Start your Stockholm shopping spree with a coffee in one of Södermalm’s many cafés, then take a stroll around the unique shops. You don’t have to spend much time in fashion boutiques such as Grandpa, Herr Judit, and Sneakersnstuff to understand why people in this part of the city are so well-dressed. Herr Judit stocks carefully curated vintage and designer gear, while Grandpa is half-shop, half-hang out, with DJs frequently in house. Other local highlights are the 6/5/4 lifestyle boutique and the Konst-ig art book store.
Södermalm is also host to some of the biggest and best outlets of charity chains Stockholm Stadsmission and Myrorna, as well as a trio of excellent vintage stores: Lisa Larsson Second Hand, Judits Second Hand and — all the way from London — Beyond Retro.
Shopping in SoFo, Stockholm
SoFo is an area south of Folkungagatan on Södermalm, with lots of hip bars, creative shops and interesting restaurants.
Photo: Agence les Conteurs
In Malmö, the quirky boutiques around the Davidshallstorget are worth a visit, with sustainable fashion shop Liebling and upmarket vintage shops Love Street Vintage and Odd & Fancy. The Mitt Möllan gallery has a frequently changing roster of one-off shops, like retro knick-knack, curio and jewellery seller Pill & Punch, and sustainable fashion designers Pollyjo & Moz.
Shopping in Malmö
Fashion store Liebling in Malmö.
Photo: Apelöga
In Gothenburg, shoppers should head first to the neighbourhood around Magasinsgatan, which hosts the flagship stores of the city’s most internationally successful designer chains, such as Acne Studios, Nudie Jeans and Velour. It also offers independent boutiques, such as the maritime-themed clothes shop Emma och Malena. The interior design shop Artilleriet has a changing but always extraordinary collection, while Floramor & Krukatös, run by a mother-daughter, potter-gardener duo, sells both ceramic pots and plants to go in them. The wallpaper shop Engelska Tapetmagasinet, meanwhile, has been going since 1899. It is still run by members of the founding family.
If you’re looking for a gift, a souvenir, or just a pleasant place to wander, you may want to make your way to the characterful wooden houses on Haga Nygata, which are crammed with cosy cafés and shops selling treats like handmade soap, artisanal toys, and marzipan pigs. Highlights include craft knick-knack shop Peachy Home, contemporary craft shops Sintra and Haga of Sweden, and the fashion brand Twist & Tango.
Acne Studios
Acne Studios is a fashion house founded by Jonny Johansson and based in Stockholm.
Photo: Marie Ullnert/imagebank.sweden.se
Acne Studios
Photo: Marie Ullnert/imagebank.sweden.se
Flower shop
Photo: Marie Ullnert/imagebank.sweden.se
Floramor & Krukatös, Gothenburg
Photo: Anna Hållams
With its inventive food scene, thrift and designer stores and enlightened city planning, there are many reasons to travel to Sweden besides its vast forests, picturesque islands and thousands of lakes.
Swedish contemporary fashion is celebrated for its timeless sense of cool. But it’s more diverse than you might think – Swedish designers master everything from catwalk fashion to laid-back denim looks, often with sustainability at its core.