Rave Review unveils a “short and sweet” experiential store concept

Rave Review has taken the world by storm with its tactile mash-up of thrifted wares: everything from blankets and bedsheets to second-hand kilts. The kind of pieces you just want to touch. And now, Stockholmers can do just that – as co-founders and designers Josephine Bergqvist and Livia Schück takeover a gallery space in the capital’s Södermalm district.

In place for four days only, starting today, the Rave Review store comes to life at Gallery Steinsland Berliner, currently host to the Billboard exhibition from Danish artist Esben Esben Weile Kjær. “We think it’s a really inspiring environment to be in, to have a shopping experience, and at the same time look at art,” says Bergqvist. “That’s how I want to shop in the future!” she laughs.

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It's the brand’s first physical, standalone – albeit temporary – store presence, and it’s a logical step given the format lends itself perfectly to Rave Review’s signature one-of-a-kind output. “It’s always a hassle with online when you have to individually shoot all the pieces. This is an opportunity for us to do what we do best: unique exclusive pieces," Bergqvist says.

And there will be no shortage of unique finds. Alongside Rave Review’s spring/summer 2023 collection, there are a lot of new pieces that Bergqvist and Schück have made in-house in their studio. Lace is a big player, upcycled from curtains and made into dresses and blouses. And terry towelling, sitting pretty in the brand’s storage space for some time, makes a seasonally appropriate debut. “It’s this really romantic floral terry towelling from the ‘50s and ‘60s,” Bergqvist explains. “Really old ones, super nice quality. We didn’t actually use the towelling for our summer collection, so we could use them for this.”

Also available at the store is Rave Review’s newly-released mini baguette-style bag, expertly patched together with vintage wool blankets, finished with metal trims. Rather than being upcycled from external sources, the material for each bag are actually scraps from the brand’s outerwear production. “We use a lot of blankets in our production of outerwear, lots of coats and bomber jackets, and you always have small pieces left. Because these bags are so small, we can use the scrap materials that would otherwise go to waste. So it’s very efficient, sustainable, and a very fun way to use these off-cuts," Bergqvist says. "You are the only one in the world who has exactly that bag."

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While Rave Review is well established across the Scandinavian and international circuits, still being a relatively small team allows them to move quickly and venture in new directions – swiftly responding to customer needs. According to Bergqvist, the brand initially focused more on wholesale, "but now we’re looking more directly to the customers,” she says. “We see a growing interest for physical events, to touch and feel the clothes in real life. And we always wanted to have more of a physical presence.”

The launch in Stockholm is just the starting point of Rave Review’s experiential store concept, which has its eyes set further afield in Europe and beyond. Mapped out in accordance with the brand’s biggest customer bases, Milan, Paris and London are on the cards for upcoming stores – so stay tuned.

Rave Review’s experiential store in Stockholm is located at Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Bondegatan 70, open from 27 - 30 April.