Beauty, Design, Paris
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Merci, Merci!-a life inspiration day

Merci Paris Conceptstore

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.

Merci Paris Conceptstore

Merci Paris Conceptstore Monoprix

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.

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

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.

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/



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…

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

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.)

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

Really fantastic wall paper: ‘trompe l’oeil’ tin-tile, Brooklyn authetic ceiling photographs on paper from NLXL. Loved it.

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

The Brooklyn wallpaper used on a wall, with another great item at Merci: a star-light in X-Mas tradition.

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

The Merci paper tabouret: place books in it and you have a perfect extra chair for an extra eater at diner.

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

People cueing, under lovely paper light fittings of Miss Navone.

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

Top view from the first floor on the Merci fetish Fiat, that normally takes the stores theme. This month is was just red. Nice.

Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

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.

 Merci conceptstore Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/

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
01 42 77 00 33
Métro Saint sébastien Froissartdu
lundi au samedi de 10 heures à 19 heures

©ALL photos by Kate Stockman_THE SQUID STORIES

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