless, Raf by Raf, Opening Ceremony and many more. A Place’s buyer and co-founder Dan Jaget names Bauhaus-inspired The Local Firm as a personal favorite. Other offerings include Minimarket’s illustrated charity tees, NIKOLAJ d’Etoiles’ second line and the self-referential Three Sisters collection, produced by three sisters who are inspired by themselves.

Three by One
Situated in Stockholm’s commercial district, Three by One is a welcome diversion from its neighbors selling salted licorice and postcards of the royal couple. The just-opened shop and showroom—named after a denim weave—reflects the owners’ efforts to bring denim back to Sweden by stocking both hard-to-find brands (Denim Dream, Julian Red, Edwin, Indigofera) and classic international favorites (Levis, Acne, Wrangler). Beyond the comprehensive selection of jeans, the space offers a cerebral “true/fake” theme marked by cleverly painted oriental rugs, deceptive photo textures and faux wood paneling.

6/5/4
When outfitting their surf-cum-café store in the bustling SoFo shopping district, Niklas Malmqvist and Johan Orrestedt were insistent that everything in the space “have a soul.” Looking to Ralph Lauren Rugby’s rustic character for inspiration, they bought old rugs, trunks and knickknacks, combining them with a streamlined Swedish sensibility for an eclectic Nordic look. The free-association theme is also present in the stock, which features Malmqvist’s Nord surf brand along with sportswear by Supreme Beings and Red Collar Project, fashion labels Carin Westin, Swedish Hasbeens, Rules by Mary and others. The backroom is dedicated to wetsuits and surfboards shaped in Spain especially for Swedish conditions. Then there is the café, where people come from all over Stockholm to sip coffee prepared by baristas who are trained for up to five months. During the summer musicians play in the space and evenings feature a revolving door of events. As Malmqvist explains, “Something should always happen here.”

Sivletto
Located in an old garage a few blocks from SoFo and discreetly marked, Sivletto is easy to miss. But despite its demure outer appearance, its inside offers a full-sensory immersion into a ’40s and ’50s rockabilly/tiki/hot-rod world. Apart from over 25 types of canned hair grease and old-school records, the store features a salon, café, homewares corner and new and vintage clothing ranging from old Swedish sailor shirts to house dresses to Formula One leather jackets. A rockabilly devotion to denim is also in full effect, with classic Levis and Wranglers resting among local favorites: Nudie Jeans, Edwin and Cheap Monday.

Ekovaruhuset “House of Organic”
Nestled in the city’s Old Town, Ekovaruhuset has served as both a monastery and a punk band’s rehearsal space. Now—courtesy of owner Johanna Hofring’s ecological-meets-fashion vision—it is a serene, whitewashed shop populated by turquoise mermaid statues and art installations along with Hofring’s intricate knits, romantic classics by Anya Hynenen and clean separates from Camilla Norrback. Basics come by way of baby soft organic cotton/silk Eco Boudoir undies, tees from DEM Collective and jeans from cult denim brands Kuyichi and Loomstate. Beyond clothing, accessories and baby clothes, there are beauty products from Dr. Hauschka and hard-to-find teas by Pukka.

Ekovaruhuset

A Place. Image courtesy of Sweden.Closettour.

Rules by Mary shoes at 6/5/4

Three by One