10 of the Best Independent Boutiques Around the World

A celebration of simple coastal living, BTS Concept Store offers a curated range of furniture, home decor and accessories. Based in Coleraine, the boutique is set amongst an array of independent coffee shops, providing the perfect backdrop for a slow morning perusing the town. Expect a muted colour palette that reflects the store’s coastal setting with a Nordic twist.

Located in the lively neighbourhood of De Pijp in Amsterdam, Groen+Akker was founded by Gerbrand and Maaike in 2019 and offers a vast selection of up and coming designers and household names alike. With brands like &klevering, HAY and Normann Copenhagen in tow, there’s an emphasis on colour and fun. This is the place to really discover something new, with their constant rotation of an illustrator focus at the front of the store.

Fancy a seaside trip? Margate, known for fish and chips and holiday fun, is also home to AARVEN. Working directly with 30 artisans in 9 countries across the globe, this is the place to discover truly unique pieces with a story to tell. Great for sourcing gifts, expect handwoven textiles, jewellery made from recycled materials and charitable donations to support education in Africa.

For over ten years, L’Exception has been the pioneering concept store for homeware and fashion that celebrates French and European brands. With an emphasis on less consumption and smart shopping, their mission is to navigate you towards locally produced brands with a penchant for small makers and young creatives.

If you really want to discover something new and source luxury homeware items that no one else will have, Bøde Living houses some of the most innovative up and coming homeware designers, from Bongusta to Amuse La Bouche with a focus on bold Scandinavian design.

For sustainable gifts and ethically sourced homewares, NYHAVN is a treasure-trove located in Haarlem, regularly voted as one of the best cities for shopping. Everything on sale at this charming concept store is Fairtrade, organic, ecological or recycled with some pieces made by hand. You may want to spend a while in this store and enjoy a freshly brewed cup of Moyee FairChain coffee.

With the best selection of independent womenswear brands in Wales, you don’t want to miss out on a trip to Kiti. With a long list of regular customers coming to the store to source new drops from the likes of Ganni, Lollys Laundry and up and coming brand Dawn x Dare, they’re the place to be for fashion finds in Wales.

In the heart of vibrant Lisbon, you’ll find Pura Cal, a homeware boutique set up by friends João Vilela and Tiago Rodrigues. With a penchant for traditional Portuguese finds such as decorative and hand painted ceramics, every object has a story to tell.

For the ultimate concept store experience, Sunshine & Snow is an eclectic fusion of Scandi fashion brands, decorative homewares and an in-house coffee shop. With sustainability in mind, every brand on offer has ethical credentials and their product range is inspired by founder India’s travels around the world.

Bringing a kitsch touch to Barcelona, Chandal offers a curated selection of gender neutral kidswear, accessories, homewares and books with a special focus on nostalgia. With bold colour and pattern, retro motifs and immersive games, this boutique really has it all.