I discovered
Muji early this year when I was in Thailand. It was an outcast day and I was doing some housework, folding clothes & hanging up the wash, only to be spontaneously invited by aunt's friend to do some shopping therapy and treat ourselves with some Japanese food at Fuji in Bangkok Central Plaza (she was fustrated by her husband so it was women's instinct to go on the escape). Naturally the invitation was accepted with an immediate yes as the days for outings and excursions were on its final countdown. You could call it luck because I had no idea what or who
Muji was until we accidentally stumbled upon it while pondering around feeling a little bored (since the complex felt much like the department stores in Sydney). As my eyes hit the wooden interiors I knew it would be good - finally something worth the trip to Bangkok - and it was indeed very very good.
The ambience was amazing. Wooden shelves. Illuminated space. Minimal design. All accompanied by this Japanese mountainy folksy sort of music. It felt so good, so natural... it made you want to run away from civilisation and live in your own Japanese-tea-house-hut on a mountain with 360 degrees of spectacular views.
The
Muji philosophy is simple; products of simplicity, high quality & reasonable price.
Muji lives up to this with their
less is more aesthetics and wonderful quality. It considers itself as a 'non-brand' as their identity has no logo but is characterised by their packaging which incorporates simple brown/recycled paper with blood red colour scheme. While it's not particularly cheap, the price tag isn't exaggerated either; when they say reasonable price they mean it. After extensively browsing the store and pretty much falling in love with every item I touched I ended up settling with four goodies: socks, stockings, pyjamas and tunic (as price had me feeling slightly guilty I didn't splurge as much as I would have... particularly since I was in Thailand where things are meant to be 'cheap', the cost of Muji products would seem exaggerated even though they're standard in Australia). Despite the price (and perhaps that it is made in China... like all things) which initially made my stomach flip, I'm telling you it's worth it - the beauty is in the simplicity & preciousness of the materials - the timeless design means it'll last you a long time... forget disposable.
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Photos & design by Hamlet & Story (c) 2012
- 90 Degree Angled Muji Socks / Wine Red / Dotted: They're super soft
- Ladies' Tights / Horizontal textured
- Ladies' Sleeper / 100% Cotton / Light Pink & White Gingham: I've worn this over and over like crazy. It's so comfortable! My favourite PJs most certainly. (and has pockets)
- Ladies' Tunic / 100% Cotton / Cream & Deep Burgundy / Striped: I don't usually buy anything like it - but I was somehow intrigued to try it on and it felt good. It also has pockets and the material is also quite thick so it's great for winter.
- Brands A to Z: Muji by Peng Yangjun and Chen Jiaojiao / published by Southbank Publishing: I discovered the book in my library while trying to find White by Kenya Hara (Only to realise that Hara is the muji advisor + art director of Muji... but I'll stop talking he deserves a post of his own)
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Although
Muji was a new discovery to me, Muji is in fact not at all new and has actually been around for while now since the 1980s in response to the cheap poor quality products that were dominating the supermarket environment. Today the Japanese company has chain stores around the world (one of them being Bangkok but none in Sydney as of yet *sadface*) selling over 7000 products of which are mostly household products. Among the store I visited I also found these beautiful bed sheets which felt and looked amazing, very soft men's cardigan in my deep red/purple colour (unfortunately not vegan), and compact earmuffs (would love it for switzerland :3) just to name a few highlights. There are stores in Germany so you know one of the places I'll be at next year :)
/Ham
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