LOFT or similar like shop(s) in Taipei
This site is in Japanese, unfortunately. Being that the Japanese love shopping…I found it full of greatly designed, useless things…But nonetheless, great for browsing and (sometimes) purchasing…
any tips …?
Yeah, LOFT and Hands in Tokyo are neat for that kind of stuff. While not the same, a few places have SOME interesting little items like that, like the flagship Eslite near 101 acc. to DW, Hands (there’s one in Breeze, and maybe a new on in a Tianmu Sogo, I hear), and a shop called something like Bluestone, in Asiaworld next to Fnac and in the Warner complex.
The shop in the City Super mall still there? That sells, y’know, stuff.
There’s a 39$ shop in Ximen that sells only that useless Japanese kitsch. I’m a frequent shopper there. As you leave the MRT, it’s on the left.
The thing about LOFT and TokyoHands is the unique, creative designs on many of the items, similar to the creativity you see at Bluestone, but with a more reasonable price tag and application to items for everyday use rather than, say, an executive’s desk. At the lower end of the scale, they have items like paperclips in funky shapes, and dental floss designed to dispense from a package in the size and shape of a credit card. For the baker, you might find a bowl scraper of silicone rubber in the shape of a bird, but sized and shaped JUST right so as to be more useful than other, less cutesy scrapers and spatulas. Some things aren’t at all cute or artsy, but just well-designed. I picked up a nice mortar and pestle, and a teflon-coated paella pan there, among other things.
I imagine the OP is looking for things like the above, and not a 39NT kitsch store.
[quote=“Dragonbones”]The thing about LOFT and TokyoHands is the unique, creative designs on many of the items, similar to the creativity you see at Bluestone, but with a more reasonable price tag and application to items for everyday use rather than, say, an executive’s desk. At the lower end of the scale, they have items like paperclips in funky shapes, and dental floss designed to dispense from a package in the size and shape of a credit card. For the baker, you might find a bowl scraper of silicone rubber in the shape of a bird, but sized and shaped JUST right so as to be more useful than other, less cutesy scrapers and spatulas. Some things aren’t at all cute or artsy, but just well-designed. I picked up a nice mortar and pestle, and a teflon-coated paella pan there, among other things.
I imagine the OP is looking for things like the above, and not a 39NT kitsch store.[/quote]
Don’t knock the 39$ kitsch store, DB. I’ve picked up some wonderful things there. Especially cutlery and crockery. It’s not just all marker pens that smell like apples and cute Alice Bands.
Love the 39 NT store…bought one of those mushroom shaped soil humidifiers and absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE my banana holder shaped like a banana 
Oh and a banana hanger where the fruit can be hung in a bunch…what else??? Oh yeah some of those tie and die pouches for the little girlies and some quick crafty stuff and yes the most important, Larry King style pant holders for the scrawny son!! Absolutely useful without having to pay a fortune…and yes those heart shaped/star shaped sushi makers. I just use them serve normal boiled rice and the kiddos love it…make them into smileys…I love those shops.
Oh, I shop at the $10 and $39 stores too, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that that’s not what LOFT is. 
PS – What is an Alice Band?
[quote=“Dragonbones”]
What is an Alice Band?[/quote]
You know those wee things that girls wear to keep their hair back? Named after Alice from “Alice in Wonderland” if my etymology serves me correctly.