interview Heike and Malte Kappes, Radschläger concept store

Heike and her son Malte Kappes ©Radschläger

Heike and Malte Kappes: "Everyone knows the Radschläger because of the big sculptures in the city. We would like to become the city brand."

Heike Kappes and her son Malte Kappes meet Alethea Magazine for an interview. Heike Kappes and her family had a family connection with Friedrich Becker's widow for over 20 years. Hilde Becker and Heike Kappes founded the Friedrich Becker e.V. in 2011 to preserve Friedrich Becker's legacy. To mark the 100th anniversary of the ingenious designer, the association inaugurated a 3 x 3 m Radschläger statue in May 2022 in a ceremony on the campus of the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, the former technical college where Friedrich Becker taught for a long time. It was a dream of Friedrich Becker's come true to have a large Radschläger on the Rhine, which greets the boatmen from afar. Now it delights students and visitors to the university. The Rheinbahn has also created a train in honor of the designer, the design was created by Professor Korfmacher and his students. The exhibition "Friedrich Becker - Born to Play" is currently running in the Goldschmiedehaus Hanau until October 16.

Already in 2001, on the initiative of Hilde Becker, Radschläger sculptures were artistically designed in a city campaign. The works of art can still be found today at changing locations in Düsseldorf. The city of Düsseldorf gives away acrylic Radschläger sculptures and other small Radschläger items to its visitors. Indeed, the Radschläger is sympathetic and iconic in design and, like the bear of the city of Berlin, can be a sympathetic figure for the city of Düsseldorf and beyond in the future. But there is still a lot to be done for this to happen.

Heike Kappes and her son have big plans. The copyright of the Radschläger is in family hands and both want to develop the Radschläger into a city brand. On October 1, they will open a pop up store in Düsseldorf's Schadow-Arkaden and offer Radschläger products. The jewelry will be produced in small series in cooperation with the Düsseldorf designer Michaela Donsbach. Another new feature is that some jewelry will be made in gold-plated silver for the first time. But there is also a home and textile collection, and Heike Kappes also dreams of a small children's collection. Indeed, a Radschläger statue is a sought-after object for entrance halls or one's own garden. Heikes Kappes also reveals what they have planned for this.
September 29, 2022

Interview Directory

ART, DÜSSELDORF, FASHION

Name: Heike Kappes

Occupation: Owner Radschläger conceptstore. Also Chairman Professor Friedrich Becker e.V.. whose aim is the care and preservation of the artistic legacy of Friedrich Becker.

Name: Malte Kappes

Occupation: Entrepreneur, owner Radschläger conceptstore

"They should appeal to Düsseldorfers who are close to home, Düsseldorfers who have moved away, but also people interested in design, because the Radschläger is a true design object."

Friedrich Becker's big dream was to have a big cycling club on the Rhine that the Schiﬀer could see from afar. What happened to these plans?

Heike Kappes: The original photomontages were from him. The first rejection was from Mayor Erwin with a categorical No. Later, as a board member of the Friedrich Becker Verein, I contacted him again, but also received a rejection. It would be too dangerous with people climbing around on it and falling off; so thousands of regulations. But the Friedrich Becker e.V. finally succeeded this year and donated a 3x3m sculpture to the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences.

So now to the concept store. How did the idea come about and how far along are you here?

Malte Kappes: The Radschläger copyright now lies with our family. The previous claim of the products was suitable for tourists, but for the real Düsseldorfer there were no high-quality products so far. It is a matter close to our hearts to raise the standard and offer high-quality articles. They should appeal to Düsseldorfers who are close to home, Düsseldorfers who have moved away, but also people interested in design, because the Radschläger is a true design object.

The concept store is currently online or also physical?

Malte Kappes: Yes, because of Corona we started online and now we are trying to get into shop-in-shop systems. We will have a pop-up store in the Schadow-Arkaden. It will be set up in the aisle between Parfümerie Schnitzler and Gant. In front of the pop up store there will be a big golden Radschläger sculpture to make the visitors curious.

"Everyone knows the Radschläger because of the big sculptures in the city. We would like to become the city brand."

Heike Kappes: We would also like to offer our jewelry in museum stores, as well as articles at the airport and bookstores. We have a contract with the city hall and the city gives away the wheel beater, such as the small acrylic wheel beater. To become better known we have also put a lot of thought into our presence in the city. For example, we launched a painting contest together with the Friedrich Becker Association for elementary schools. The response was overwhelming. The number of beautiful ideas from the students was almost unmanageable. On September 23rd, the best ones will be exhibited in the town hall and can then be viewed for another 2 weeks. Before Christmas we will start another campaign with FiftFifty.

What does it take to establish the Radschläger as a city brand. Do you finance everything yourself or do you have an investor?

Heike Kappes: It's a balancing act; for example, we stand for high quality of products made in Germany or Europe if possible and that is reflected in the price. We want to stand out from the small souvenirs, such as key chains. So far, we've financed everything ourselves.

Malte Kappes: Entry-level prices are around 19 euros, for example glass coasters for the table, which we have made by the WfaA (workshop for customized work). Our felt and wooden articles are all made by the WfaA. With this we want to support the important work for disabled people. In addition, our fulfillment is also done by WfaA. Our textiles are commissioned by an agency in Düsseldorf. When it comes to clothing, the hoodie is the favorite so far. The most expensive items are a cycling cube made of Plexiglas and the men's ring made of silver.

Heike Kappes: The design for our jewelry is done by Michaela Donsbach, a designer from Düsseldorf. She knows Becker jewelry and Becker's standards. She has internalized his demand for precision. She supervises the many steps of production, as well as the quality and puts the final touches before delivery. The necklace is going very well and so are the stud earrings and bracelets. We plan to make bracelets in gold plating towards Christmas. It's all being made in small batches so far. Another jewelry collection is currently in development. Children's clothing is also in the planning stages.

©Radschläger

"We are having a lot of fun with our exciting project and are working to make the Radschläger a city brand in Düsseldorf."

A piece of jewelry from the Friedrich Becker collection?

Heike Kappes: No, it is no longer possible to reproduce a piece from the Becker collection.

Malte Kappes: His jewelry pieces are unique and should remain so. We concentrate on the city brand, the Radschläger.

Can you tell the readers something about the Radschläger sculptures?

Heike Kappes: We have found a company that can make large Radschläger for us. We want to offer 1-meter, 1.5-meter sizes, as well as the 2-meter size as a custom design for foyers of law firms, hotels or your own garden. We now have a first prototype that will have its first use in front of our pop up store. The design of the surface is still open. However, it will probably come down to foiling. This method is already successfully used on vehicles.

These Radschläger will be produced on demand. The personalization or even, for example, a company advertisement will then be individually adapted to the customer.

Malte Kappes: A Radschläger sculpture will be sent on a journey to important events, such as the Classic Days or the MTV Music Awards. It will then always have a different design, whether painted or covered with foil.

Heike Kappes: We are already planning to take the cycling club to Japan Day 2023. We have considered engraving a cherry blossom on the bracelet and offering it as a special edition. We were already allowed to publicize the bracelet in a Japanese newspaper this year. We have made a first step so far. We are having a lot of fun with our exciting project and are working to make the Radschläger a city brand in Düsseldorf.