I know BauBau is supposed to be for men but I just can’t help myself. Between vintage Burberry and the leather whip, my heart has officially been stolen.
The shop for lightly-used menswear and handmade interior products is conveniently located in one of the most eclectic shopping areas of Copenhagen; the Sankt Hans Torv area of Norrebro, home to streets like Sankt Hans Gade, Ravnsborggade, Elmegade and Birkegade, where BauBau sits. Amongst antique stores packed with Danish design and quirky womenswear shops, BauBau is one of the only vintage stores dedicated to menswear alone.
“I had wanted to start the store for about a year before it happened,” says owner Casper of his August 2013 opening. “There was really a gap in the market for this kind of place.”
By “this kind of place” he means a vintage shop that carries blue Acne combat boots next to one-of-a-kind backless leather vests. This isn’t where you’re going to find cheap trinkets; if you want carefully curated designer pieces for slightly lower prices, this is it.
Having worked at nearby Suit, a Danish clothing brand, for three years previous to opening BauBau, Casper knows not only the area but the industry as well.
“When I began and needed to stock the store, I reached out to fashionable friends and to a larger network on social media. Some people gave me one or two pieces, some gave me an entire wardrobe. I sell all items on commission.” He tells me.
Beyond creating a place to shop chic menswear, Casper is looking to use recycled goods throughout the interior. Almost everything in BauBau, from the bicycle tire-hung clothing racks to the dressing room built from discarded wood, was found and re-purposed by Casper.
Going through the store is like a treasure hunt. That’s the beauty of BauBau; the variety of styles and the feeling that you’re walking through a very cool person’s closet. Need some guidance? Casper’s happy to help.
“My favorite customers are the ones that ask me questions about the clothes,” He says, “In Copenhagen, sometimes we’re a bit reserved when it comes to talking to people in stores. I love it when shoppers need my help!”
So get in there! You’re bound to find something that feels like it was made just for you.
That whip is a piece of art, by the way.
BauBau
Birkegade 3
2200 Copenhagen N
