Core sneaker stores, concept boutiques, skate shops and more are on our list of the best Scandinavian retailers.
Following up our recap of the best Swedish and Danish brands, we now level our sights on Scandinavia's retail landscape. Between names like YME and Streetmachine who are quietly killing it, and shops including Très Bien and Norse Store who have garnered international acclaim, there is a lot to talk about in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
Without further ado, take a look at 10 Scandinavian retailers that every Highsnobiety reader should be familiar with.
Norse Store (Copenhagen)
Norse Store in central Copenhagen is the home of Norse Projects, as well as a formidable list of complementary brands like Junya Watanabe MAN, A.P.C., Arc'teryx Veilance and others. The shop tends to purvey labels that reflect functionality, quality and modernity, while a notable selection of speciality Japanese products are also on hand. Rounding out the selection, Norse Store additionally purveys a gamut of literature, timepieces, audio accessories, eyewear and scents.
Pilestræde 41 1112 København
Naked (Copenhagen)
A line of blonde Danish girls camping outside for the latest sneaker release is status quo for Naked, Copenhagen's leading sneaker retailer for ladies. Naked operates two doors in the Danish capital, stocked with all the essential brands like adidas Originals, New Balance, Nike, Vans and more, carrying all the smaller sizes that are sometimes difficult to pin down. Over the years, Naked has become a prime destination for female sneakerheads within Copenhagen and around the world.
Slagtehusgade 36 1715 København
Storm (Copenhagen)
Living on the cusp of new and modern trends in fashion, Storm Copenhagen remains aligned with contemporary culture in every sense. Gravitating toward labels like 424 Fairfax, OFF-WHITE and Fear of God, Storm has also stocked such items as the adidas Originals Yeezy 350 Boost, and Kim Kardashian's Selfish selfie book by Rizzoli.
Store Regnegade 1 1110 København
Streetmachine (Copenhagen)
Head just around the corner from Norse Store in Copenhagen and you'll find yourself at Streetmachine. Formerly operating doors in both Paris and San Diego, the core-skateboarding retailer now resides solely in the Danish capital, employing a skate team of 14 riders. Over the years, Streetmachine has produced a number of well-received collaborations with adidas, Chocolate Skateboards, Jansport and more.
Check out the Streetmachine x Vans Syndicate "Copenhagen Session" pack for further proof of their position in the Scandinavian skate community.
Kronprinsensgade 3 1114 København
Sneakersnstuff (Stockholm)
Stockholm's original sneaker retailer was opened in 1999 by partners Peter Jansson and Erik Fagerlind. Sneaker Freaker magazine named the shop "king of collabs" and after drops like the adidas Originals "Brewery" pack and the Reebok Inferno "15 Stars", it's plain to see why the shop deserves that accolade. In fact, Sneakersnstuff was nice enough to archive most of their sneaker collaborations on their website. Last year, Sneakersnstuff also opened a London location.
Åsögatan 124 116 24 Stockholm
Nitty Gritty (Stockholm)
Nitty Gritty is situated on Stockholm's Södermalm island, only a stone's throw from Sneakersnstuff. Steadfastly independent, Nitty Gritty was opened in 1991, and is dedicated to mixing the aspirational with the accessible, and the niche with the mainstream. The shop's sparse and minimalist interior is a poignant reflection of the Swedish design sense, while the shop's brand list includes the likes of Common Projects, A.P.C., Gitman Vintage, Isabel Marant and nanamica.
Krukmakargatan 26 118 51 Stockholm
Très Bien (Malmö)
Très Bien got its start as an unassuming Swedish retailer in the overlooked seaside city of Malmö. From the get-go, Très Bien caught the attention of discerning shoppers on the web, as Malmö foot traffic hasn't contributed significantly to the shop's success. At some points in the shop's life span, Très Bien may even have opened its doors on Saturday, opting to remain shut the rest of the week. Today, Très Bien holds its own amongst the most stylish and respected boutiques on the planet.
Fersens Väg 20 211 42 Malmö
Beamhill (Helsinki)
Helsinki's Beamhill purveys a smart selection of marques from Palace Skateboards and The Quiet Life to Acne Studios and Norse Projects, balancing sophisticated Scandinavian offerings with more accessible streetwear labels. With three locations around the country, Beamhill is keeping Fins kitted out with the best brands. Beamhill remains amongst Finland's best curated retailers, without any of the snobbery.
Yliopistonkatu 5 00100 Helsinki
Erottajankatu 15 00130 Helsinki
Stress (Oslo)
Stress is where Oslo's sneakerheads go to get laced. The shop was established in 1994 with the aim of supplying Norweigans with brands that had not been previously available, with the first being names like Stussy, Carhartt, adidas, and others - brands that are still important to the shop today. Standing for over 20 years, Stress was also the first shop in Scandinavia to sell Nike as a lifestyle brand, rather than strictly as sportswear.
Karl Johans Gate 8 0154 Oslo
Grensen 19 0159 Oslo
YME (Oslo)
Concept boutique YME calls itself a curated universe of fashion, art and design. Split into separate floors for men's and women's apparel, the shop also has a devoted area to fine art, selling local works from artists like Anders Nordby as well as Elmgreen & Dragset, and a section for reading material offering imprints like Rizzoli, Vogue and Monocle. Once a magazine or book catches your eye, you can head to to the rooftop terrace and enjoy views of the heart of Oslo.
Karl Johans Gate 37 0162 Oslo
Wood Wood (Copenhagen)
Over the years, Wood Wood has become synonymous with Scandinavian streetwear, both as a retailer and a label. Helmed by Karl-Oscar Olsen, the retail side of the brand flourished in Copenhagen thanks to the Wood Wood flagship and Wood Wood Museum locations, while spaces in Berlin and Aarhus were added later on.
Grønnegade 1 1107 København K
Frederiksborggade 54 1366 København K
Goods (Copenhagen)
Goods was founded in August of 2008, quickly escalating from a local destination shop in an off-beat basement location to an established men’s clothing store on the main street of Copenhagen's Østerbro neighborhood. Goods tend to a wide spectrum of shoppers; catering to locals and tourists of many ages and tastes, but all with a shared interest in quality and design.
Østerbrogade 44 2100 København K
C-Store (Stockholm) The brick and mortar manifestation of online retailer Caliroots, C-Store is home to such brands as Carven, Common Projects, BLK DNM, Kitsuné and more. Centrally located a short walk Nybroviken harbor in downtown Stockholm, the concept shop C-Store represents a more discerning branch of Scandinavian mega e-retailer Caliroots.
Regeringsgatan 77 111 39 Stockholm
Hunting Lodge (Oslo)
Shoppers at Oslo's Hunting Lodge will be greeted with a finely selected choice of menswear, art, gifts, and vinyl collectables. The premium streetwear boutique opened its first location in 2006, before packing up and moving across the city to a larger space, where it currently stands. Brands like Reigning Champ, Common Projects, New Balance and Sixpack sit alongside a small selection of the shop's own Hunting Lodge branded products.
Markveien 58 0550 Oslo
My O My (Helsinki)
Award-winning Helsinki outfitters My O My operate two stores not far from one another in the Finnish capital, one for girls and one for guys. While female shoppers can expect to browse through names like Alexander Wang, Stella McCartney and Helmut Lang, the guys can look forward to a brand list including Scandinavian marques like S.N.S. Herring, Mismo and Hansen.
Aleksanterinkatu 36 00100 Helsinki
Erottajankatu 9 00130 Helsinki
