Nestled on the periphery of the buzzing Saint-Germain market in the sixth arrondissement of Paris, a new pop-up shop caught Pynck’s eye. Opened this week-end at the initiative of a group of five young designers, the Féerie Pop-Up Store aimed at showcasing quality craftsmanship within the framework of the Festive season’s customer demands. As I walked in, Junhee Kim, the owner of Mont Kiji, warmly welcomed me in the zen and high-spirited space that the group conceived to exhibit its creations. She explained to me that this project took a few month to mature as it was very important to all five designers to share a space where creations entered in resonance with each other; to generate some kind of harmony and make the customer feel at ease with trying on new items they would not have tried on in other shops.
And as a matter of fact, I did want to try on everything ! All items were clearly displayed on beautiful wooden white high tables while the walls were decorated with artworks and plenty of mirrors strategically placed to try on the manifold earrings, rings, headbands or scarves. To note as well, all brands have wonderful websites and welcome Christmas shoppers from all around the world !
An interior shot of Féerie. The balloons added some magic to the window display.
MONT KIJI
Mont Kiji was founded by Junhee Kim in 2018. Former student at Parsons Paris and New-York, she worked for Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Sonia Rykiel and Emmanuel Ungaro before founding her own business focusing for now on silk items : scarves, ribbons, hairbands, pin, etc. As Creative Director, Junhee Kim meets with clients to collect their ideas, memories and impressions of what they would like to wear or gift. She then draws the designs herself by hand or on computer before meeting up with her embroiderers and weavers in Lyon to decide on the precise process of fabrication most suited to the drawing. Every item is bespoke and handmade. Mont Kuji’s highly stylised figurative representations are integrated in opulent abstract backgrounds. The motifs and the shapes are made lively by bold and beautiful colours; all on one of the softest and lightest silk material my skin ever touched. Definitely a brand to watch, especially if you are looking for a luxurious but affordable gift for your relatives !
SALON DE REINE
http://www.salon-de-reine.fr/index.html
Salon de Reine is a fresh French jewellery and accessory brand exclusively designing hand-made items using haute-couture embroidery technique. If that doesn’t say it all, the fact that the pieces take the form of surrealistic flowers, insects or even more abstract fantasies should convince you of the brand’s aesthetic worth on the overcrowded scene of accessory boutiques flourishing at every road’s corner. Pynck particularly loved the pink flower/grasshopper pin that could boost any look.
CULOYON
Yoshiko Parise created Culoyon to bring Body and Nature together. Inspired by the famous glass master René Lalique et Lewis Carrol to who we owe the mesmerising « Alice in Wonderland », her pieces are playful and bold yet elegant and symmetrical, meaning that I could see myself wearing them in the office, at dinner or for brunch. From golden leaves necklaces to flocks of rabbits were one of Culoyon’s highlight at Féerie.
EPHYRE
Ephyre is a Parisian premium leather goods brand that borrowed its name from a rare night butterfly. The metaphor is quite good as the pieces are polished, classic and can effortlessly slip into any environment. Behind Ephyre hides designer Emmanuelle Barre, a graduate of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture and of the Arts Décoratifs. Taught by the best, Vanessa Bruno, Alexis Mabille and Léonard, she created Ephyre in 2015 with immediate success. Her stylistic program plays out in the round lines and flexible or semi-rigid materials used in the handbag’s confection. She includes subtle poetic and symbolic references across her collections. Ephyre, it should be noted, devotes significant attention to guarantee a leather treatment of their pieces devoid of any chemical product. Pynck really like the metallic chains and closing mechanism of the bag. It is safe, beautiful and unique !
