In the heart of the old town of Amsterdam, in the shopping district of Negen Straatjes (“the nine streets”, in Dutch), there is a small shop with a view of the canal. It’s here, in this 17th century buildinge century with a brick red facade, that Ulrika Lundgren found the ideal setting to install her brand, Rika Studios, founded in 2005. The space, of modest size, blurs the lines by offering both her personal collections of ready-to-wear, a selection of jewelry, beauty and decoration items, and works of art. The designer is also a curator, choosing with particular care products in accordance with her artisanal and minimalist philosophy.
“It’s anything but a concept store or a brand store. For me, it’s a real old-fashioned boutique, with a very intimate proposition. I love all the items I display, there is a story behind each one… I want my customers to buy something special that they will remember. Buying for the sake of buying, what’s the point? “, advances the one who even appreciates being described as “outdated”.
She also states: “ I don’t create fashion but clothes. Fashion is by nature ephemeral and changing, and I like things that last. » The founder of Rika Studios has created a simple and classic wardrobe, of great elegance, which she renews sparingly every six months, offering new colors and sometimes new shapes. All of its pieces are made in very limited quantities in Italy, with materials and threads produced locally in a family workshop, a long-time partner.
Expert esthete
With Ulrika Lundgren, nothing is left to chance. She could talk for hours about the details she imagines to improve the fit or comfort of her models: pants without side seams for more fluidity, shirts with custom buttons (created by jeweler Orit Elhanati, based in Copenhagen), cashmere sweaters with a touch of merino or peacoats with extra-large pockets for going out without a bag. Ulrika Lundgren is an esthete and an expert in finishes: “When my workshop does not have the necessary know-how to create a piece that I want, I team up with the craftsman who has the best knowledge in the matter. »
And who will also share her ideal of classic beauty, mixing restraint and demands. Thus, Rika Studios offers an impeccably cut trench designed by the specialist Mackintosh, moccasins signed by the Spanish artisanal label Terra Amsterdam (to be worn with cashmere socks, according to Ulrika Lundgren), Port Tanger sunglasses, handmade in Japan but inspired by Moroccan life (the brand was founded by the creative Bilal Fellah), classic leather bags from Swede Susan Szatmáry…
You have 60% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.