This specialist selection features French, US, Korean and Japanese brands, including D-ANTIDOTE, N.D.G. STUDIO, NASASEASONS, 51PERCENT, VANS and IFITSUS.

Streetwear is not new. It has been in the slipstream of the visual arts, music and sport since the 1990s. It creates a bridge between disciplines, between the street and designers, flirting with both the luxury and basic markets. The clothes are sometimes simple without being simplistic, ordinary pieces with hidden details that conceal their specialness. But streetwear can also be punchy, expressing itself through messages, arty motifs and surprising volumes. Streetwear is a mix of cultures and genres, it is often unisex and transcends clichés. It is also the result of collaborations with artists and luxury brands.

Through a partnership with I Look (a streetwear product outlet), Merci is showing how the brands are employing new strategies, relying on rarity and successions of capsule collections to spark  enthusiasm.

Finally, because streetwear is also about freedom of expression and creativity, Jules, Constantin and Ramzi called on a young artist by the name of “La Gueule du Loup” to create street art on the Fiat and the tiny space where the event is being held from 12 January to 6 February. The artist will also customise a selection of vintage clothes. Because streetwear is also a way of standing out from the crowd by wearing unique, personalised creations.

As a mirror-image to these pieces  of obect-inspired art, Merci will offer a selection of art-inspired objects, a selection reflecting important movements in modern and contemporary art: Surrealism, Pop Art, Art Brut, Hyperrealism, Street Art, Body Art…Funny, quirky, poetic, kitsch or bizarre, each of those objects reflects the singular quality particular to art:

A delicate, ghostly collection of items of clothing and accessories cut from unglazed porcelain by Violaine Ulmer, African masks in recycled materials, Japanese “fake-food”, the “Toilet Paper” collection of furniture and tableware designed by Maurizio Cattelan for Seletti…Objects promoted to the rank of pieces of art, presented in a gallery-type space, selected by Merci’s unique eye. So… Art or Object? It’s up to you to decide.

The Skateroom:

Merci will devote first floor landing to a collaboration with The Skateroom, with their limited – edition skateboards designed by contemporary artists. 8 Campbell’s soup silkscreens (sold as a collection or separately) by Andy Warhol and “In Italian”, a triptych by Jean-Michel Basquiat were selected from a wide catalogue of works. Part of Skateroom’s profits go Skateistan, a charity helping young people through the installation of skate parks.

School Gallery

Olivier Castaing, creator of the School Gallery has been a pioneer for over 10 years, defending both established artists and young talents from around the world. His gallery is a place of discovery that everyone can access. In collaboration with Merci, he selected artists and pieces that emphasise the connection of art and objects: Konrad draws incredibly intricate and accurate works using Bic ballpoint pens exclusively, in blue ink His “20^th Century Icons” series represents all the classics in contemporary chairs Kimio Yajima is a Japanese photographer who represents a full range of amazingly beautiful, painterly still lives images of glass bottles and carafes, bathed in a mysterious, warm glow, capture our attention with a strange detail in the level of the water they hold.

Zeuxis gallery.

A by-appointment only gallery apartment and an online platform, where Amélie du Chalard presents a selection of works from  a panel of 70 artists

Tanguy Tolila’s “ Echelles” (ladders), are each unique. They combine salvaged wood, brass and rusted iron wire, everyday objects such as  rulers, sticks, tools, wooden toys,  chosen for their individuality and timeworn qualities

Nadine Altmayer will show her textile paintings. Working with vintage pieces in cotton, linen or hemp, she coats the materials in clay or resin, sometimes adding texture with stitches

It is a radio on the web that opens a door to the musical culture of the whole world. First, you choose a country on a beautiful planisphere. Then, a period on a timeline divided into decades, from 1900 until today. Finally, the music plays. Thanks to contributors from all continents, there are now around 30,000 songs. You should know that we receive 2000 a week which are sorted through by our team. Thus, almost all countries are represented, even those whose borders have been shattered by history, such as the former Czechoslovakia or the former Yugoslavia.

How was the idea born?

Radiooooo has been around for more than three years now. My background is in contemporary art (I was represented by the gallery Perrotin) and I was a DJ at the Baron, which means a lot of years of musical research. One day, when I was in a 1950s car - my father is a collector - sitting on the Skaï red bench seat, I turned on the Bakelite radio that poured out techno and suddenly the space-time bubble exploded! I think it all started from there.

What do we listen to if we're... lazy at home in the morning, or more social in the evening, or just undecided?

That's the main principle of Radiooooo. A button allows you to select a mood: Slow to not be too worked up, Fast to energise and Weird for all the unexpected things we love - like music from a 1970s Japanese cartoon or a piece that lasts fif-teen minutes! Some imaginary islands are scattered here and there, such as Lazy Island which broadcasts soft music for work, Neverland for children or, in another genre, Guilty Pleasure Island. Radiooooo is like a kind of sound museum where new pieces always pop up. On the other hand, no button allows you to give into the temptation to skip... You always need to be curious!

And what is Radiooooo doing at Merci?

We created a soundtrack, played under the main atrium, that we wanted to dif-fuse into the air like a perfume, a "touch" that is never too invasive. It changes every month. We have also grouped different songs on a vinyl, on sale at Merci or on the web, which ranges from 1930s Russian music to Mexican techno... In short, a Radiooooo style voyage.

A universe of your own

Here, Carole Petit has finally found the tranquillity conducive to escape. She showcases the small objects she collects during her travels: a straw bag, a plaid braid from Tel Aviv, an African brush, coloured pencils in real wood bark. Those items loathe the perfect polished looks and instead boast the fluidity, the softness and the comfort of the fabrics...
Crepe de chine silk, cotton, velvet silk, linen… she has her own way of "abusing" them so that each piece seems to have lived and awakens a certain softness in the person who wears it.

Couleurs, patterns and blending

Diega’s DNA has been laid out from the very first collections, with cotton shirts printed with plant designs. Amongst them the palm tree, which involves more subtle representations each season, such as dried branches resembling  bronze...

Many of them are inspired by the palm grove of Marrakech, an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the stylist. Carole has been going there for thirty years - Marrakech is the city of her great-grandfather - but is moved by the experience each time as if it’s her first visit.

"It offers a spectacle of incredible nature, with the dyes suspended on strings in the night bazaar...".

It all starts with the colours which are laid on strips of cotton fabric that she then works with a dyer to get her range of colours. Ochres, chestnuts and greens mix and evoke the earth and nature.

Amongst these semi historic, gummed and deaf colours, often arises boy blue, a nod to the men’s shirt. A very bright and flattering blue complexion.

Bright colours- very few for her unless it is associated with nature. Like those yellow flowers on her desk that remind her that the stylist has succumbed to a bright solar yellow for the summer.

Themes and mixing of colours, materials and patterns are defined on a mood-board placed in the room. "As I print my fabrics, I knit my stories," says someone who likes to get her raw materials in their country of origin, like her alpaca that she selects in Peru.

The Diega allure

Extra-large trousers in noble and natural materials, open comfy shirts, tunic dresses, wrap-around skirts, floating bathrobes... The golden rule? Amplitude. A garment must be flexible yet not engulf.

The Diega woman, incarnated by Dolores Doll, wears contrasting linen: fawn print and natural linen blend with a two-tone checkered shirt. Beautiful, without sophistication. Elegance according to the stylist - the recent Instagram image of Inès de la Fressange in a Diega blouse.

The masculine in the feminine

At a young age, Ralph Lauren was his master of thought... Brought up in a family of menswear creators, Carole Petit rubbed shoulders with suits from prestigious houses, touched the finest materials: explaining where her passion for menswear began.

The masculine and the feminine are just as balanced with delicate Ball Pages braided sandals as they are with flat mules with wide crossed leather straps. The suit is plain, beige and light gray or is available in striped, African or flower prints. The men's jacket is associated with long dresses or skirts that are a prowess of style: a cotton tube knotted and draped at the waist.

Music and the secret of a name

“These are my roots. My grandfather played it all the time. I will never be able to part with his guitar. It is shattered and I have to repair it." To invoke music, a guitar dries in the workshop. The stylist never plays it, but has cemented its place: the instrument carries a pen, a very Diega detail, as the stylist notes. The name of her brand also finds its origins in the song "Diego" by Michel Berger, a name that echoes the Spanish culture, which are also part of her roots. At the time of registering her brand, the name was not available. Then, she had the idea of replacing the "o" with an “a".

Because Weck jars adapt to the type and nature of the product. Cylinder, tulip or carafe shaped, six different shapes have been designed, each offering a wide variety of sizes (35 ml to more than 1 liter). Impossible to not find the right container for truffles, whole foie gras, asparagus, chutney, or cassoulet ... But that's not all. These jars - bisphenol, lead and PET free - go in the oven, the microwave and the freezer (need to remove the rubber seal). For everyday use.

Because quality complements their sleek design. Even if Weck jars appear perfect for terrines and jams, they are not confined to the kitchen. With or without their lids, they can also be placed on the table, acting as a mini casserole dish to serve individual meals and desserts.

Bonus. An imposing space on two levels with an annex on the impasse Saint-Claude, at the the end of the street.

What? A contemporary art gallery whose artists you rarely see such as Sophie Calle, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Maurizio Catalan, Takashi Murakami... with new additions regularly. Lastly, paintings by Pieter Vermeersch are the main attraction, and from March 16 Aya Takano takes us on a tour of her manga filled universe.

Bonus. The bookshop, located on the right side of the courtyard, offers a wonderful selection of books, as well as affordable artist made items, such as tote bags, jewelery, T-shirts or cups…

How? The success story of how a young gallery owner, Emmanuel Perrotin, was able to climb the ranks in Paris and elsewhere in 20 years. He opened galleries in New York, Hong Kong, Seoul...

Bonus. The pleasure of discovering each exhibition.

We love. Entering the courtyard when you instantly feel safe from the Parisian hustle and bustle. Climbing the stairs of the double sided staircase, under the watchful eye of a bronze statue. Walking around the large, white and bright rooms with their colourful concrete floor and finally admiring the small garden with its palm trees...

Bonus. The numerous exhibitions and openings are available to all. Visits are free and there are always informational booklets on the artists.

Galerie Perrotin, 76, rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris,  open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm.

The decor.We find ourselves in a convivial atmosphere where time stopped in the sixties. A black and white checkered floor, bistro tables and a wooden bar, Vichy style red and white table mats... Here, you’ll find a quiet and intimate table and if it’s crowded, like Thursday lunch, the day of home-made fries, you’ll strike up a conversation with your neighbour. In the evening, the welcome is equally friendly and guests dine on white cloth tablecloths

The main characters.For Roger, cooking has been a passion since he was 14 years old. After Prunier and the Grand Véfour, he was the chef at Pierre at the Palais-Royal. Accompanied by his wife Chantal and their son Cyril, he always works with the same energy. Whether for lunch or evening meals, all the dish-es are homemade and prepared according to traditional recipes with carefully selected products (Charolais meat, vegetables and seasonal fruits).

The menu.For lunch, a single prix-fix menu is featured on the slate chalkboard with a choice of appetizers, main dishes (meat or fish) and traditional desserts. Leeks in a vinaigrette, vegetable soup, chicken in a duxelle sauce or haddock in a lobster sauce… something for every taste and desire. It is also safe to bet that dessert lovers will find something amongst the chocolate profiteroles, lemon tart or Paris Brest… In the evening, the choice is a la carte: regional recipes (cassolette of snails, Lyonnais quenelles), gastronomic classics (boeuf a la ficelle, veal sweetbreads with candied shallots) ... As for the calf's head with gribiche sauce and the delicate hot apple or raspberry tartes, we come here just for them.

A Note. Chez Nénesse the restaurant fills up quickly, many guests are regulars and make reservations.

Chez Nénesse 30, rue de Poitou / 17, rue de Saintonge, 75003 Paris. Reservations: 01 42 78 46 49. Closed on weekends and public holidays.

You DNA ?

The heart of the brand is knitwear and jacquard fabric. Knitwear is a very technical material and the field of possibilities is endless... it’s one of the reasons why we don’t hesitate to accumulate designs. I think what defines the spirit of Maison Olga is an originality that contains strong graphic accents and many different designs, while at the same time remaining timeless.

What do your clothes say about you ?

Maison Olga is the result of very harmonious and fluid teamwork: Giulia and I have the same tastes. We let ourselves be guided by our desires of the moment, we understand each other. We advocate for a cool, playful and fresh silhouette with the nonchalance of the eternal teen and improbable mixes of pieces and prints. With that said, Alberto’s masculine perspective is very enriching.

Your creative process ?

We develop great mood boards with images from blogs, Pinterest and Tumblr, which reflect our generation. We also take a lot of “street style” photos as we travel a lot! We are lucky to have the factory next door, where we spend hours in the archives looking for interesting things. We then follow the prototypes with designers who bring together the necessary adjustments, until the perfect piece is created.

How was the summer collection born ?

This collection grew from a wild and arid trip across Mexico with its amazing colours and imagery. A trip to the land of wrestling and a nod to Pancho Villa. These jacquards turn into floral impressions, warm tones of scorched earth and emerald green, a cactus pattern, a desert snake that walks on the back of a jacket…

Your favorite pieces ?

The perfect denim super-sized sleeveless top and the silvery sequined jacket. The kimono jacket that mixes all kinds of Aztec prints, the long semi-transparent flowy dress, and the jacket with an embroidered wrestler’s mask...

Your lifestyle ?

Maison Olga is simply a reflection of who we are. Girls who know the city, having lived there for a long time, who like to travel but have settled down in the countryside. We are now followers of “slow life”: we live a very quiet life, we take time for our children, we do yoga, we cook. While in Paris I often cooked Picard (frozen food), now "il mangiare” has become sacred! Maison Olga is a mix of all these lifestyles.

Lorenza Lenzi (from Rome) and Gianpaolo Polverino (from Naples) both come from the world of fashion. In 2009, they combined their tastes and achievements to create a catering service. When the food is good, the news goes fast. The two Italians quickly established themselves in the Parisian events scene by providing lunches or dinners for fashion shows, photo shoots and other events. A few years later, in 2015, the adventure continued with the opening of the café-restaurant La Petite Table, in the heart of the Marais.

• Decor.

Step into this cozy place and your mouth will water at the sight of the beautifully presented desserts. The small marble tables line up sensibly under gilded brass lamps and face a long marble counter. A bistro atmosphere where gray benches harmonise with the geometric patterns of cement tiles on the ground. The golden cutlery and the bouquets of fresh flowers punctuate this warm and well-balanced environment.

• The actors.

At La Petite Table, Lorenza and Gianpaolo do not mess around with a few basic principles: guaranteed freshness, well sourced materials and creative ingenuity. Here, producers are handpicked (meat sourced from France, fish from small coastal fisheries), seasonal vegetables are used in their entirety, from the root to the leaf and in all possible ways (juices, broths, vegetable dyes, etc.). Lastly, the menu does not risk getting old since the evening menu changes every three days and the lunch menu daily.

• The menu.

You can come to La Petite Table at any time of the day and for any desire. To start the day, the gleaming coffee machine on the counter makes espressos or cappuccinos that transport you directly to Italy. You can also opt for a nice brunch: breads, pastries, homemade pancakes, eggs, ham, salmon, etc. In the afternoon, the salads are hearty and the dishes of the day well balanced. In the evening, Italian-inspired dishes offer ingredients such as citron, candied cauliflower, kale ... As for the desserts, the fabulous (and homemade) cheesecake or chocolate cream mascarpone cake are a perfect way to indulge.

• Special mention.

Lorenza et Gianpaolo recently finished a wine cellar that holds around 50 different types of wine, all of which are featured on the wine menu.

La Petite Table, 27 rue Saintonge, 75011 Paris, 01 74 64 00 36. Everyday from 10:00 à 23:00, except Sunday.    

From 27 March to 1 April, Armand Arnal, the Michelin starred chef from the Camargue region in the south of France, will take over the Merci kitchens at 111 blvd Beaumarchais. He will take advantage of the change in seasons and utilise a mix of Paris' "green belt" fruit and vegetables, filled with bright colours, flavours and scents.
An ode to the nature and soil that Merci invites you to discover during this culinary residency

Reservations at +33 (0)1 42 77 79 28.