When the act of shopping is elevated to an experience that is both aesthetically pleasing and good for the soul, you know you must be in Genki. While out on my little jaunt the other day, I dropped in to visit what has been one of my long time favorite stores, hidden in Melbourne's city. I say "long time favorite" even though my opportunities to visit have been some what few and far between in the last few years; however, every time I head up the stairs and catch a glimpse of the Genki window, my heart lifts. Always stunningly arrayed in kawaii and kitsch wares, you cannot help but smile and feel the little girl within do a happy dance as she eagerly fingers her wallet.
On this particular visit, I was hoping to find something special for Miss One's first birthday. And as I browsed through the candy coloured range of baby T's, I had the pleasure to chat with Chanie, the founder of Genki, and her three month old daughter (one of three girls - what a Mama!). Chanie founded Genki in 1998 and , after spreading the joy to Melbourne shoppers, expanded to opening a second store in Windsor in 2004. Genki is Japanese for 'health, happy and feeling fine', so as you can imagine, it is a tailor made shopping experience for Super Kawaii Mama. They stock a range of witty adults T-shirts that are made in Melbourne (and also available on their website), along with some children's wear, home wears, and super kawaii clothing and accessories, including the likes of those from Tatty Devine and Built By Wendy.
Kewpie say," Horray for Genki!"
Genki can be found at shop 5, cathedral arcade, 37 swanston st (cnr. flinder lane), melbourne.
On this particular visit, I was hoping to find something special for Miss One's first birthday. And as I browsed through the candy coloured range of baby T's, I had the pleasure to chat with Chanie, the founder of Genki, and her three month old daughter (one of three girls - what a Mama!). Chanie founded Genki in 1998 and , after spreading the joy to Melbourne shoppers, expanded to opening a second store in Windsor in 2004. Genki is Japanese for 'health, happy and feeling fine', so as you can imagine, it is a tailor made shopping experience for Super Kawaii Mama. They stock a range of witty adults T-shirts that are made in Melbourne (and also available on their website), along with some children's wear, home wears, and super kawaii clothing and accessories, including the likes of those from Tatty Devine and Built By Wendy.
If you live in Melbourne and haven't visited this store, DO IT NOW! It is a sure fire way to cure your winter blues, and if you hurry you'll even get to see the latest shipment of fabulous from Japan. If you are planning a visit to Melbourne, don't miss out on this gem, and take home a little kawaii and kitsch that is FAR superior to an I Love Melbourne T-Shirt - your friends and family will thank you for it.
Kewpie say," Horray for Genki!"
Genki can be found at shop 5, cathedral arcade, 37 swanston st (cnr. flinder lane), melbourne.
18 comments:
There is also a Genki on Brunswick st I'm pretty sure!
Yay a post about my most favourite Melbourne store! The kewpies are so cute, I saw them in their box and there were literaly hundreds of them!
oh i love genki! it makes my head spin.
oh no, those Kewpies are closing in on me.........
xx
Awww, that looks like the cutest store ever!
xoxo
Oh, Mama, I can so see you going crazy in the all "cute" shops dotting malls in Asia. And the wholesale "cute" stores! Where I once got a bag of 50 mini Kewpie dolls for $12! They were our Christmas tree decoration that year.
Just adorable! We simply do not have shops like that over here. Americans need to embrace the kawaii!
Ach, it looks like heaven in there.
*HAPPINESS*. Oh how I adore Genki. I stop in there every time I go to Melbourne, which isn't often enough. Oddly, I have that strawberry teapot and cup. I got it at an adorable kawaii store in Kyoto. It's one of my most prized trinkets from Japan. I'm drinking earl grey out of it as I type.
Likkle Girl: I do go crazy over there. I'm heading off to Japan in October just for the shopping joy it brings.
Amy G: Maybe not near you, but there are loads of great places in the States to get kawaii things. My best friend lives in Texas and is forever sending me over lovely things that I can't get here. There are also lots of online stores that sell this style of goods that only deliver in the US too. I'll put up some links of my favorite places in the next few days.
Clara: It is very you. :)
You lucky Mama! You have to promise to post everyday that you are there!
Will you be taking the little misses?
Aw, this shop is fantastic isn't it?!
You selections are particularly cute, I think I really must visit Japan one day, probably to shop!
LM
I used to love Genki too, but after going to Japan and seeing how much cheaper the stuff is over there I just cant shop there anymore. Most of the stuff would be $1-$10 in Japan but is sold here for $30-$100ish, way too much. Plus my house has too much Kawaii stuff as it is, I don't need anymore. However Genki is how I first found Fruits magazine and then that is why at 16 I decided I wanted to live there, so as much as I think Genki is a rip off it does still hold a place in my heart and I do regularly visit for my Japanese kawaii fix and to browse Fruits and see who is in the mag this month.
Oooh, what a fantastic shop!
I've always wondered what Genki meant..thanks for that. On a sour note I can't believe that they're still printing the same tee's that they were when they opened in 99 (corr there goes my age)!!
It seems they are still printing the same shirts as they have a bit of a cult following. Even while I was in the store there was a girl trying to replace one for her boyfriend that he has stolen. Apparently he was suffering from T-shirt related depression.
ooh, guess what I've just put on my must see list when I arrive next week.
Fashion Hayley is right -- that store is a mega rip-off compared to Japan. It almost made me cry when I went in there and saw hair clips that I used to buy for a dollar at the exuberant price of $20. It made my heart break just a little.
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