The ShopCurious Story

Susan Muncey, fashion historian and founder of ShopCurious

The original online curiosity shop for slow fashion, vintage clothing, unique accessories, arty gifts, handcrafted homeware and unusual retro finds.

I first launched ShopCurious in 2008, as a pioneer of the slow fashion movement. My mission is to help make shopping a slower, more inspiring and educational experience.

ShopCurious is for the Curious Cognoscenti - polymaths, who explore the history, provenance, art, craft and philosophy behind the products they buy.

My Story

I fell out of love with fast fashion many years ago.

Having been an early adopter of luxury designer wear before it became over-commercialised and less well made, I started selling vintage and recycled clothing alongside emerging designer brands in the late 1990s. I opened my first fashion venture in 1997 - a boutique called Fashion Gallery, where I was shortlisted for Drapers Record Top Buyer of the Year Award.

After running ShopCurious for a number of years, alongside founding and editing a magazine on sustainable style, I decided to take some time out to study for a Masters in fashion history and culture at the London College of Fashion. This aids my understanding of the cultural context, authenticity and quality of the items I’m selling and enables me to expertly research and relay the stories behind them.

I re-launched ShopCurious in 2020 to offer vintage clothing and accessories alongside a selection of curated collections of environmentally conscious and ethically produced items. I offer a product sourcing service for handcrafted, vintage, unique and unusual one-off pieces procured to individual requirements. I also write a blog telling stories surrounding the history, provenance and manufacture of pieces on the website, and provide insight on related exhibitions and events.

Are you Shop Curious?

Do you want to find beautiful things that feed your curiosity?

If you love vintage fashion, handcrafted clothing, collectable curiosities and the stories behind them, I invite you to join our online community, the Curious Cognoscenti by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on Instagram.

Invest in slow fashion, unique and original vintage pieces and ethical and sustainable products that will be treasured for years to come.

Join us for a refreshingly unique, slow retail experience.

Will you?

Susan x