It all started in London in 2011, with the study of art history and a passion for the minimalism of the 1980s and 1990s. From this passion, Michael Kardamakis has created an archive for fashion of that time: Endyma. Endyma (ένδυμα, from the Greek garment) specializes in the oeuvre of the Austrian Helmut Lang and, by its admission, offers the world’s most extensive collection of his fashion, The fascination with Helmut Lang and his work is still omnipresent. His collections (1984-2000) are rather well thought out. Nothing is left to chance – everything seems natural. These are the approaches that Kardamakis finds interesting, and that form the basic structure of his archive. But you will also find pieces from other brands such as Miu Miu Men, Raf Simons Archive, Burberry Prorsum Archive, Rick Owens, or Sabotage. On 200 square meters, you can find fashion history, so to speak, in the Wilmdersdorfer apartment. There are about 4,000 artifacts lined up: neatly restored, archived, and sorted by color, designer, and collection on clothes rails.
Clothes, shoes, bags, belts, perfume, and jewelry – Michael Kardamakis collects nothing without reason; he tries to track down and complete entire collections. If you visit him (by appointment), he can tell you something about every single piece you pick up. He knows them all – the designers, the collections, the individual parts. Michael Kardamakis’s love for fashion and design is wholeheartedly felt, contagious and unique. As a result, the archive has become a sought-after destination for designers from major fashion houses, universities, schools, and museums. Fashion aficionados from all over the world find their way to Wilmersdorf—a truly one-of-a-kind piece in Berlin.
Text: Laura Storfner & Milena Kalojanov / Photos: Chris Kontos & Endyma
Endyma
A visit to the archive is only available by appointment.
@endyma
