Am 12. Februar werde ich am Valentins-Event der Gallerie SEMI DOMESTICATED in Berlin teilnehmen…deswegen haben die Mädels ein kleines Interview mit mir gemacht:
We’re very excited to welcome Lena Schröder to Berlin for our February event. Hailing from Cologne, Germany, this girl is a collector, designer and business-lady extraordinaire. After studying fashion design, Lena became head of cologne-based, Der Super Markt, a network for young designers + artists. Her DIY fashion and jewellery labels Trinkhallen Schinkeria and Can You Keep a Secret, boasts an array of upcycled goodies with punch and pizazz. She also owns and operates a pop-up vintage store called Secret Shop – we can relate to that!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your education and the life experiences that led you to open your vintage shop and begin your label?
I grew up in a small town in Bavaria. My parents had a distinctive moral sense of recycling and useful consumption. I also hung out with some “straight edge” people at the end of my teenage years. I learned a lot about myself during this time – I never wanted to instruct people, but I found out how I want to live, eat and what I really want to do.
Besides it was not very exciting in my hometown, so I started to make things.
Some vintage selections from the Secret Shop in Cologne.
With all of the different design and collection processes you go through, are you ever afraid of becoming a pack-rat? What do you do to prevent this?
That’s my boyfriend’s biggest fear, ha ha!
To be honest, I think that amassing various things is not avoidable in this line of work and I like that. My room looks like a museum so I never feel bored in it.
It’s hard for me to scrap things – this probably has something to do with the way I work.
Can you tell us something that most people don’t know about you?
I attempted to study social education and… sometimes I can get angry 
How would you describe your personal style, the design style of your jewellery and the types of vintage items you choose for Can You Keep a Secret?
I like to feel comfortable and I hate too much attention. For myself, I like simple, functional clothes, sometimes paired with a funny accessory. You will never see me wearing high heels, or we would all die laughing!
The Trinkhallen Schickeria jewellery is sweet and ironic – with a twist. I like people who can laugh about it and just have fun with childhood memories.
Where do you hope to see yourself, Can You Keep a Secret? and Trinkhallen Schickeria in 5 years?
I don’t have a master plan for the upcoming years, but I’ve always dreamed of owning a shop. Currently I’m working on a new concept called Secret Store. It’s a shop that opens for one week, each month, at different places and displays vintage and an exhibition.
I like working on projects with other designers & artists and I hope that many exciting things will happen in the future.
Concerning Trinkhallen Schickeria, I would like to design only one collection every year, due to the fact that I have to find the materials and manufacture the pieces myself. It’s definitely a lot of work when you start running your own business. In 5 years I should be able afford three assistants, because otherwise you will might find me in the madhouse.
Find this hand printed teapot and other goodies the SemiDomesticated February event!
