This is Paper Store

July 19, 2016 | Design & Culture by Ed

This is Paper is Warsaw‘s best kept secret. Aesthetically aware and Japanese-minimalism loving, everything about This is Paper feels well-considered, and absolutely individual. Starting with their already cult, extremely durable, vegetable-tanned leather backpacks, and ending on advertising-free, signature magazine issues, this Polish brand found back in 2011 keeps on evolving up to now, being consistently true to their style. A brand, so perfect in its creative strategy, definitely should have a space, where its vision can be experienced by the others – and here it is, the newly opened, flagship store, hidden in Warsaw’s not-that-trendy district and settled on quiet Odolańska street.

When I entered This is Paper’s stationary boutique the first time, I was pleasantly shocked by the oozing peace of those white walls and wooden shelves (holding denim rucksacks, practical transfer bags, loads of plants and niche books). Everything seems to slow down here, and the time flows in the peculiar rhyme of Asa Changs & Junray’s “Hana” track. The sales assistant matches the place’s pace, too, with laid-back, unpretentious attitude. On the left, I’ve spotted the tea-room corner, and I was really surprised, when the ‘This is Paper girl’ suggested trying her favourite taste. “You can’t buy blindly – first try it” – such a hearty and down-to-earth statement to say. In awe, I sipped the delightfully refreshing tea while listening to the story of its origin. Of course, the high-quality green tea comes from Japan, and the owners of This is Paper did their best to find the most organic and pure type. Their taste buds took them to Fukuoka prefecture, were they discovered a small, family business – against mass production, the father-and-son duo care about the tiniest details of proper tea-making process. This is Paper specializes in a wide selection of teas from Fukuoka, but they also import a great brand from Berlin – Paper & Tea.

I discovered This is Paper a few years ago (prove: I’ve written a piece about them here), and when I discovered that they are opening a store, I just couldn’t wait to see it. But it was their Instagram post with ‘matchamisu’, which made me come straight to their place. Except selling tea, This is Paper uses it in a variety of little, home-made desserts, and matcha-modified tiramisu is their latest addition. I tell you, it’s heaven for the eye and for the mouth. Also, you can try out their another specialty – matcha pralines with edible green tea, roasted rice and other flavours.

This is Paper’s store (and design studio located in the back of the retail space) isn’t just a minimally furnished spot in an off-beat part of Polish capital. It’s a totally different view on commerce, which fuses all human senses and creates desire. “Less is more” isn’t a clichee here, but an asset.

Odolańska 6-8 / Warsaw

German Summer. Jil Sander SS15

September 20, 2014September 20, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Rodolfo Paglialunga, the ex-Vionnet designer, is now the creative director of the minimalistic brand Jil Sander. This quiet designer is now on the place of Jil Sander, who left her house a year ago, and this is his first show… and it’s very German. By saying German, I mean it’s super clean, super minimal and super effortless. But it’s totally not that, what Raf Simons used to show year ago (when Sander AGAIN left her label). For summer, Rodolfo used a lot of burgundy, blue and black. We’ve got some classical sweaters and shirts… In other words, yawn. But still, these clothes are very Jil Sander.

Zofia Chylak

August 27, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Zofia Chylak is smart and romantic, but not at the edge of 19th century, where opulence gets boring. Her designs are modest and simple. And constantly kept in black & white colour palette. In her fashion, Zofia likes the tailorship, tradition and perfection in every piece. Chylak’s recent collection is pretty cold and solemn, but at the same stylish and wearable.

#TBT: Helmut Lang SS01

June 19, 2014July 28, 2017 | Design & Culture by Ed

Helmut Lang’s show began innocently enough, his trademark sleek trousers, body-conscious tops and functional overcoats redone for Spring in nubby silk-knit burlap. The looks were pure Helmut: functional, urban and modern. But then, gradually, a wave of sexual innuendo began to escalate. A tape-like strap was strategically placed on a semitransparent top; a bikini bottom was paired with a deep-plunging tank. Finally, a procession of crisscrossed, bondage-inspired dresses and tops whizzed through the audience. Lang, the designer who pioneered androgynous, uniform dressing, had designed a brilliant collection that could go from a Tribeca loft cocktail party to an alleyway midnight rendezvous west of Times Square.

Studio. Jil Sander AW14

February 23, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Jil Sander once again without Jil Sander, looks great. Just like it was with Raf Simons, and now, with Jil’s studio. The fresh perfection was presented: 50 shades of grey on coats, trousers, down to earth dresses. Jeweled dresses and flattering skirts were also here. But the highlight (and most buzzed thing on social medias yesterday) were the yellow brogues- they looked so… remarkable within all that grey. Seeing what the studio learnt from the master, now the question exists- who is going to be the new designer of this minimalistic fashion empire?