MiniMeLand: customize your vintage denim jacket in a colorful and unique concept store

Entering MiniMeLand is a bit like discovering the world ofAlice in Wonderland and Ali Baba's cave at the same time! This colorful concept store in the heart of Paris's 2nd arrondissement is the brainchild of Marie Marquet, founder of MiniMe Paris, whose universe revolves around upcycling and customization. You enter this crazy world either to take part in a workshop, or to find a new vintage garment to wear, but in the end, you never really know what you're going to leave with, as there are so many little jewels and beautiful discoveries to be made in this cheerful jumble!

While the first floor features a number of jackets, jewelry and pants for bargain-hunting, this is mainly where the customization workshops take place, while the basement features a boutique corner in a huge vaulted cellar with walls painted with colorful frescoes in reference to pop-culture. Unusual candles, decorative objects, apothecary notebooks, original cuddly toys, cosmetics and works of art await you in a veritable little labyrinth where you can even throw yourself into a ball pool!

You can't tell which way to look, so muchart springs up from floor to ceiling. As for us, even if we flashed on some old-school jewelry or a beautiful candle, we had come to customize a denim jacket! We began the workshop by choosing our future unique piece on a rack, according to our tastes and size, as there is only one version of each jacket, worth 55 euros. Accessories are included for 70 euros!

In the age of fastfashion, it's a way of recycling that lets you create the jacket of your dreams, using a wide range of fabrics and accessories. Fabric yokes, leathers, patches, embroidery, brooches, braids, pins - the possibilities don't require top-level skills, rest assured! Of course, if you have some basic sewing skills, that's even better, but if not, you can learn all you need to know on the spot from the super stylist-seamstress.

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We chose a superb tweed fabric from a major fashion house, as the boutique recovers unused offcuts. A chance to give your denim jacket a touch of luxury, without spending thousands of euros! We decide on the location, cut it out and pin it, before setting off to use the sewing machine- a learning process for us, which went well, with plenty of support!

Then we choose a pretty patch we like from among hundreds, and it's hard to agree on just one, so as not to overload the back of our jacket as it takes shape! A teddy bear for one, a lace shape for another, and off we go again for a bit of sewing! Then we add a few jewels or decorative elements of our own to complete the whole, and it's already three hours that have flown by, involved in the realization of our work of art!

Of course, you can also take your own garment away from the workshop to give it a new lease of life, thanks to the custom bar, whether it's a sweatshirt, a t-shirt or a tote bag, for a one-of-a-kind outfit. Other workshops are available for hats, bags or even custom-made sneakers, so you can discover the real know-how of passionate craftsmen!