About damn time, I hear people say in response to the news that Marni is finally opening up a Marni Market pop up here in Singapore. The brand’s kooky and quirky range of items is hard to define. Homeware? There’s only so much utility a wooly figurine can offer beyond providing an interior with character. But that’s fussing about what is essentially a collection of very cute and desirable objects.
If you’re looking at home improvement, consider perhaps the aforementioned wooly figures or a marginally more austere penguin in hand-woven PVC. These wiry figures, in fact, are handmade by Colombian artisans who have collaborated with the Italian brand for several years now. If you were an early adopter, you’d recognise these from 2015 – when the Happy Market range started its tour around the world at select cities. It’s been a long time coming, but they’re here now.
Though yes, the home items are cute and limited edition, I’m a bigger believer in the utility of a woven or printed shopping tote. Most of the best items, in fact, seem perfect for summer picnics – the kind where linen shirts and big sunhats are appropriate attire. I leave it up to you to decide if hanging out outdoors on the grass in 32ºc weather is a smart idea, but let’s indulge the joie de vivre it conjures. For no reason other than the smile it could put on your face, why not consider an atas picnic basket?
The Marni Market pop up is at ION Orchard’s level 1 atrium from 1 to 15 August 2018.
