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Shopper’s Diary: Landline in Paris, a French-American Shopkeeper’s Answer to Plastic-Free Living

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Shopper’s Diary: Landline in Paris, a French-American Shopkeeper’s Answer to Plastic-Free Living

January 18, 2023

On a recent trip to France, I had two days to get reacquainted with Paris when Landline came to me at the top of a stylist friend’s tip sheet. Located in a former pharmacy in the 11th arrondissement, the emporium is a general supply store stocked with everything from kitchenwares and carpet beaters to wardrobe staples, all made of natural materials (no synthetics or plastic) and cherry-picked from French and European workshops.

Landline is the brainchild of Caroline Morrison, an escapee from the high fashion world who previously worked as Marc Jacobs’ European sales manager and international sales director for Carolina Herrera NY. Morrison also grew up in San Francisco: she has a French mother and half-French father, attended a bilingual school in the Bay Area, and graduated with a degree in international relations from Tufts before settling in Paris.

Now married to a writer and a mother of two, Morrison says Landline came from a desire to demonstrate how to “consume better and less.” Landline’s online store is forthcoming in March. In the meantime, come browse.

Photographs courtesy of Landline.

the old marble storefront had been covered over and was damaged beyond recovery 14
Above: The old marble storefront had been covered over and was damaged beyond recovery; Morrison had it entirely rebuilt in wood.
the shelves are stocked with wooden toys, traditional french ceramics, guarante 15
Above: The shelves are stocked with wooden toys, traditional French ceramics, guaranteed-for-life pans, and hard-to-find Italian kitchen gadgets. Photograph by Olivia Tran.
coir doormats, plastic free cleaning tools, and string market bags. photograph  16
Above: Coir doormats, plastic-free cleaning tools, and string market bags. Photograph by Olivia Tran.
landline&#8\2\17;s linen cotton jackets are made in burgundy by workwear br 17
Above: Landline’s linen-cotton jackets are made in Burgundy by workwear brand Le Laboureur.
the brooms, brushes, and and natural cleaning supplies department includes germ 18
Above: The brooms, brushes, and and natural cleaning supplies department includes German natural fiber and goat hair brushes for dusting books. Landline’s enamelware is made in Eastern Europe. The one item Morrison imports from the US are Sweater Stones, pumice blocks she says are “amazing for removing the pills from wool; I tried but couldn’t find the equivalent here.” Photograph by Pierre Prospero.
an assemblage of accessories for cozy indoor days: a bindewerk handmade noteboo 19
Above: An assemblage of accessories for cozy indoor days: a Bindewerk handmade notebook, French carpet slippers, Italian wool socks, and Woodswoman (from a selection of vintage books that tie in with the shop’s themes).

Under the existing tile in the store, Morrison and her team discovered the original herringbone hardwood floor:”My husband and I and some friends spent a month restoring and patching it as a labor of love.”

la manufacture de digoin&#8\2\17;s two toned pottery has been made in digoi 20
Above: La Manufacture de Digoin’s two-toned pottery has been made in Digoin since 1875: read about it in our post A Classic Loire Valley Pottery Revived. The white-glazed ceramics on the lower shelf are part of an exclusive Landline collection by Paris ceramic artist Katherine Oh. Photograph by Francois Goize.
knit washcloths of plant dyed organic cotton are made by liv berg, a dane in pa 21
Above: Knit washcloths of plant-dyed organic cotton are made by Liv Berg, a Dane in Paris who models her towels after her grandmother’s homemade cleaning cloths. Photograph by Pierre Prospero.
landline&#8\2\17;s stationery supplies come from all over europe. the brass 22
Above: Landline’s stationery supplies come from all over Europe. The brass-detailed Exacompta Bloc FAF refillable notepad is a shop best seller and has been made in France since 1928.
morrison and her family live blocks from landline, which is surrounded by other 23
Above: Morrison and her family live blocks from Landline, which is surrounded by other indie shops and restaurants. Here, she’s wearing Landline wardrobe basics: a Guernsey fisherman sweater, Accidente Con Flores Mallorcan sheep’s wool vest, and La Botte Gardiane boots. Photograph by Pierre Prospero.

Go to our Design Travel listings to find many more of our Paris favorites, including:

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