Vagabond Boutique Cape May
Washington Street Mall has long been home to some of the most eclectic, swoon-worthy boutiques in the area. From specialty stores like The Cheese Shop and Bath Time to beloved gift shops and whimsical candy stores, to jewelry, to shoes, to clothing, Washington Street Mall is a dream shopping destination for vacationers and locals alike. And with the addition of Vagabond Boutique Cape May, it just got a little better.
“Vagabond is fashion forward and eclectic, with an emphasis on independent and local designers, almost all natural fibers (except for swimwear and a few dresses that use recycled poly and acrylic), and hand knits,” says Mary Clark, sole proprietor of Vagabond Cape May, which opened in February 2023.
While Vagabond adds a uniquely well-curated collection of goods to Washington Street Mall, it’s not the first time the store has been in Cape May County.
“The original Vagabond started as a small vintage clothing store, first in Wildwood, then in Congress Hall, then in Carpenters Square, then in Old City (Philadelphia), where we remain now,” says Clark. “It’s since evolved into two locations that are quite different from each other but share values and some clothing lines.”
Philly locals on vacation in Cape May might notice some similarities between the two stores—both are home to the iconic Stellapop line of hand knit sweaters. The sweaters, all designed and hand knit by Clark and two other women, are named after Clark’s daughter, Stella Kai.
“I’m always happy that I can carry my own sweaters in my stores,” says Clark.
And though there are other overlaps between the stores, they are different. For one thing, Vagabond Boutique Philadelphia, which opened in 2000, is co-owned by Clark and her business partner Megan Murphy. The two met during a study abroad semester at Trinity College Dublin back when Clark was a History and Fine Arts double major at Temple University and Murphy was a Philosophy major at La Salle.
“We opened the original Vagabond as a vintage store (hence the name) and as a place to sell our own creations,” says Clark. “We both really enjoyed making clothing and knitwear. Soon after we opened, we attended pattern making and sewing classes at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan, and we would drive up and back in the same day.”
These days, both stores focus on carrying fair trade, sustainable items, even though they may carry different lines. And while the stores are different, the heart of them—the vintage and artisanal roots combined with lines from hard-to-find, ethical designers—is the same.
“I’m excited about the jewelry that Bethany Johnson, who works at Vagabond in Cape May makes, and also the incredible vintage jewelry that she sources,” says Clark of the SaltyB Jewelry Line. “I’m also excited about my friend Leah’s line, Wol Hide. She used to be my right hand for Stellapop when we sold to multiple other stores, and she used to work at Vagabond in Philly. We also have a resort line from Peru that is popular with both moms and daughters, and our linen from Italy is proving to be extremely popular.”
And while Vagabond is ultimately a purveyor of fashion and style, its commitment to ethical design and consumerism is what sets it apart from so many other boutiques.
“As far as our approach to sustainability and ethical fashion goes, I personally make sure that what we are buying is not made by slave labor,” says Clark. “I learned about the Uyghur people and how they are being used as slave labor and I wanted to avoid anything made in any similar circumstances or from there. That’s my number one goal. Along with that, I try to use only ethically sourced cotton and natural fibers or recycled fibers.”
To that end, Clark is excited about a new cotton crochet sweater from Honest Cotton, which is based in Laguna Beach, California, and has all items ethically sourced and made in Thailand. The wool she uses for Stellapop comes from a family-owned sheep farm in Nebraska, while her alpaca comes from a family- owned company in Peru and is distributed by a family-owned company in Philadelphia.
With such an array of sought-after brands and designers—and so much education going into the production of each company—it’s hard to imagine how Clark sources her store while still actually running it.
“We order by going to trade shows and traveling, but also through finding lines on Instagram and by word-of-mouth and local designers contacting us,” says Clark. “In Philly, I choose and order about half of the lines and Megan does the rest and buys all the vintage and just chooses what she likes. As far as staying up to date goes, I personally try to pick out whatever I like. However, in Cape May, I have a lot of help from my daughters in choosing items that appeal to the younger crowd.”
Clark’s daughters, Stella and Grace, aren’t the only help she has. Clark also relies on her husband, Ben, who “can build and fix anything;” Bethany Johnson, chief organizer at Vagabond Cape May; and other team members. For a multiple business owner, that help is integral.
“The main challenge of owning small businesses is that you wear many hats, because you’re responsible for all the aspects of the business,” says Clark. “And you have to make sure to budget correctly. One of the best parts, though, is that you help to start and sustain many other small businesses and creative people and independent designers, and that’s a wonderful feeling. It creates a network of creative people who have a lot in common.”
Though Clark would one day like to bring Vagabond to New York, she’s happy about being in Cape May, and what that means for the future.
“I would like to begin carrying yarn and needles to start having at least a knitting circle if not classes. We used to do that in Philadelphia and it was a lot of fun,” says Clark. “Cape May is such an incredible and unique place, and we very much appreciate living and having a business here.”
