Our little seaside town may not be labelled as one of the more renowned shopping districts of the UK, but it certainly isn’t lacking in flare or originality. Falmouth’s newest boutique, Tyto, has recently opened at Discovery Quay, a few doors down from the Maritime museum, and it’s fit to burst with little fashion gems.
At long last it has arrived. A boutique that offers original, fashionable and sustainable clothes at reasonable prices. Tyto is truly an Aladdin’s cave of gorgeous clothing for men and women, fabulous vintage accessories and sweet little gifts that you’ll be dying to get your hands on. The boutique stocks a range of desirable independent London brands such as Emily and Fin, Jovonna London and Yamama, all described by owner, Gemma Garwood, as “young brands”. Expect cute cardigans with gingham, lace and bow trimmings, perfectly made little jackets and fun cocktail dresses that are so en vogue they give Topshop a run for its money. And for the boys, think timeless tweed jackets, original t-shirts and jumpers with electric geo patterns. There are hopes the boutique will branch out into some bigger designers such as Finnish brand, Marimekko and Ivana Helsinki - so prepare yourselves for an explosion of city style. The first thing that strikes you about Tyto, is the gallery-like space inside the shop. It feels as though you have walked into a designer’s studio with all the pieces hanging on their rails neatly, and grouped in accordance to the type of story they tell. Daywear casuals are placed on single rails to the sides of the shop, while evening and partywear sits on two rails at the centre and back. As a customer you feel like you know where things are and it takes the stress out of shopping instantly. It’s clear that everything in the shop has been thought through and arranged with care and that is just how Gemma planned it.
“It’s really important for me that the shop has integrity and a focus. There are a wide range of things on offer, but what’s important is that they’re all picked with the same philosophy. I go to great lengths to pick things a 15-year-old can look fabulous in but also a 50-year-old could completely rock up. Admittedly some of the things I stock are a bit expensive but I like to focus on things that people will be able to wear for the next ten years, things that are well made.”
But fear not fashion savvy students, Tyto offers student discount on all items every Wednesday, and on any day of the week if you spend £45 or more. Tshirts and vests start from around the £12 mark, but are well worth it for their wacky prints and flattering cuts. For those with a soft spot for vintage, the shop stocks some fantastic felt flower pot hats, casual handbags and retro heels. The jewelry is a mix of vintage and dressy, perfect for vamping up a plain top or adding the finishing touch to a party outfit. And if you’re not after clothes, why not buy something pretty for your abode? Tyto stocks everything from lush smelling soap bars, cushions and teapots to books and artwork by local artists.
The 25-year-old seems determined to see her shop flourish and is concentrating on developing a brand. There are plans for Tyto to introduce its own range of tshirts, All Of My Friends, which Gemma has asked her creative bunch of friends to help design. With UCF arts college only a stone’s throw away, she hopes that students will be inspired by what the shop stocks.
“The lovely thing about London is that it really does promote young design talent. I think you could get someone doing something of the same standard which is just as innovative in Falmouth. So what’s nice about having the London brands is that I really hope it pushes students here to make work and I’d be more than happy to sell it in my shop.” The shop’s motto is, “Dedicated to the promotion of new ideas and encouragement of wonder,” making Falmouth the perfect location for this little maverick enterprise. Tyto is open 10pm to 6pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
No comments:
Post a Comment