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Island Shopping: The Best Brands

Using their environment as inspiration, these brands offer an exotic shopping experience.

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The warm Caribbean air is the ideal backdrop to indulge in one-of-a-kind island shopping. On my own tropical escape, I found myself fully immersed in local handicrafts, designer jewelry and unique clothing found in small boutiques. Using their environment as inspiration, these high-end boutique brands are exclusive to their native island – and, thankfully, online – offering an exotic shopping experience. Here are the top collections to give you a taste of island living:

1b Designs, St. Croix

Island Shopping: The Best Brands

Ib designer silver bracelets and rings

Ib Designs, based out of St. Croix, is an accessory-lovers paradise with over two dozen lines to choose from. All the pieces are handmade, in sterling silver or 14K gold, with all the island charm you’d expect from a locally made label. My favorite collections are the Om and Fan Coral, which are completely on-trend with nautical themed bracelets and pendants. The anchor bracelet and fan coral earrings will work with everything, from jeans and a tee to an evening maxi dress.

The Pink House, Mustique

Island Shopping: The Best Brands

The Pink House, Mustique swimwear

When you think beach getaway, you think fab bikini and that’s exactly what you’ll find at The Pink House on the elite island of Mustique. Indulge in luxury basic bikinis and cover-ups, along with some extravagant pieces like a gold Mustique pendant and silk maxi dress. They also have adorable ruffled bikinis for girls, printed trunks for boys and for your guy – everyone can look as fab as you do.

Sea Sage, Turks and Caicos

Island Shopping: The Best Brands

Sea Sage Starfish scarf

Turks and Caicos is home to Sea Sage – a line of exclusive silk scarves that can work as a bikini wrap, hair accessory or accent piece. By focusing on scarves alone, the brand has gained a reputation for high quality and unique designs. The collection’s Sea Fan scarf will be my signature accessory and a reminder of my beach getaway!

Calypso St. Barth

Island Shopping: The Best Brands

Calypso St. Barth

Calypso St. Barth is a well-known brand with its roots firmly in Caribbean style. The brand boasts everything from clothing to accessories and even housewares (bring the beach home!). My current obsession is their line of maxi dresses, which are equal parts bohemian chic and evening glam. Add a straw clutch and you’ll be St. Barth styled wherever you go.

Everett Designs, Dominican Republic

Island Shopping: The Best Brands

Genuine semi-precious jewelry by Everett Designs

For genuine local gems Dominican Republic’s Everett Designs features designer Larimar and Amber jewelry – Dominican Republic has some of the largest natural resources of these stones. The sea blue Larimar stone is a personal favorite, brighter than turquoise but equally enchanting with silver accents. For a real treasure piece, the Shipwreck Coins collection is made with rare 17th and 18th century silver coins, actually recovered from shipwrecks – you can’t get any more authentic than that!

Let these boutique brands give your style a boost with bold colors, textures and shapes – a piece of paradise for your closet!

Avatar of Pegah Aarabi

After obtaining her Honors B.A. and postgraduate journalism degree, Pegah has written and researched for a variety of magazines and newspapers, with celebrities, fashion and travel being her topics of choice. Now settled in Toronto, she has lived in many corners of the world, including the U.S., Switzerland, and Japan. In her spare time, she divides her love unevenly between her poodle, chocolates and shopping.

    Reader Discussion: 52 Comments

    1. Avatar of Kelley Patton

      Kelley Patton

      I’d love to go Island shopping with all of these amazing brands. Thanks for sharing these perfections.

    2. Avatar of Jenny Palmer

      Jenny Palmer

      I just bought one of the swimsuits here and it really looks nice. It’s also very stretchable so it hugs your body perfectly. I’ve bought other swimsuits before that don’t really stretch nicely and they hang weird on my body.

    3. Avatar of Winifred Baldwin

      Winifred Baldwin

      I would definitely buy all of this if I had the budget for it. Even the swimsuits and scarves really look good.

      • Avatar of Ece Maria

        Ece Maria

        She recommends the conch shell scarf and that’s also my personal fave.

    4. Avatar of Mattie Beck

      Mattie Beck

      Sea Sage has pretty swimsuits but my only problem is that they have very limited designs. I don’t want to end up having bikinis that 10 or 20 people own too. I don’t want to be in one resort and end up having the same bikini as 5 ladies there lol. I do like that it’s not just a bikini but they also have coverups and sarongs included in the same design. Their scarves are really pretty though and I like it better than Pink House. I also love Sea Sage’s logo and branding. It’s so clean.

    5. Avatar of Joanne Moran

      Joanne Moran

      These collections are special. Craftsmanship is really important when you’re making jewelry and you can really tell that they didn’t rush any of it.

    6. Avatar of Sheri Lawrence

      Sheri Lawrence

      Calypso by St. Barth is stunning. I want that pink dress that’s in the photo. I can already imagine taking photos with it!

    7. Avatar of Eloise Galloway

      Whoa these are really pretty. Interesting Island souvenirs. Not the average low quality stuff you get in souvenir shops nearby. They’ve really stepped up their game.

      • Avatar of Roze Carloze

        Roze Carloze

        True, it’s very high quality and doesn’t look flimsy or cheap at all.

    8. Avatar of Patricia

      Patricia

      My family would appreciate gifts like this! My older sister and my mom loves island items.

    9. Avatar of Caroline Schack

      The Pink House Mustique is a little expensive. I do think that their products are really pretty though but not so “island-y”. I checked their website and their scarves are actually pretty. I just haven’t checked if their prices can be USD because when I checked it, it was in Euro/Pounds. I love their Lotty B silk scarves they look really nice around the neck. It would probably look good on the hair or in bags too. I really like collecting scarves that have prints that can’t be seen just anywhere.

    10. Avatar of Mary Shum

      Calypso looks pretty if you really want a fashionable vacation.

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