8 1/2 concept store

Formerly only pop-up stores for eight and a half weeks around Berlin and other cities, 8 ½ now has a permanent home - a concept store for young designer fashion and accessories, mostly from Berlin. The shop is gorgeous and stocks some really talented young designers, such as Esther Perbandt, Clarissa Labin (wonderful knits) and juliaandben, as well as an array of art books, vinyl and cds.

I had fun with the salesgirls and bought a 3D print dress, for summer and post-baby, by London store Beyond the Valley. Come on spring, let's bring on the sun and new life!

Kollwitzstrasse 42, 10405 Berlin-Prenzlauerberg
Open from 11.00-19.00

Nutsa Modebadze

Thanks to one of my favourite blogs, Simply Olive, I discovered the stunning work of Russian designer Nutsa Modebadze, who makes my ideal leather bags and shoes. Goody, now I don't need to make my ideal bag!

Mimi Antique Textiles & Dress

I love this city for its endless treasures tucked in side streets, and so I say one must discover Berlin by bike. I was riding past this beautiful little Schöneberg boutique for antique clothing called Mimi today, and had to stop for a peep. It is filled with a serious step-back-in-time collection of clothing which is commonly sought after by film and theatre people, including the likes of Quentin Tarrantino for Inglorious Bastards, for example...

They sew clothing & accessories from historical models, buy, sell and hire costumes, wedding clothing & vintage clothing.

Goltzstrasse 5, 10781 Berlin Schöneberg
Open Mon-Fri: 12.00-19.00
Sat: 11.00-16.00

Crumpler Bags

A fine and very successful Aussie company founded in 1995 by two ex-bike couriers David Roper and Will Miller, Crumpler bags are now iconic - whether it's a courier bag, computer bag, camera bag, backpack or other myriad accessories' holders... they have what you need.

Having arrived in Sydney with my backpack in tatters, I knew I wanted to buy a Crumpler to replace it, and I found my ideal - a Baby Anchovy, small, cute, with a scary face for any driver who tries to knock me down on my bike, in great colours (I chose the red & yellow one), with a lifetime guarantee - what more could anyone want?

Click here for the Flash site - the full works!

My leather scarves at Beuteltiere

Beuteltiere means Marsupials in German, you know those cute animals who carry their young in a pouch - we have a few famous ones in Australia - the kangaroo, koala, possums, wombats...

In this case though it's the name of the stylishly selected bags and accessories laden at Raumerstrasse 19 in Berlin Prenzlauerberg, where I now have a couple of my popular, limited edition, elegant leather scarves for sale, thanks to my dear friend Frau Dietel.

The shop is run by two lovely women Barbara Müller and Katrin Hufer who met as students of design studies. These women have a keen eye for quality, beauty and practicality in their selection of bags, wallets, scarves and jewellery from around the globe. They enjoy promoting the work of lesser known designers and thus it's in their store that you'll find unique pieces that others won't have!

The store is regularly updated with thematic decors, often in collaboration with creators of wondrous things such as origami Daschunds by Munich artist Jasmine T.

Social Designer

I just entered the latest competition (Freedom) on Social Designer. It's a website that "curates and creates smart products that tune into the greater good. You can join the cause by submitting designs for our competitions, weighing in with your opinion, purchasing goods or just simply talking about them. After all, every good idea (and every good cause) starts with a conversation – the more, the merrier." Social Designer is brought to you by the New York office of Felissimo, a global company that strives to promote social responsibility through good design.

They conduct competitions to design t-shirts and tote bags to support worthy causes. Go on, have a go and enter one!! And if you could imagine my design above on a t-shirt then please vote for my design... thank you!!

Daniel Heer

When I was working at the wonderful Bless shop this lovely shy stylish young man Daniel Heer came in one day, and hankered after one of my favourite pieces too... but the thing I first noticed about him was his gorgeously simple bag. I asked him about it and lo and behold it was his own creation - so he's another Berlin treasure. His bags hit a nostalgic spot in me for an old 1950s school satchel that I found in my French grandmother's apartment when we had to clean it out after she died (a long while ago now)... they are beautiful, practical and artisanal.

Isaac Reina

Contrary to many women I am not much of a bag girl, however also in Paris I discovered my ideal bags a few years ago... A Spaniard who calls Paris home, depuis longtemps aussi, Isaac Reina makes such beautiful simple, minimal, functional bags and wallets... Highly recommended! I love his design philosophy on his site too.

http://www.isaacreina.com/