In a world of fast fashion and mass consumerism, it can be difficult to find meaning in fashion and the clothes and accessories we wear. Shop4 is the antidote to that. Often sourcing her pieces directly from the designers, owner and curator Kay Burt believes there is a distinct advantage for both Shop4 and her customers by leveraging this valuable relationship.
“I think about who I’m supporting. I love small businesses, I love people who are passionate about what they do and that’s where I want to spend my money. I want to support the people who are doing the right thing.”
Shop4 began as a partnership between two friends. Two years ago, Kay ventured out into the world of fashion on her own and has since managed to create a thriving, lively business centred around ethical, sustainable, responsibly-sourced, handmade clothing and jewellery.
“The whole idea about what I was going to do just came together over time… It’s not like I suddenly had an idea that I really wanted to get things that were handmade, unusual, or small batch… it kind of just morphed that way as things progressed.”
Operating effortlessly from within the intersects of art, sustainability, and fashion, Shop4 aims to offer a wholesome, positive alternative to the shortfalls of modern fashion. The entire collection on the Shop4 online website and physical store is curated solely by Kay, and each designer is rigorously audited to ensure that the product they offer meets Shop4’s standards.
“I find all these things that are important to me, for whatever reason, like - I’ve got shoes that are made from banned fishing nets, and I think, ‘Wow! What a great idea!’… I’m attracted to things like that - people who are highly creative.
Kay believes in the power of fashion - or “wearable art”, as she calls the designs stocked by Shop4 - to change the world.
“Money talks. If everybody realises that, collectively, we have so much power.”