Evolution at Muji

Muji is Japanese for Brandless Brand. The irony is that Muji, the store, is anything but generic. For those of you who aren't familiar with Muji it is a Japanese retailer that sells housewares and clothing. They keep the design of everything they manufacture to a minimalist aesthetic with no logos. Pretty simple huh?
Well, this store has a cult following and I'm afraid I too have succumbed to the no logo store. They have some very clever puzzles and stationary (I LOVE stationary). Only problem is that here in Italy there are only 3 stores: 2 in Milan and 1 in Torino. Those northerners get everything! So, Paris is where I get my fix. Take a look at what they're doing for the holidays:

Great Design Store in Rome Airport

Just back from a super quick trip to the Motor City with the family (more on that later). While I was waiting for my connection in Rome's Fiumincino Airport (aka Leonardo da Vinci Airport) I saw a new store at the international C terminal called Just Design. They have lots of really nicely designed gifts (all from European heavy weight designers) that fit into that already over packed carry-ons. I picked up some very cute leather luggage tags (afro sporting lions, dachshunds, pugs, frog princes, mod vespa ladies, etc) and a very cute French baby bib for a reasonable price.

By the way, aren't the free carts at the airport so cool? I wish they would offer these carts in America -and yes free because I'm only borrowing it not taking it home (although this one would be very cute as a laundry cart). FYI of all the airports I've been in it is always the ones in the US that want you to pay for the use of the carts -why is that?