Gap says merci to Paris boutique

NEW YORK, N.Y. Gap announced its partnership with the Paris boutique Merci to create a month long concept store adjacent to the New York City flagship Gap store located at 54th Street and 5th Avenue. Merci Gap will be open from Sept. 10 to Oct. 4. This collaboration marks the inaugural Merci boutique in the United States. The Merci Gap concept store will offer a variety of products sourced from locations worldwide.

Merci's mission is one combining fashion with philanthropy; vintage with contemporary design; and bespoke creations with the accessible. All profits from Merci Gap will go to various children's charities and to provide work for impoverished youth in Madagascar as with the original store in Paris. Items in the store will be a combination of Merci's signature products in addition to limited edition Gap specialties.

The store will feature several different areas of items, from categories including fashion/vintage, an Annick Goutal fragrance counter, a casual fashion section with Merci Gap products including limited edition items such as jeans, t-shirts and trenches and the lifestyle/home section.

Marie-France and Bernard Cohen, founders of Merci, said, "It's truly the 'American Dream' for a French brand to be welcomed to 5th Avenue in this way. From the start, we've been encouraged by the enthusiasm of American visitors to our Paris store."