Culture

Muji Moving to America

by ryan | September 21, 2007 at 01:49 pm

1971 views | 11 Recommendations | 3 comments

It's hard to believe that American needs another store...but it seems like the centre of consumerism needs just one more. That one more is Muji, the famed Japanese purveyor of stylish yet economically sane goods. Products range from furnitare to travel gear, Muji is the ultimate in utilitarian elegance (to quote jordan)

Among the design conscious, the most exciting news of the year has been that Muji—the Japanese retailer of nondescript, mercifully plain wares—is opening two stores in New York City. Muji's SoHo store, its first in North America, will open in mid-November; the company's flagship in Midtown Manhattan should open sometime next year.

And if you are curious as to what exactly Muji is...well it's kinda like Target and Ikea but not really.

Muji, in contrast, revels in neutrality. Almost all of its products are devoid of color, and the most surprising and delightful aspect of their design is how nondescript they are. A teakettle designed for Target will likely have a visual flourish—a spinning piece of plastic on its spout, perhaps—while a Muji teakettle is content to be just what you expect a teakettle to be.

The essence of it though is that perhaps Americans feel the need to find simplicity again...and that's why it's so exciting.