One Bright Morning in Berlin-Tegel

The Berlin wall 'opened' in 1989 and was taken down in 1990. After that, a divided city tried to grow together again. Transport lines that had been broken and developed independently were reconnected, sewn together, and modernised at a frantic pace.

One bright morning in spring in the 1990s, the old suburban train line across the Berlin North was reopened, and a street festival was held in Tegel for the reopening of the Suburban Railway Station Alt-Tegel (S-Bahnhof Tegel).

We were to meet a friend who I didn't know but will call Corinna here, and eventually spotted her, coming down the steps of the new railway station. The sunlight shimmered on the soft pink Dupioni silk of her singlet which fabulously complemented her light brown skin, and with it she wore a floor-length 1900-s style flounced skirt in a matching brown. All her clothes were clearly hand-sewn and self-designed: It would have been impossible find garments in such designs, in such quality fabrics, in these colors, in the shops of the ready-to-wear industry. She looked gorgeous. From her face and demeanor, you could tell that this young woman knew what she wanted and how to get there. With her came two young men, one to the left and one to the right, who were clearly both in awe with her, and rightfully so.