PARIS — Biën, a Japanese beauty and way of life boutique, is opening Friday within the coronary heart of Paris.
Step contained in the streamlined, light-filled retailer positioned at 10 Rue Casimir Delavigne, a stone’s throw from the Luxembourg Gardens, and a way of peace descends.
To the proper, there’s a wall embellished with Japanese beauty merchandise cherrypicked by Keiko Suyama, who runs a consulting firm and has created Japan-related retail ideas for the likes of Le Bon Marché division retailer, the place she opened the Bijo magnificence and wellbeing bar, and the Maison de la Culture du Japon.
To the left, on Biën’s floor ground, delicate ceramics are on show, whereas up one flight of stairs is a desk set for workshops and coverings, corresponding to hand or head massages.
Downstairs, central to the 755-square-foot retail house, is a bar made from Japanese cypress, the place folks can style teas and get personalised recommendation. Hanging from the ceiling is eye-catching bulbous white lighting made from puckered materials handled with a tie-dye method, with out the dye.
Biën sells magnificence and way of life merchandise.
Suyama cofounded the shop with inventive director Sadaharu Hoshino. Their thought is to attach manufacturers, craftspeople and artists all linked by an aesthetic sense of magnificence.
Suyama defined they want folks “to really feel the true Japanese minimalist aesthetic,” and “the great thing about utilization. We actually need to [have] some new experiences right here.”
Biën is an idea retailer. “We’re additionally the distributor and agent of small area of interest magnificence manufacturers,” stated Suyama. “Nearly all of the manufacturers are unique to us.”
Right here, magnificence merchandise, garments, edibles and different way of life merchandise are being bought. The lion’s share of the provide is concentrated on magnificence and well-being manufacturers, that are a mix artisanal and high-tech labels. The 25 carried by Biën have been chosen for a way they mirror the Japanese sense of magnificence. An emphasis is positioned on clear merchandise, with formulation chockablock with pure elements, particularly crops from Japan.
Some examples of these are Eau de Ki, a purifying and moisturizing lotion courting from 1926; Ruhaku, billed to be the primary natural skincare model from Okinawa, and Ipsum Alii, with formulation infused with Kampo medicinal herbs. Chosen for his or her luxurious lively elements are Makanai gold leaf facial masks and Cokon Lab, with merchandise enriched with silk from Yamaga. Suyama honed in on Waphyto for its mixture of phytotherapy- and biomethodology-culled elements.
Biën’s magnificence combine additionally features a wholesome quotient of instruments — such because the Suwada artisanal nail clipper, Shaquda brushes made within the conventional because the finish of the Edo interval, and wonder rollers from Ya-Man and Slim Cera.
The textile assortment was created by Hoshino, and that can be expanded with exhibitions by Japanese artists and artisans, corresponding to Hosoo creations from Kyoto. There are Japanese teas enriched with antioxidant crops, collagen magnificence drinks and different snacks.
Biën’s way of life choice encompasses Kaikado tea canisters and tea utensils from the Asahi Yaki home, which has been working for 16 generations.
“I’m actually glad to work with these artisans as a result of the brand new technology is round 40, 45 years outdated, and they’re nonetheless persevering with to deliver their heritage, however they’re [also] attempting to make one thing very new and [usable] in trendy life,” stated Suyama.
Exhibitions of varied designers and artists can be usually showcased at Biën, which additionally would possibly home a magnificence institute sooner or later.
The boutique is open Monday to Wednesday from midday to six:30 p.m. by appointment solely, then open to the general public from Thursday by means of Saturday from midday to 7 p.m.