Following the trend for “ephemeral” boutiques, Cacharel opens a temporary shop (3, rue d’Uzès, 75002; Metro Rue Montmartre or Bourse) dedicated to their famous Liberty print clothes. The shop will be open for about four months, until the new generation Cacharel store opens on the same site. The brand is currently working on revamping it’s image, but in the mean time, the Liberty print shirts for Men and Women, plus sundresses, shorts and head scarves are a must-have for spring.
Sometimes you have to travel in Paris to get what you want, but once you arrive the trip is usually worth it. Last week, for instance I walked over to the very convenient Bouchara, the large fabric store next to Galeries Lafayette to pick up some thread. It was gone. Boarded up with huge panels announcing the arrival of yet another H&M clothing store.
This meant that for my next home fabric buying spree, I’d need to head to the Marché Saint Pierre, taking yet another Metro line to Anvers in the 18th arrondissement, and fighting through the throng of tourists heading up to Sacré Coeur. But it was a beautiful day in Paris today, and I decide it was time to get active.
The Marché Saint Pierre is actually a grouping of fabric stores, some four stories high, tucked just below Montmartre. On the Square Saint Pierre you’ll see one of Paris’ remaining carrousels – the same one seen in Amèlie Poulain – and the original iron and brick market building. This is now an arts center. And to the east along Rue’s Livingston and Orsel the many fabric stores from the huge and professional Reine, to the cheaper Dreyfus (much like a fabric bazaar) and Moline with its trim and buttons store. Other fabric stores line the surrounding streets and there’s a convivial atmosphere of friends shopping, fashion students and costume designers. This is where you go to find French Toile de Jouy (and even top names like Pierre Frey at Reine) and elegant, embroidered “Giverny” patterns at Moline. Certainly there are small local shops in other neighborhoods that sell threads and yarns, but in Paris, this is where everyone comes for fabric. Plus, it’s hard to resist glancing up at Sacré Coeur.
Sabz – the boutique and gallery of furniture and object design has moved to a great new space in a courtyard on the eastern edge of Paris. This month’s temporary expo (though 8 November) feature’s the “green” designs of Patrick Nadeau. Literally green as the shelves, tables and room dividers have life plants growing out of them. Fabricated in pristine white Corian, with pale wood details, each piece was inspired by the idea of giving everyone – urban dweller’s included - a chance to “cultivate his garden.”
SABZ: 12 rue Rottembourg, 75012. Metro Michel Bizot. www.sabz.fr