Rundholz Black Label

 “Always expect the unexpected” – Studio Rundholz Black Label. The label has established radical modern shapes, has the courage to lead, differentiate while being individual by German designers Carsten and Lenka Rundholz.

Carsten and Lenka Rundholz are calm yet focused designers. while other couples in their twenties were mingling in cafes, they were already planning their first collection. Not only did they want to wear distinctive fashions, but they also wanted to: share their creative ideas with others and to build a lifestyle brand.

Lenka Rundholz started in the industry as a display and visual presentation artist, she always wanted to be dressed beautifully. It was a challenge for Carsten, as a former graphic designer he was trained in the art of fashion through its design and he wanted to create a look his wife would love to wear.

They presented their first collection in 1993 – A natural look, balancing between every day’s life and business. It was easily finding fans in the creative scene aiming not being part of the typical fashion circus with all its dazzling magazines.

Film producers, artists, authors and journalists, all loved the textured quotes which more mostly influenced by art scene impulses, travel and simply from observing architecture.

Every single design is developed in the lower Rhine area. Where is only an hour away from major cities like Dusseldorf or Cologne. This area is characterized by small rivers and old trees, tiny fortresses and huge old farm buildings.

Lenka and Carsten Rundholz carefully rebuilt an ancient regional farm, originally built in 1811, into a modern headquarter – their creative island behind high hedges and old willows.

Very efficiently they are creating two collections with around 600 pieces a year. Meanwhile, apart from coats, blouses and dresses, matching shoes, bags and belts are designed.

Lenka Rundholz explains with a smile “Our pattern makers are always astonished by the result of Carsten’s sewing experiments. They need to rip the seams on everything in order to understand his patterns.” However, before conquering the runway, all outfits have to pass the most crucial test: ‘Nothing will be put into the collection before Lenka gives her approval ‘Carsten Rundholz says.

With their sense of Knowledge for materials and patterns, constantly presenting something new and unexpected, the couple is not only designing their collections but also continually choosing different scenes for its presentation. Either at the Dusseldorf flagship store, their shops in Antwerp and Munich or the architecturally exceptional flagship store in Berlin: All spaces are as uniquely designed as the fashion itself. Always truly adhering to their philosophy: ‘we’ll only successful by remaining incomparable’. In this way Rundholz universe is growing: Creative and successful – but without being noisy.

With their position of standing apart from the bright fashion tabloids, the pair quickly found followers in the creative scene. Gallery owners, filmmakers, journalists, designers – they all love the individual fabric citations between art and architecture. All designs are created in the Lower Rhine region where Lenka and Carsten Rundholz have converted a farmhouse dating from 1811 into their company headquarters. Their impressive and convincing philosophy still applies today: “We can succeed only if we are incomparable.”