NY Times :: Gap has partnered with Merci, a boutique in Paris that sells furniture and fashion, to create a pop-up store in Midtown. The shop, called Merci Gap, will be open through Oct. 4, offering designer pieces from around the globe.
But it’s more than merely a stylish shop — like its parent in France, Merci Gap will donate its profits to the charity group Accueil des Sans-abri, which helps homeless people on Madagascar.
“My design team kept coming back from Europe, talking about this amazing store,” said Gap’s head designer, Patrick Robinson, who helped to organize the pop-up store. Products being sold include pendant lamps made from recycled vintage blue glass insulators (above; $125 each); the crumpled metal Plopp Stool ($500 or $750, depending on the finish) by Oskar Zieta, a Polish designer; and Open Air stainless-steel flatware, with hollow handles ($5 to $9 a piece) by Maarten Baptist, of the Netherlands. Merci Gap is beside Gap’s flagship store, at 680 Fifth Avenue (54th Street); (212) 977-7023.
Merci is a very unique way of saying 'thank you', at least when it comes to this store which opened its doors in March. Because the French like doing things on a grander scale, Merci isn't just your average tiny little charity shop in a backstreet. It's a luxury concept store, over 1500 m² (approx. 16 145 sq.ft) large that sells you anything you could possibly need, whether it's a book or a roll of yarn. The founders Marie-France and Bernard Cohen (who also created, then sold the luxury children's wear label Bonpoint) have gotten in touch with designers, artists, musicians, actors, stylists, authors and famous friends who have kindly donated items from their own collections or crafted special pieces to be sold there exclusively.
Some pieces are vintage, while others are brand new and either come from current collections or have been designed just for the store. The thing you need to know is that designers who are offering their goods on sale here are foregoing their profits, so all the brand new items will cost you around 30% less than the normal sale price. In turn Merci will donate 100% of their profits from goods sold to a foundation benefiting impoverished children in Madagascar, one of the poorest regions in the world and a cause close to the heart of Madame Cohen, who has traveled there several times. Her goal is to give young children (especially girls) the chance of an education so that they can one day have a career.
What's even more amazing is that during the sale season (which thankfully ended yesterday), Merci slashed their prices even further. So in addition to getting already cheaper items for an almost wholesale price, you got another 30-50% off. Regardless of how much the stuff costs though, Merci is worth a visit, just for the store alone. Tucked away in a back yard, you won't immediately detect the main entrance, but instead see two different storefronts: one for the cafe and the other for the flower shop. Between these two, you'll find a gate that leads to an inner courtyard, where Merci has placed the first vintage item: a red Fiat Cinquecento, occasionally loaded with goods but currently only covered in green foliage. I'm pretty sure this item isn't for sale though.
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