The classy concept store in the 7th district
PARK, curated by Markus Strasser and Helmuth Ruthner since 2004, is about contemporary design in all its facets: avant-garde fashion, industrial design, streetwear, print media, and art.
PARK is a concept store but, above all, its already a Viennese institution.
The classy showroom in the midst of the bustling Neubau district, a few steps from the crowded shopping boulevard Mariahilfer Straße, unfolds across two brightly lit, puristically designed floors.
Womens’ and menswear by international designers such as Ann Demeulemeester, Dries van Noten, Haider Ackermann, or Raf Simons are on display next to Austrian labels like Petar Petrov, Pelican Avenue, GON, and Femme Maison.
One can also choose from hand-picked books, magazines, accessories, jewelry, shoes, and even vintage furniture.
By the way, emerging designers are sometimes given the opportunity to present themselves already at the very start of their career. The house even helps with their “marketing” in the form of fashion shows, exhibitions, and live presentations on site.
Labels that can be purchased at PARK:
Ann Demeulemeester, one of the “Antwerp Six”/ Acne, the Swedish label (short for “ambition to create novel expressions”/ Anntian, the Berlin label by Anne Hilken & Christian Kurt/ Bernhard Willhelm, the eccentric designer from Germany/ Bless, the Berlin designer duo Desirée Heiss & Ines Kaag/ Capara, the Belgian twins Vera & Olivera Capara/ Christian Wijnants, the Belgian/ Dries van Noten, one of the most famous “Antwerp Six” designers/ Gon, label of the Austrian designer Christina Steiner/ Haltbar, designer duo Kathleen König/ Lemaire, French label by Christophe Lemaire/ Haider Ackermann, Columbian designer in Belgium/ http://www.pelicanavenue.com/, founded in Antwerp by Austrian designer Carolin Lerch/ Petar Petrov, the Bulgarian in Vienna/ Raf Simons, the Belgian in Antwerpen/ Sacai, Japanese designer Chitose Abe (former pattern maker at Comme des Garçons)/ Sofie d`Hoore, the Belgian/ Stephan Schneider, German designer, commutes between Antwerp and Berlin
Behind PARK is Markus Strasser, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. Between 2000 and 2005 he was as an assistant at the fashion department at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. He presented his first collection in 2001 and was active in Jil Sander’s design team parallel to his work for PARK. As its co-owner he is responsible for purchasing the collections, communicating with the designers, press work, and the sales in the shop.
Helmut Ruthner, the other owner, originally comes from the tourism sector, but since the conception of the PARK idea has committed himself exclusively to the project. At PARK he handles the economic part but is also involved in purchasing, press work, and conception.
contact:
+43 (0)1 526 44 14
office@park.co.at
opening times:
Mon – Fri: 10.00 am – 7.00 pm
Sat: 10.00 am – 6.00 pm
(by appointment only)