Liberty has been working away on an impressive number of collaborations this year and one of my favourites has to be the cross-channel partnership with Paris concept store, merci.
The two stores will open pop-up shops in London and Paris in March and will be selling a limited edition collection of products designed and created by merci Creative Director Marie-France Cohen, exclusively for Liberty of London, using the iconic floral Liberty prints.
merci was opened last year by Marie-France and Bernard Cohen, the founders of childrenswear couture house Bonpoint, and is known in Paris as ‘the store that gives back’. Mixing fashion with philanthropy, merci donates all of its profits to the Accueil des Sans Abri foundation to help women and children in Madagascar.
The store is set over three storeys in a beautiful loft space in the Marais (3rd arrondissement) with a used-book literary café, Grazie Pizzeria, florist, Annick Goutal perfume laboratory and a secret city garden.
It stocks a diverse range of clothes, from vintage finds to Parisian staple designers Isabel Marant and A.P.C, alongside high end pieces by Chloé, Marni and YSL.
Many designers have donated furniture and clothes to be sold at merci and they often create limited edition collections exclusively for the store.
The merci for Liberty range will include clothes for women, men and kids, accessories, stationery, homeware, soft furnishings, fabrics and gifts. The fashion collection is set to be popular for Spring, with strappy sun dresses, playsuits and bikinis in classic Liberty prints such as Betsy, Eloise and Meadow.
There are also mini-me version of the womenswear for kids and the boys can get comfy with printed pyjamas and kurtas. Babies can also get wrapped up in Liberty florals with adorable floral bloomers smock tops and pretty shirts.
You can also give your home a floral make-over for Spring with an adorable range of mugs, notebooks, stationery, storage boxes and gadgets like merci’s ingenious reusable napkin roll. I’ve got my eye on this beautiful Liberty fabric necklaces adorned with the merci medal.
Liberty and merci really do make an excellent partnership. Liberty has built on its strong heritage, making florals cool again and merci has completed redefined the boutique department store experience. As Carnaby Street is celebrating its 50th anniversay this year, Liberty’s flower power is as vital to the London fashion scene as ever.
With beautifully designed products for all budgets, the pop-up shop is definitely worth a visit. Merci beaucoup, Liberty!