Not so Mini. To be honest, we long ago grew dissillusioned with the MoMA Design Store and felt it had lost its relevance as so many other shops sprung up with more creativity and more edge. We add them now to our Stores Guide because we love their new Muji section and want to know if others have been as ambivalent as us.
If you don't know, this is what Muji is about:
The name "MUJI" is derived from the Japanese phrase "Mujirushi Ryohin," meaning "No Brand Goods." Over the last 20 years, they have developed a worldwide following with a guiding philosophy that emphasizes innovative and simple materials, processes, and packaging.
Some favorite items are the flat business card case ($7), the cardboard speakers ($40), and the aluminum table ($900). MGR
NY Mag says: "This store competes with Moss and the Terence Conran Shop to sell the chic-est housewares in town."
Frommers says: "Terrific" and "Fabulous"
AT Readers say: Vote and Comment below...
Patrick, sorry about the miscommunication, that wasn't what I was saying.
Who's been to the new MUJI store in Milano? I'm loving those plexi boxes they used.
I know Muji from living in England and have always liked their products and philosphy. I even tried to order their (new last year) sofa bed from Selfridges in London but they would not ship overseas. The sofa bed is not listed on the online store but it was a very affordable, very clean looking design.
Trouble is I see the prices are very high here for some items compared to the UK which must be a result of the weak $ and import duties. This, IIRC from the store in the UK, undermines one of the principals of this company.
While I like the Muji stuff, I am sooo over the staff at all MoMA store locations. They are self-absorbed and wait on you whenever they feel like it, if at all. I recently had a bad experience trying to track down an item, and was treated like dirt at all three locations.
Plus, in the brand new space attached to the new museum, they apparently only believe in the idea of cashiers, not salespeople. Consequently, (aside from not being able to get any questions answered) that store looks more like a KMart or some sort of design outlet than the high-priced style emporium they aspire to be, since the shelves are picked over by hoards of tourists.
If I want to look at gorgeous things AND be ignored while doing it, I'll go to Moss instead. The music is better at Moss. And the place always looks beyond impeccable.
ps-- The Muji stuff is really nicely priced UNTIL you get to the furniture. Then it spikes, big time.
A more extensive muji catalogue is located at www.muji.co.uk
I have always been unimpressed by the moma design stores as a design
store. They seem to be set up to operate as tourist and visitor
shops. This might be okay for the store accross from the museum but using the same philosophy in downtown store leaves it unable to compete with other design stores.
I was also introduced to Muji in England. I have a wonderful aluminum clipboard from them that's lasted years.
I've loved MUJI products since being introduced in Paris. Their mechanical pencils are fabulous. The MoMA store is just OK in my book. Nothing to write home about--except around the holidays. They do have some fun stocking stuffers sometimes.
I, too, first saw Muji products in Paris. I noticed a number of Muji stores clustered near to each other, one with housewares, one with GAP/APC-ish clothes, all clean, simple, and (at that former exchange rate) really affordable.
Lately I've noticed a number of Korean and Japanese chain discount stores in Chinatown, trying to bite Muji's style, with generic-looking notebooks and household products. Anyone else notice this?
The only other saving grace about the MoMA store in my book is that proceeds do in fact support the museum. Not sure at what percentage, though.
While it may be true that the MoMA Deisgn store isn't the best for housewares, I have to ask, don't any of you people read books? The MoMA store on Spring Street has a great selection of art, architecture, photography and design books. Other design stores cannot compare.
The name "MUJI" is derived from the Japanese phrase "Mujirushi Ryohin," meaning "No Brand Goods."
So they created a brand meaning "no brand"?
I was just about to post about the book selection in the Spring St store!
I do buy a lot of stuff on line including books but you just can't beat browsing in a store, spotting something of interest and maybe eventually buying it. This store has a great selection of books that interest me and I agree with Jedd, I have yet to find another store that can compete.
I have found that the surly, affected "help" also "works" in the book department...
I go to MoMA to look at art. Not Philippe Starck chairs. Besides, if you're resourceful you can get MUJI elsewhere..
Oh and also. MUJI is the best. Everything I've ever bought from them (including those cardboard speakers) is totally awesome all the time. They're getting quite a bit of hype in the US, though. Anyone know if there's a US store in the works?
heheh, Patrick, you have quite a way with words, but we all knew that about you already.
Sally, I go to the MoMA to look at art also but this is the store we are talking about. However, you do raise a good point. Should there even be a MoMA store?
I think the "Do I work in a museuem or in a store?" issue is at the root of why I have such a problem with the store staff... but I also sometimes have that same issue with haughty art gallery staffers...
For the record, the gift shop at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum kicks a$$. No Muji, though.
And, sally, I believe there are also Philippe Starck chairs IN MoMA itself...
Sorry, "museum." spell much?
I would be sad to lose that bookstore. I love scoring a Le Corbusier chair to browse a stack of great design books. I have noticed that when I actually try to purchase something, the "help" avoids my eye and starts charging in and out of the employee entrance like they're supervising a NASA launch back there. Even though they have clearly been troubled by nothing whatsoever the whole time I was browsing.
MUJI stuff is great and I'm glad to have it here even if it's pricier and less complete than in asia. I use their office supplies in all three of the materials, metal, cardboard and the translucent plastic. I won't bore you with the details of my filing system but, I love how the different materials help me stay organized and look sleek. When I moved back to NY, I searched for an easy way to buy more but, nothing. Then MUJI followed me! Must be love=)
I'm noticing that any mention of the book store involves lots of "browsing" but not much "buying"...
sg--
That is a hilarious description of what my experience has always been, too!
Yes, Patrick, they do. As does Design Within Reach, Moss, Limn, Dune, etc.
sally--
Not my point (that you can get them elsewhere). My point was that you made it sound like the only "art" in MoMA (the museum) is paintings and sculpture, in the traditional sense. Not so.
Design can (and thankfully does) cross the line between art and commerce.
a 900.00 dollar alum. table? Doesn't that say it all? PLEASE.
I love going to Muji stores when I'm in Japan.
The Muji stores in Japan carry a lot more stuff than the MOMA store. Check out store.muji.net
which is all in Japanese, but just click around and you can see the merchandise.
If you buy the aluminum table in Japan, then you can get it for 52500 yen, which is about $484 at the current exchange rate.
store.muji.net/user/ItemDetail/detail?svid=3&_from=/ListProducts/list&sc=S01202&sp=muji&prd=4945247813166&index=65
But when you factor in duty and airfare...
My experience has always been that the customers at the SoHo store have WAY too much time and money on their hands. The fact that you are taking the time to write such petty comments about such a small matter basically proves my point about what type of clientele these poor MoMA staffers have to deal with every day. Perhaps the reason that the "help" does, at times, avoid the customers speaks to what type of bratty, self-centered customers they are dealing with.
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www.africancraftsexports.com