I have always said that despite the copious amounts of time I spend on the internet, the bulk of my shopping is still done in person at real shops. It’s being spoilt by living in a city where most things are at my disposal. Though, with the way e-tailing is growing and developing, I’m increasingly getting enticed by new stores online that aren’t simply just a few slapdash pics and a link saying ‘Buy Me’. (*cough* let’s not go there again ASOS…).
The thing I love about going into a boutique is the personality I get from the place. When I come back and visit the store again, it’s like seeing an old friend and you pick up on all the new things that have been going on. Once you start getting friendly with the owner, little favours creep your way. An odd discount, keeping stuff back for you and a relationship ensues between shop and you. I don’t think of e-boutiques as having the same capacity to do that but Keep and Share, an independent knitwear label, comes pretty damn close.
Knitwear is an area that Britain has always had a particular ability to excel in and Keep and Share is a new discovery for me. Amy Twigger Holroyd and her small team hand-knit pieces that are wearable but at the same time, has some unusual touches about them; the choice of colours, the type of knit and the shapes of the garments. From their current SS collection. The bustier is catching my eye, not for wearing by itself (the midriff sadly is not up to it) but over a t-shirt or a dress.
Their classic ‘suits everyone’ cardi shape is constantly there and also comes in an eco-yarn:
They also offer Jumble Sale pieces from their previous collections. I want to pad around in the knitted slippers on summer grass.
But knitwear aside, also Keep and Share is quite possibly the nicest e-boutique I have come across. I’ll just reel off their good points (by the by, in shopland, Keep and Share would be my best friend if we’re sticking to the shops=friends analogy): If something isn’t available, they’ll hand-knit it for you within 2 weeks, and quicker if it’s an emergency. If you wanted to wear a Keep & Share garment for a special occasion, you can BORROW something for a week FOC, and return it – you don’t even have to wash it! They can do special commissions like for example baby blankets. They send out colour swatches in case colours online look different from reality. If you really can’t afford something, they’re willing to discuss a SWAP for goods/services, depending on what you can offer. Short of giving away their clothes for free, they’re basically like the Brady Bunch of the e-boutique world. The little boxes popping up with super nice testimonials confirms Keep and Share’s loyal fanbase.
If their site is still not convincing you as a potential BFF, then try them out in reality at their pop-up shop which is travelling to London next week from Tuesday 19th to Saturday 23rd in Cornwall House, 21 Clerkenwell Green. I want to meet my online best friend in person too so I’ll definitely be popping by.
On an unrelated note, Keep and Share have a gallery that invites people to send in their most favourite item with a little explanation as to why – a predecessor to my ‘lovies’ idea and also a good way for a a Keep and Share friendship group to start. Like how you might bond in real life over reaching for the same item of clothing in a store.
I don’t think I’ve written such a postive, happy-happy-sunshine post in a long time. Excuse the gushing.
and most importantly, it seems they have the designs to back it up. i love these knits! thanks so much for sharing, susie.
Oooh I got emailed about this shop too and I don’t normally like knitwear, but I thought their way of treating it was very interesting, when I checked it out. I was asked to suggest a suitable venue for them to come to Scotland too, so I’m thinking about where would be a good place, as I’d like to see the stuff in person.
I feel the same way!!
Hey, i heard that there’s a new one called wardrobecandy.com!! It’s not available yet bt I heard it’s meant to be better than ASOS???
I’m not such a knitty fan as wool tends to itch and after a certain amount of time you have that “bobbling” thing going, but I just adore that last bolero type knit shrug! I NEED to get my hands on it! Ah well I hope to get a job soon so I can earn money that I can spend! (I hate exams, luckily they are almost over!)
really glad you are championing keep and share. I love their stuff and their philosophy as it espouses building a kind of relationship with your garments, as opposed to the whole fast fashion bollocks of the high street.