13 April 2026  Popp & Kretschmer, one of Vienna's most established fashion retailers, is expanding its cultural profile with a new presentation of contemporary art. The current exhibition introduces works by the young Austrian artist Florian Appelt, offering insight into how the store connects fashion, craftsmanship, and artistic practice. From traditional retailer to cultural platformFounded in 1885, Popp & Kretschmer has long been part of Vienna's luxury fashion landscape. Located in the historic Palais Todesco on Kärntner Straße, near the Vienna State Opera and Hotel Sacher, the store is known for its curated selection of international designer fashion. Over more than a century, it has developed into a destination for high-end ready-to-wear, tailoring, and accessories, with collections typically positioned in the premium to luxury price segment.In recent years, the company has also aimed to broaden its role beyond retail. With the ongoing "Art & Fashion" series, the store presents itself as a place of exchange between disciplines. The large interior spaces, covering around 1,400 square meters, provide a setting where garments and artworks can coexist. Outside, the brand gained wider public attention at the end of last year with a red ribbon installation, which became a popular backdrop for selfies among visitors and passers-by. Florian Appelt and the idea of "Second Skin"The current exhibition, titled "Passformen" (Fits), features works from Florian Appelt's series "Second Skin." Appelt studied at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and has exhibited internationally, including in Berlin, Stockholm, and the Netherlands. His academic research focused on the influence of digital media on the art market, adding a theoretical layer to his practice. Appelt's works often explore the relationship between body, material, and surface. In "Second Skin," textiles, patterns, and references to tailoring play a central role. The artist draws on personal experience: sewing and craftsmanship have been part of his family background for generations. This connection is visible in the precise structures and layered compositions of his pieces. At Popp & Kretschmer, several of these works are displayed within the store and in the windows facing the opera. The presentation places artworks in direct dialogue with garments, highlighting similarities in texture, construction, and form.Art and fashion in dialogueThe exhibition is part of a broader initiative to connect contemporary art with the world of fashion retail. According to the organizers, the aim is to create an environment where visitors can experience both fields simultaneously—fashion as a crafted object and art as a material exploration. This approach reflects a long-standing relationship between the two disciplines. Both rely on design, material knowledge, and a sensitivity to form. In luxury fashion in particular, artistic elements are often embedded in the design process, from fabric development to silhouette construction.Shared spaces, shared ideasThe dialogue between art and fashion is also visible on an international scale. Events such as the upcoming Met Gala continue to highlight this intersection, with exhibitions exploring how clothing can function as both cultural statement and artistic expression. In this context, projects like "Art & Fashion" at Popp & Kretschmer underline how retail spaces can evolve into hybrid environments. Here, fashion with artistic ambition meets art that engages with the techniques and materials of clothing—suggesting that both can act as a kind of "second skin," shaped by craft, identity, and cultural meaning.Images, from left to right: artist Florian Appelt, Popp & Kretschmer managing director Rainer Trefelik, Galerie Barvinkskyi owner Alexander Barvinskyi, LLB board member Harald Friedrich, and Rosaura Cauchi, director of Galerie Barvinkskyi, at the opening of the exhibition 'Passformen' at Popp & Kretschmer in Vienna; additional works are shown in the store windows opposite the State Opera. Photos: © Popp & Kretschmer |