It's a Wrap: MIA PAPA in Paris Fashion Week
IT'S A WRAP: MIA PAPA IN PARIS FASHION WEEK
An amazing week came to an end and we can only say ‘Paris, you’ve been the best’! Paris Fashion Week has been full of beautiful encounters, meetings and new experiences, combining business and pleasure, staying true to the Parisian ‘joie de vivre’!
The past week opened doors to new ways of thinking, new opportunities and ideas for the future of MIA PAPA and its team.
Paris doesn’t need an introduction. It’s the city of lights, the city of love and the city of fashion. And this time, it was a very special occasion for the whole team and MIA PAPA brand with its inaugural presence at the PFW. Every time in the French capital, it's an opportunity to treat yourself to an experience that makes every trip to the city a little bit more special and memorable. An experience that makes you anticipate before the departure and you hold in your memory forever after the return.
Paris Fashion Week preparations were keeping everyone at MIA PAPA already quite busy to think of anything else other than that, but still, it is Paris after all, and there were some must-do’s on our list! You can go to Paris every year and still feel like you’re discovering the city over and over again. There’s so much to do in Paris. From all the art exhibitions, the restaurants and cafes you can visit to its wineries. We were confident enough we wouldn’t have to really worry about our itinerary during our stay.
Both our AQ Market showroom and hotel were located in the heart of Paris, in Le Marais. The romantic, festive and trendy district, with a village feel due to its cobblestone streets, historic spots and quirky boutiques, is a Paris landmark on its own. One cannot possibly fail to notice the Hotel de Ville, or the romantic Place des Vosges dating back to the Renaissance. Le Marais owes much of its charm to its magnificent architecture and rich history, which for MIA PAPA and its founder, being there day and night, was equally satisfying and fulfilling as a fresh warm croissant!
The days at the showroom were definitely demanding, but whenever there was a window of time, we would make sure to get some of the city’s buzz and inspiration during this period of the year.
We tried the best vegan jackfruit burger on Wild and the Moon, the most sustainable and consciously made cocktails at the Red Little Door and we visited the most mesmerising double Picasso - Rodin exhibition at Paris Musée National Picasso and Musée Rodin. We became regulars at the cosy Cafe Charlot and Le Carreau du Temple just across our showroom and made sure to visit the most-anticipated ‘Paris-Athens’ exhibition at the Louvre Museum, celebrating the bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence.
A visit at the iconic Hotel Plaza Athénée for their signature afternoon tea had to be on our list. On a rainy, busy day, it was the best treat we could have asked for! We managed to pay a quick visit to the silver-blue fabric wrapped L'Arc de Triomphe, an artwork by Christo and Jeanne-Claude and drive through the busy Champs-Élysées on our way back to the showroom.
Just before we crossed to the other side of the river bank, located right across the Seine from Notre Dame, we made a quick stop at the Shakespeare & Company, the most famous English-language bookshop in Paris, stuffed full of gorgeous books and beautiful decor.
Our last night held a special pleasure at the traditional Parisian Brasserie Lipp, just across the Café de Flore, indulging ourselves with crazy-tasty garlic-parsley butter escargot and French red wine. Enough said!
On our way back to Charles de Gaulle Airport, we found ourselves daydreaming of the narrow backstreets meandering to the heart of the city, filled with the aroma of those Parisian staples, baguettes and coffee, wafting from corner cafés. The inspiring fashion vibe of the city, together with all the heartfelt admiration for the brand and its ethos, gave to all of us incredible strength, motivation and energy for our next plans.
