The Exchange Building at St Georges Mall is nearly a century old – dating to around 1927, and although it is considered an architectural artifact, in recent years it has become so much more; enlivened by another historical landmark in Cape Town, sneaker and streetwear purveyor Jack Lemkus. The first floor of the building is the Lemkus concept store – one of the city’s nexus points for sneakerheads and creatives alike. Alongside their brick and mortar space, Lemkus runs a highly-functioning and curated online store, with consistent drops, campaigns and raffles conceptualized and actioned by Rich Lemkus and the brand’s creative head, Calhoun Matthews. The building is also home to The Fourth Gallery, with owners Maybe Corpaci and Rodan Kane Hart as residents of the top floor in Apartment. With the onset of the pandemic, it felt as though the mass migrations from the CBD might be permanent – with months of eerie desolation occurring for those who lived or ventured into the heart of the city between 2020 to 2021. Now, with a somewhat stabilized sense among most people for the first time in two years, the 2nd and 3rd floor of the Exchange have been taken on by Lemkus; and the building is steadily growing into an epicenter for culture, community and creativity, under the brilliant moniker “The Stockroom”. Calling on Kyle Brinkmann, AKA Das Kapital, to lead a curatorial role, The Stockroom Show is an event that brings together the vision of Lemkus into an experience; now a monthly occurrence, every First Thursday, dedicated to the celebration of streetwear, food, music and people.
The 2nd Floor is the residency space of The Stockroom, hosting an array of brands sectioned into micro “stores’. Tempered by glass fixtures, it feels like being on a shop floor – yet without the hyper-materialism or anxiety of a shopping mall – and is decidedly more beautiful, with a feeling of being thoughtfully considered. During The Stockroom Show, it is flowing with Cape Town’s raddest people, all dressed incredibly well – connecting and dining on the event’s resident cuisine, Jack’s Burgers. Brands include Sheree AKA Dj Rishi Love and her partner Ryan, who have their brand SPRMRKT, stocking their brand RAION, while importing some of streetwear’s most coveted labels such as Palace, Stüssy and Braindead – laid out with signature hypebeast objects and accessories. In another cove is Human By Nature – designed by John Lehman – including his collection of locally made denims. John has worked and lived across the world, and has decided to call Cape Town home, both for himself and HBN. Recently, the 2nd Floor has welcomed the OSCS family – namely Sol Sol and Maylee, by Mathew and Molly Kieser respectively, a hugely exciting new chapter for one of the original streetwear brands in Cape Town. The Stockroom takes on an experimental position in this way; inviting into its vision the idea of collaborative retail, in which the experience of a community centered around their unique design aesthetics seeks to enhance our relationship to purchasing.
The Stockroom Show is a showcase of creativity, and one of its most interesting aspects is the vendors on the third floor – local designers and businesses set up shop for the event within a marketplace style, yet somehow a little cooler. This last week, 3rd of March, these vendors included Broke, Hygge, Mad Dogs, Hempt, Hopeville Grailz, Brunch Club, Illucid, HeySous and Save Vintage. Stockroom exemplifies the mood of the moment for streetwear across the globe; a juxtaposing celebration of new labels, emerging designers with vintage brands and a thrifting mindset. Our favourite part of the whole experience has to be Obscure Archives – which started as a series for the Lemkus website, and is now a monthly residency in which The Stockroom partners with a local creative for them to exhibit new work, their process and signature style – it’s a space of connection, knowledge transference and a peek into the minds of Cape Town legends such as Keith Vlahkis, Yaeesh Dollie of Daremposh and last week, Naeelah Jumat of Socioculture.
Kyle explains how it started, and what lies ahead; “The Stockroom started out a place for our favourite things – local and international streetwear, food, music, and the people that surround them. It was a short conversation the LEMKUS team and I had together – Cape Town needs a central place for both creators and patrons within our wider community to come together, and we acted on that need. From a very simple idea, a complex and detailed form has emerged – one that marries conventional retail with developmental talents, media, and some unforgettable experiences both IRL and online. LEMKUS uses the 2nd Floor to offer a new take on established retail with our current permanent residents and their showrooms, while my role as “curator” is to help grow and mold a dynamic roster of young brands on the 3rd Floor every First Thursday. Behind the scenes, we are working together on expansions to The Stock Room as a physical offering, as an online community, and as a conceptual space for empowering creators in both fashion and media. As we find our voice and continue to use it, expect more special moments, top-level products, community enrichment, and partnerships with key global brands – offering them a place in an increasingly important conversation. Long live The Stockroom.”
It’s a vibe – the whole platform powered by Lemkus is a sheer example of what it means for a larger, heritage brand to nurture and provide beyond itself. While there is certainly a return of investment, it is also altruistic – The Stockroom Show provides a physical space that was once filled by Corner Store (RIP) and events of the last decade. It’s a new era, for a younger generation to find their way – whether it’s through making friends, or getting inspired to start their own labels or hone their desired crafts. We believe The Stockroom Show is a critical space for the city – and we urge everyone to check it out this year – if not every month.
Written by: Holly Bell Beaton
