Merci.
What a great, surprising store!
Not that spectacular when you walk on by the Paris Boulevard Beaumarchais, but once you entered the open court yard, you discover a world of particular original design, well curated fashion and thé absolute hip and happening brands in beauty and jewelry. Another concept store, yes but not as you know it....
Opened in Paris last March 2009, this shop is an idea of Marie France and Bernard Cohen. Merci is the first fashion and design 'Magasin Solidaire' in France and this means 100% of the profit goes to a charity cause in Madagascar, one of the poorest countries in the world.
The Merci store is located in a majestic, sun-lit loft of 16,000 Sq foot (!!!) with a real library-(with only used books for sale) meets- a-coffee house with it's own entrance on the main road.
Paola Navone was guest designer for this X-Mas and brings an inspired 'polkadot' based collection for Merci and the French famous discount supermarket Monoprix.
Navone's bold combinations of black, white and red graphic design is strong and powerful.
A Merci pop up store with Navone was by the way also part of the Milan Tortona Design Week, I remember now.
Under the stairs, a tiny cinema, with two chairs, where you can watch one movie, that you buy later on DVD. In this case we had Sean Penn's "This must be the place"about Cheyenne, a retired rock star living off his royalties in Dublin and looking a lot like The Cure's Robert Smith.
Isabel Marant, Azzaro, Stella McCartney, Kris Van Assche and Paul Smith helped to create this unique selection for Merci, by offering a full look or some one-off pieces like these 'to die for' boots of Marant (Another of her shoe designs that has an endless fan base!). Sorry for the bad quality picture but the light was not great...
Besides great fashion, you discover room by room very original settings with nature and rough wood inspired tables, recycled bottles chairs, some design classics, retro lovers kitchen settings, Martin Margiela trompe l'oeil doors and even the AB FAB Crystal Baccarat chandelier ( First seen at the design fair Salone di Mobile in Milan.)
Really fantastic wall paper: 'trompe l'oeil' tin-tile, Brooklyn authetic ceiling photographs on paper from NLXL. Loved it.
The Brooklyn wallpaper used on a wall, with another great item at Merci: a star-light in X-Mas tradition.
The Merci paper tabouret: place books in it and you have a perfect extra chair for an extra eater at diner.
People cueing, under lovely paper light fittings of Miss Navone.
Top view from the first floor on the Merci fetish Fiat, that normally takes the stores theme. This month is was just red. Nice.
This heavenly shop has a philanthropic mission. The Merci team convinces every time famous creators to bring their wares and forget their margins. Think Annick Goutal and her fountain of scents, Stella Mc Cartney, Yves St Laurent, our own Belgian couture brand Nathan ...
Goutal's legendary perfumes are sold here in simple glass bottles instead of the usual branded flasks. You can bring your own bottles for a refill of your favorite scent. The best thing? It's 40% off the normal prize!
Also the hip and very natural brand Aesop has it's shop in the shop.
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So besides the fact that you are in a great store, what is the absolute best part? Well, while you shop you raise money!
The profits the store makes on your purchases are donated! I have no clue how they do it, but hey, who cares. This IS an amazing store, and an amazing concept (although I hate the word).
Merci, Lovely Merci!
Concept Store Merci
www.merci-merci.com
111 boulevard Beaumarchais
75003 Paris
01 42 77 00 33
Métro Saint sébastien Froissart
du lundi au samedi de 10 heures à 19 heures
www.merci-merci.com
111 boulevard Beaumarchais
75003 Paris
01 42 77 00 33
Métro Saint sébastien Froissart
du lundi au samedi de 10 heures à 19 heures
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