Walking through Sliema's old town core, you'll question why it's regarded by some as a nightmarish concrete jungle, as its beautifully preserved side-streets and well-kept townhouses in residential areas are so picturesque! This is what Parys Atis picked up when she moved to Malta in April of this year, before opening Atelier Arya, a quaint and dreamy concept store in the heart of Sliema proper. Being situated close to Stella Maris church and The Palace Hotel on Triq il-Kbira, off the beaten track from the high street stores and closer to traditional bakeries and fruit and vegetable shops. It's almost as if Parys could see something that we couldn't, and after opening the boutique, not a day goes by when she doesn't get complimented on the space!
"The Arya Woman is discreet but confident, naturally beautiful (without knowing it), and never goes out without her mini denim bag. Sensual, spontaneous, wears lipstick in blush and puts her favourite scrunchie on her wrist". These are the words on a small sign above a rail of restyled vintage shirts in shades of apricot and cream. This means of pinpointing the woman before the "look" is a very French way of branding labels, Parys tells me, and boy is it effective!
Parys herself is a softly spoken Parisienne who hails from the fashion world herself. She has the customer experience at the heart of everything she does, from the styling advice down to the recycled tissue wrapping with dried sprigs of wild flowers if it happens to be a gift. Her stock is sourced in Paris, and her finds are hand-picked from vintage shops which she trawls with her vision in mind. Her buying trips back to to the city of love are fruitful, and on her return she fills the store with a carefully curated selection of pieces which she sometimes alters, adding ruches or flounces to pieces that need a little bit of that je ne sais quoi. Parfait!
As of this summer, well recognised Maltese textile designer Saz Mifsud's range of silk scarves and leather goods have also become part of the boutique. "I wanted it to be a space for everything" Parys tells GuideMeMalta. "A gifting destination and a concept store centred around sustainability" she continues.
Nowadays, with the Saz Mifsud label on board, the boutique is a true gem for gift-buying, making the experience a highly pleasurable one for the shopper as well as well as the present receiver. It is a space to relax and forget about the outside world and just be surrounded by gorgeous things. The next step will be the addition of a coffee machine, so people can stay a little longer with an espresso whilst they flick through the pages of French magazines.
The beautifully presented boutique consists of gloriously aged Maltese tiles, an impressive Victorian fireplace displaying old perfume bottles and artworks by Michelle Morrissey, high ceilings and well-styled furniture pieces - "Malta Park!" Parys reveals, brightly. The concept store is also home to jewellery label Golden Skai, who's pieces come in 14 karat pure gold at the best prices, having been sourced in Turkey. Their designer had visited Malta and was inspired by nature and old coins, and the delicate pieces are meant to become part of the wearer, and to be kept on as signature jewellery.
British Vegan and cruelty-free skincare label Skin & Tonic is also on display on a pretty shabby chic dresser. Parys recounts how when she moved to Malta, the change of weather required different skin and hair products, which is why she went for the label, which uses the fewest ingredients possible, including all-natural elements such as green clay, rosehip, pumpkin and sunflower.
On the day of my visit, Parys is preparing for her next buying trip, where she will be returning with more vintage pieces for the next season to replace the fanciful and folksy blouses that have been so well received this summer. This time, she says, there will be a few more designer pieces, but the price points will be kept around about what smitten returning customers have become used to at Atelier Arya. When you buy an item of clothing from Atelier Arya, you are buying into a lifestyle fantasy, where even a trip to the greengrocer's is one to be done with panache. Sustainability and conscious shopping in Malta has never been so darn pretty!