Schoene Schreibwaren – For the tasteful writer…

Resting quietly among colorful shops on Niederbarminstrasse in Friedrichshain is Schöne Schreibwaren. It’s a quiet little shop with a very tasteful selection of utensils for writers, sketchers, graphic designers, print art lovers or anyone who likes to store photographs or doodle in style.

I stumbled upon this shop when I found myself drawn to the pretty postcards on display outside. Everything they sell here comes from small or independent manufacturers and artists-mostly local. They sell lithographs, digital print work, photo albums, journals, a variety of very nicely finished leather cases and wallets and many different styles of elegant lead and color pencils.

The selection is not exactly huge, but the minimalism is exactly what I like about this place. I get the sense everything is very carefully selected, and I haven’t seen many of these items anywhere else. It’s not the typical art or office shop. The shop attendant was extremely friendly and happily told me about all the different artworks and artists the first time I was there. He also went through the mechanical design of all the different pencils they sell.

Sounds quite meticulous, I know. But isn’t this really the way we should be shopping? It’s the little things. You ask where what you are about to buy came from, and you learn the item’s story. I never thought about that before…

By the way, they also have a shop on Weinbergsweg 21.