unique accessories
ShopCurious: The original online
curiosity shop for slow fashion, unique accessories, unusual gifts, sustainable
style, preloved clothes, handcrafted homeware, vintage clothing, wearable art,
up-cycled items and arty curiosities for the Curious Cognoscenti
Founded
in 2008, ShopCurious is the original online curiosity shop for slow
fashion, unique accessories, arty gifts, handcrafted homewares and unusual
vintage finds.
Favouring natural materials and fibres, vintage and handcrafted
clothing and accessories, designs with personality and timeless style,
most of the items at ShopCurious are totally unique one-offs,
or are part of an exclusive limited edition. The pieces you'll see on
this website are rarely available elsewhere and will only be available to you.
Curator and Creative Director of ShopCurious, Susan Muncey,
says: "Reusing, repairing and
recycling are the main ways in which we can help save the planet from
overconsumption and absurd levels of pollution. When I buy clothes and
accessories today, nearly all are pre-owned, or vintage. That’s why, after
returning to school to study for a masters at London College of Fashion, I
decided to relaunch ShopCurious to help recirculate and
upcycle preloved and vintage clothing and accessories, so they
do not end up in landfill. As well as selling stylish things, my aim
is to inspire and educate by exploring the
stories and provenance associated with the pieces in our collections."
Kyomaï:
Upcycling Japanese Craft Heritage Into Timeless Accessories
The epitome of slow style, ShopCurious’s latest collection of Kyomaï clutch bags and cuffs (coming soon) is a fusion of traditional Japanese craftsmanship and French haute couture manufacture.
Kimono are
secured at the waist and the length is adjusted using obi
sashes. Traditionally, obi came from the
Nishijin area of Kyoto. The Emperor of Japan was based in Kyoto for 1200 years,
until 1868, and, as a result, the most skilled silk weavers in Japan settled in
Kyoto to supply the court with kimono and obi belts. Nishijin-Ori (“woven in
Nishijin”) are the most lavish obi to be found in Japan, being made on
Jacquard looms from silk and gold thread.
Kyomaï aims to help transfer the rapidly disappearing essence of
Japanese culture to the modern woman’s wardrobe, as well as perpetuating
stories passed on through time-honoured symbols spun into these artfully
handcrafted accessories. The company's founders
were not only influenced by their taste for arts and craftsmanship, but also by
their appreciation of the painstakingly detailed workmanship in Japan. They
admire the way Japan has adopted and perfected techniques from all over the
world, and that they honour their skilled craft workers as “Living National
Treasures.”
Maalicious:
Jewellery Empowering Female Artisans In India
ShopCurious is proud to be featuring a collection by Maalicious, an inspirational jewellery brand and social enterprise established by visionary New Yorker, Poonam Thimmaiah. Set up to empower the female artisans creating its uniquely arty earrings, each of the company's pieces is dipped in 24k gold, and handmade from sustainable materials, such as clay and wood. Every item of jewellery also has its own story, as does the brand itself.
Maalicious’s pieces are a curiously
colourful combination of wood, Lambani mirror work and tassels. The
Lambanis are a nomadic tribe, moving around India with their belongings and
cattle. The women are known for their vibrant clothes and jewellery
Maalicious is named after the
Indian word for jewellery, ‘maal’, and a playful take on the word
‘malicious’. The founder’s heritage has been a major source of
inspiration: Poonam belongs to a tribe called Kodavas in Southern India, whose
distinctive culture is rapidly disappearing. The idea behind her designs is to
pay homage to vanishing, traditional art forms and cultures. Each of the
brand’s pieces tells a story from India’s “glorious past,” with the aim of
“repurposing traditional art by giving it a modern twist.”
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