On one of my many wanders whilst in Paris, I stumbled across a great concept store Merci (thank you) that I have been wanting to check out for awhile (111 boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003).
Concept stores abound in the Marais and the difference with this one is they aim to make a difference. First of its kind in France, 100% of the profits of the store go to a humanitarian association working for the children of Madagascar, a country where every five minutes a child dies from malnutrition.
Created by the founders of the beautiful children's brand Bonpoint, Marie-France and Bernard Cohen, this inspiring store stocks items from interior design to a perfumier, from stationary, furniture and flowers to fashion, has two cafés and one restaurant, and a used book library.....all within a great exhibition-style space. Whatever you are looking for, the most 'design conscious' example of it, is the one to be found here.
The store offers exclusive designs by Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, Isabel Marant, Paul Smith and many other brands at prices significantly below their own label stores. The pair have leveraged their goodwill, and have convinced numerous brands to join the project by also giving to the charity their profits generated in-store.
I ended up wandering around from space to space with an almost visual overload! Everywhere I turn there's a well designed or beautiful object to catch my eye! I bought some great industrial lighting that I will show you once it arrives home and is installed ... also so many gifts here that I couldn't resist. And they are the gifts that will keep on giving...
Translated from their website: Luxury and humanitarian reconciled ... it's already a dream of a better world ...
Have a great weekend!
Jennifer.
x
