Miracolo 40, Vintage in Neukölln

One of the adjectives that best fit the city of Berlin is vintage. Like it or not, that’s a fact. It’s a city that seems to be living still on its own past. You can easily feel that while you walk through its streets, it’s in its buildings, it’s in its cafés, and it’s even reflected on the advertising. Moreover, you can perceive it too observing people’s behaviour. We refer not only to being trendy and wearing vintage clothes, but to the consumption habits. For instance, we have observed a -let’s call it- “Technological-Hippism”: old mobile phones, the low use of credit cards, the lack of wifi in bars,… Taking it all into account, Berlin is a city out-of-date.

But let’s go back to Vintage. We all know that if there’s a trend nowadays, it’s the nostalgia. “The Nostalgia”. That’s the reason why it has become so famous. But what comes into question is what Vintage is. Broadly speaking, we would think that Vintage is something from second-hand. However, this word means exclusivity, quality, value and style too. Last month we spoke about this with Roby and Simo, the guys from Miracolo 40, a Berlin’s first-rate Vintage shop. We got to know them in Toast & Jam and some days after it we had the pleasure of interviewing them.

 

 

What is Miracolo 40? 

It’s a street in Napols, where we lived during the last years. There was a big flat, a beautiful flat, with 200 square meters. Something very personal happened there. Then, when we decided to move to Berlin, we wanted to keep this name with us.

 

Why did you open the store? 

We used to work in this business for many years. We were always looking around stuff we loved and then we kept them. Finally, we decided to became this passion into a business. I think that Berlin is the best city for this at the moment.

 

When did you open the store?

The 26th of November, it’s only for two months now. But we’ve been in Berlin since September.

 

Why did you decided to open the store here in Neukölln?

Because it was the first place we found. So we decided to try here. And also, I think it’s a very young area. There is a lot of life. And it’s very close to Kreuzberg too.

 

What kind of clothes do you sell? 

Label clothes. We try to find stuff from the 80s and 90s, from Vivianne Westwood to Gaultier, Chanel, Valentino… Most of the research is still in Italy because we know a really good place to find some stuff there.

 

So everything comes from Italy? 

Yes, most of all. But now we are starting to search in Berlin as well, it’s also interesting. And we are planning do some research in Stockholm too. But for label clothes the best is still in Italy.

 

Which brands can we find here?

Balenciaga, Hermès, Armani, Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Fendi, Versace, Dior..

 

From which decade are your wares?

I don’t think that’s is important. The important thing is the piece, the dress. If it’s good. I want a dress because it’s a piece of art, not for the decade.

 

What is your opinion about Vintage?

I don’t really like this word too much. There is a lot of confusion. Many people wear second-hand clothes but not Vintage. Because the Vintage is different, it’s many many years of research. Nowadays saying Vintage is like say nothing. We could say that our shop is not really Vintage as well, it has very different stuff.

 

So how would you define Vintage?

Yes it’s difficult. Maybe it’s the idea that the dress is like piece of collection

 

Do you think that for Vintage Berlin is the place to be?

Yes, I think so. For fashion in general. I think Berlin is the most creative city in the moment. The city offers you many opportunities. And it’s not so commercial as other cities.

 

So what about other cities? Do you think that is possible this kind of business in other cities?

I think that it’s possible in London, of course. Because London is London, you know. But now it’s too crowded. There are so many shops and business.

 

Why do you think people wear this kind of clothes?

I think that maybe there is some nostalgia towards the old times. Wearing these clothes has something romantic. It’s a more personal way to dress too.

 

Do you think that some people just wear it because it is a trend?

Yes of course. Because it’s on fashion now.

 

Do you think that the clothes that you sell have more value now that in the moment they appeared? 

Yes. The value has increased and also its cost. Ten years ago, when I started researching for vintage clothes, it was very cheap. Now it is much more expensive.

 

After finishing with the interview, Roby and Simo showed to us with pleasure some of their best garments. Gorgeous and very elegant clothes, all of them with a superb quality. Each dress had its own personality and history. They were really unique works of art difficult to find: exclusive costumes from Jean Paul Gaultier, Margiella, Valentino, Kenn Scott, pieces from Andre Courreges “Space Age” collection and items from the first collection of Dolce & Gabbana.

During the time we spent with them at Miracolo 40, we could see how passionate they are with their work. They both have a wide knowledge about fashion. It was a great pleasure to get to know them.

Text and pictures by Silvia Conde.