Overcoming your inner sloth with a monster? It could work if you’re walking on clouds, I’d say. And that’s where the Cloudmonster 2 comes in: It wants to take you over the asphalt like a cloud. That’s exactly what On set out to do in 2010. But I can testify that the shoes also take you to the fifth floor of an old building pretty well. Bouncy! After a decade and a half, the idea of a new type of running shoe has become a global player in the sportswear and lifestyle sector – with a worldwide presence and success. And now proud Berliners too, as the first store in Germany opened here on 14.03.2024. The “On Community Store” is practically in the middle of Mitte at the subway station Weinmeisterstraße and is the place to go on two floors for anyone looking for the right equipment for their next run. In addition to the aforementioned Cloudmonster 2 – with neon orange accents, for example – there are also matching outfits from head (caps) to toe (socks) and all body parts in between. Color-coordinated, if you like. While everything to do with running products can be found on the first floor, On has also planned space for events in the basement, in addition to the focus on trail running, training, all-day performance and tennis. Because sport can be perfect me-time, but also social time in the best and most genuine sense.
That’s why On also hosts its own Run Club, which now has a permanent venue here. It is hosted by On Ambassador Björn Menges and starts every Thursday at 18h30, with more community-driven events to follow. At the opening, there was already a foretaste of this with its own T-shirt print station. But if you want to have your very own moment with On first, to get to know the brand: at the silver Magic Walls, you can discover the different shoes, try them on and find your perfect fit – whether for the office run, everyday walk or trail run (then with a waterproof upper). Once you have your shoe of choice on your feet, the only thing missing might be the tunes in your ears. But the On Team has taken care of that too: Jayda G., a Grammy-nominated DJ, producer and environmental toxicologist, has teamed up with a team of neuroscientists from London’s Kinda Studios. The result is this track that will hopefully take your brain to the next level. So listen to it and get used to walking on clouds in the future.
Text: Nina Trippel / Photos: Joe Clark/On, Robyn Steffen, Shirin Esione
On, Neue Schönhauser Str.19, 10178 Berlin; map
Mon–Sat 11-19h
@on
Since the very beginning, 2024 has been all about clarity and simplicity for us. That’s why we now drink water from our water station here in the Cee Cee Studio — a solution specially designed for offices and restaurants by Berlin-based company Leogant. Founded in 2009 by Thomas Hartwig, Leogant is a certified B-Corp — in other words, it’s a company that takes sustainability seriously and meets specified criteria, from the use of green electricity to CO2 avoidance. Above all, Leogant represents an elegant solution for water filters and water treatment for offices, homes and creative spaces of all kinds. The company calls its water treatment “close to nature” and this is one of its unique selling points. For us, however, it is above all a beautifully designed solution. Our station fits perfectly into our sleek black kitchen unit. But what do appearances matter if the taste isn’t right? With Leogant, we’re afforded the luxury of both! And that’s how Leogant water makes our tea and coffee taste a lot better. After all, Berlin’s tap water is a bit of a hard case, as we know… The trigger for us to switch from mineral water to Leogant was also one of convenience. Ordering the right amount of water at the right time from the delivery services isn’t always easy. But it’s not just the added tasks of calculating and ordering that have been eliminated, but collecting the half-empty bottles from the office desks. Now every studio member fills up exactly what they want to drink. With sparkling, cold or pure room-temperature water. Not to mention an unexpected perk of the Leogant water station: We now not only meet at the coffee machine but also at the water station for a little chat. In other words, we get up more often, so we keep moving. And as we all know, moving is good for your back, eyes and team spirit. Cheers to a sip of freshly filtered water!
Text: Nina Trippel / Photos: Sophie Doering
Leogant, Linienstr.56, 10119 Berlin–Mitte; map
@leogant.official
If you appreciate Berlin’s vintage scene but need a break from digging through endless boxes, then you might be interested in Tinker and Borrow, a vintage shop (and more) that opened last summer in Gesundbrunnen. I stopped in one day to browse and ended up chatting with the friendly owner, Sabrina. Maybe we just have shared taste, but I like the way the store feels: an aesthetic curation of vintage, handmade, and upcycled; a cozy ambiance that doesn’t feel pretentious or exclusive. Also cool: Tinker and Borrow is more than just a nice-looking store where you can buy pretty things. Sabrina places a big focus on community and knowledge sharing, and the store regularly hosts open events ranging from upcycling workshops to literary readings to knitting club meetups. It’s an eclectic mix, and that’s a good thing. It means there’s likely something perfect for you.
Luke Johnson has been living in Wedding since 2017 as a photographer and aspiring naturalist. He recently completed a master’s degree in natural resource management at the Humboldt University of Berlin and is currently seeking a job in nature conservation.
Text & Photos: Luke Johnson
Tinker and Borrow, Martin-Opitz-Str.21, 13357 Berlin–Gesundbrunnen; map
@tinkerandborrow
@luke________johnson
Her fascination with nail art began at the age of ten after watching many, many YouTube tutorials. Today she’s done the nails of international pop stars such as Rosalía. Oksana Zavora (aka Chummy Nails) hails from Kyiv but has lived in Berlin since 2022 (when she moved due to war) and has been embellishing nails in her small studio in the Bötzowviertel district since March 2023. In addition to the nude-toned “clean girl” aesthetic, high gloss and French tip, Oksana’s designs can also be wonderfully extravagant. Here, there are no limits to creativity. designs with 3D elements such as pearl embellishments or glittery silver stones give the nails structure. Chrome nails in particular — which are trending in 2024 — are a constant source of inspiration for new ideas. Like many before me, I couldn’t resist the trend and opted for a milky nail polish with a silver chrome finish. Oksana tells me about the thriving art and beauty scene in her native Kyiv and the high standards of quality that are the norm there. And that’s exactly what Oksana wants to share with people here in Berlin. In intimate master classes and workshops, she shows you how to file, care for, and paint your nails at home — no professional equipment required. Whether it’s a simple polish, elegant design, strikingly long gels or press-ons, the compliments are guaranteed.
Text: Alison Musch / Photos: Robyn Steffen
Chummy Nails, Pasteur Str.4, 10407 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
By Appointment.
@chummy.nails