Merci - 111 boulevard Beaumarchais. It’s a concept store but it is also a charity shop… confusing? Every euro cent of profit from Merci goes to a charity benefiting women and children in Madagascar (one of our most impoverished nations). Designers such as are also encouraged to create pieces especially for Merci which retail up to 40% below their usual prices.
The little red Fiat 500 is the mascot of Merci and lives in the building courtyard - when we visited it was packed up the hilt with polystyrene coolers but the display is often changed depending on the season and what is going on in store.
Merci is a visual feast, a shoppers paradise… and is good for the conscience.
Le Petit Marche - 9 rue de Bearn, Paris. Right in the depths of Le Marais, Le Petit Marche takes a fresh new look at brasserie food. The service is pleasant and fast, food is fresh and often features a twist on the traditional dish, prices are reasonable, the tables are larger than most in Paris. The salad chinois is much raved about by all who have been.
L’Eclaireur - the progenitor of design in Paris. With six stores located around central Paris, L’Eclaireur is at the very pointy end of men’s and women’s fashion. Featuring spectacular industrial inspired sotre fitouts and exquisite fashion and accessories from both established and emerging designers - any of the stores are must sees if in Paris.
We visited two stores in the Marais:
L’Eclaireur Sevigne (http://www.leclaireur.com/en/category/stores-en/sevigne-en/) features women’s fashion - and embodies the transformer ideals with clothes residing behind mechanised panels which are raised to reveal the collections within.
L’Claireur Malher (http://www.leclaireur.com/en/category/stores-en/malher-en/) is everything masculine, heavy & dark it feels like a gentleman’s smoking room - stacked full of treasures (Rue Malher store pictured).
Perception Park is a young design house, federating artists and designers. This thoughtful and concise collection really inspired us….
The pieces featured are created from ceramic, bone (bovine) and coated canvas.
Snowdome in motion from “O Paris” by 0044 Paris (www.0044paris.com, www.o-paris.com)
Oh Paris…. what a wonderful quirky independent boutique - “O Paris” opened this Thursday 8 September at 16 Rue du Bourg Tibourg 75004 Paris. Amazing clothing, shoes, accessories and curiosities - So good we couldn’t resist this skull snowdome! (www.o-paris.com)
Comme a Lisbonne 37 Rue du Roi de Sicile, 75004 Paris - Amazing hole in the wall patisserie. A perfect Portuguese fix in Paris… Amazing coffee, even better Portuguese custard tarts (so recently out of the oven that they are always still warm).
Roses Costes Dani Roses at the famous Hotel Costes at 293 Rue Saint Honoré in Paris France - Roses for as far as the eye can see….
Exquisite hand crafted candles from France. Photographed as displayed at Maison & Objet, Paris 2011.
Ranges by Marianne Guedin, Christian Tortu, Ines de la Fressange and Jose Levy.
MMTC celebrates the letter “B”
“B” is for beer and for breakfast…. Wonderful double walled Dimple beer glasses to keep your beer cool and Show Off double walled bottle replacing the milk bottle on the kitchen table.
Products designed and manufactured by Make My Day
(Source: makemydayproducts.com)
