Cool Collaboration: Amastan Paris X Merchants On Long

WORDS Cheri Morris

Amastan Paris‘s latest partnership for its “Pop-In” store is called Merchants Aime Paris, and is run in collaboration with SA’s own Merchants on Long, bringing shoppers an exclusive pop-up installation showcasing the best in contemporary African art and design.

This space, which is dedicated to hosting pop-up installations, is adjacent to the Amastan Hotel and is the first flagship store from the new urban hotel brand, having opened in July this year. The collaborative installation Merchants Aime Paris launches on 2 September 2016 in Paris’s luxurious eighth arrondissement. It serves as a blank canvas and platform for artistic expression for artists and designers from around the globe. The brand philosophy focuses on curation and collaboration with artists that portray an eclectic set of talents with a focus on art, fashion, food, architecture and design.

The 20 square metre Pop-In store features art exhibitions, screenings, installations, window displays, launches and showrooms. Merchants Aime Paris will be a continuation of the successful Merchants pop-ups, transforming Amastan into a hub of African design, by hosting an array of events, talks and interesting performances.

Founder of Merchants on Long, Hanneli Rupert, will curate and showcase ethically sourced and produced designs from Africa, aiming to bring the best of what Africa has to offer to Paris for the duration of Merchants Aime Paris.

Hanneli will be showcasing her luxury handbag brand Okapi alongside work from designers including Frazer Parfum, Halsted, MaXhosa by Laduma, Laurence Airline, Henriette Botha and more. The pop-up installation runs until 6 October 2016.