If you keep putting your long-awaited vacations on hold because of the scorching heat, these beautiful shops will surely change your mind. From an evergreen Eden to a house of extraordinary colours and creative playgrounds, every visit to these physical stores is the best summer treat a city can offer. Read on to explore our easy breezy guide to shopping in warmer weather, or snag a copy of Issue 6 to discover more inspiring stories from the shopkeepers.
FOR URBANITES WITH A GREEN THUMB
SHOP / Wildernis
OWNERS / Emma Hagedoorn, Mila van de Wall
ig | website
AWW Issue 6 - Welcome to my shop!
Illustrations by Aura Cherrybag
What’s so great about it:
Step inside this Amsterdam plant shop and come face to face with zesty energy in abundance! Inspired by Hortus Botanicus, Wildernis offers a rich selection of plants, books, gardening tools and pots with common Dutch names like “Bertus” and “Truus”. Also get your hands on their refreshing take on illustrated pins and postcards that come with forget-me-not seeds.
Our Summer Picks:
Oxalis Triangularis bulbs, which love sunshine and a warm home! Plant these heart-shaped beauties in Wildernis’ cute face pots to bring your living room to life.
FOR MOVIE FANS WITH A FREE SPIRIT
SHOP / Marchand Son
(a.k.a Colour Makes People Happy)
OWNER / Simon March
ig | website
AWW Issue 6 - Welcome to my shop!
Illustrations by Aura Cherrybag
What’s so great about it:
Living in a movie might seem like a dream at first, but not anymore with Marchand Son’s unconventional paints. With fun names such as "Sal… Wyoming's not a country", their vibrant paint collections are a striking ode to the cinematic worlds of Agnès Varda and Sidney Lumet, as well as to the music and pop culture Simon takes interest in. Their shop in Lewes is painted with a new, exciting colour every once in a while, so make sure to pop in to enjoy bucketloads of hues and matching songs that come straight from the jukebox.
Our Summer Picks:
“LICK”, a paint colour inspired by the ice lolly featured in “Betty Blue” and “WHAT THE HELL KINDA FLAVOUR IS THAT” in honour of National Ice Cream Day.
FOR ANIMAL AND CRAFT LOVERS
SHOP / kata kata
OWNERS / Chie Takai, Takeshi Matsunaga
ig | website
AWW Issue 6 - Welcome to my shop!
Illustrations by Aura Cherrybag
What’s so great about it:
Nothing brings more comfort than a soft, vibrant towel in this sweltering season. Specialising in katazome and chusen, kata kata combines Japanese traditional dyeing technique with nature-inspired motifs, creating a wide range of textile products that are as handy as they’re eye-catching. The Tokyo store also serves as an atelier; if you’re lucky, you can even catch a glimpse of the artist carving patterns for the tenugui that stretches across the room!
Our Summer Picks:
Their signature handkerchiefs decorated with lively flora and fauna patterns. Wear it as a pocket square to accentuate your summer look, or wrap it around your bento box to make your meal more appealing.
FOR MINIMALISTS WHO EMBRACE “LESS IS MORE”
SHOP / Casa González & González
OWNERS / Javier Carrasco González, María Rosa Amor González
ig | website
AWW Issue 6 - Welcome to my shop!
Illustrations by Aura Cherrybag
What’s so great about it:
Transform your everyday routines into happy rituals with Casa González & González’s fine selections. Taking their cues from the Japanese artistic “Mingei” movement, traditional factories, artisans, old films, travels and poetry, childhood friends Javier and María curate and handpick functional products that are designed to withstand the test of time.
Our Summer Picks:
Muggy day got you down? Treat yourself to a relaxing and moisturising bath with their traditional Aleppo and Marseille soaps. Or carry your groceries and beach essentials in their classic net bag – it’s a quick way to make your trip fashionable and sustainable.
FOR CREATIVE MINDS WHO ENJOY GETTING THEIR HANDS DIRTY
SHOP / pansy
OWNER / Alina Tang
ig | website
AWW Issue 6 - Welcome to my shop!
Illustrations by Aura Cherrybag
What’s so great about it:
Cosy, cheery and colourful, pansy is a maker’s paradise any creative mind would love to call home. This part-shop, studio and workshop space in Amsterdam is brimming with handmade things. From artworks, to ceramics, zines, prints and homewares, you’ll surely find something that will put a smile on your face. Additionally, their themed workshops provide you with a perfect opportunity to meet craft buddies and adorn your home with cute DIY items.
Our Summer Picks:
“Ceramics & Cocktails” pack: a special pottery kit for you and your BFF to create matching cocktail cups while taking a sip of homemade Gin Fizz. Also spend your Sunday chilling and crafting in pansy’s “ceramic sundaes” session with real ice cream cones!
FOR FRANCOPHILES WHO FIND PLEASURE IN ILLUSTRATIONS
SHOP / Marin Montagut
OWNER / Marin Montagut
ig | website
AWW Issue 6 - Welcome to my shop!
Illustrations by Aura Cherrybag
What’s so great about it:
Have a taste of ancient Paris and the “art of life” aesthetic in this magnificent store at 48 rue Madame. Founded by collector, explorer and illustrator Marin Montagut, the eponymous brand has captured the hearts of trendsetters and art lovers from around the globe with its French art de vivre collections and attention to detail. Their well-designed objects feature beautiful drawings by Marin and are manufactured by local craftsmen, which makes every one of them unique in its own way.
Our Summer Picks:
Enjoy your favourite drinks with their mouth-blown, hand-painted drinking glasses, which can double as a mini vase for seasonal flowers. For a bucolic summer, light the tomato leaf-scented “BONJOUR NORMANDIE” candle, a delicate aroma that transports you to Marin’s vegetable garden in Normandy.