Kaua‘i’s Coolest and Chicest Shop Here—And So Do We

Photos: Aaron K. Yoshino

This charming boutique landed on the Garden Isle in 2015. Since then it’s gained a strong fan base of visitors and local residents across the Islands alike with its inventory of contemporary coastal goods, popular local brands, under-the-radar collections from other cities and the shop’s signature Kaua‘i sweatshirts.

We discovered the shop via Instagram and instantly thirsted for all the Clare V swag. “Their bags are an everyday staple for me,” says owner Xochitl Garcia. Besides running the shop, she’s a busy mom of three boys and co-owner of a coffee shop with her husband. Here, she shares her dream-turned-destiny path, favorite things in the shop, and how to pronounce her name.

Photos: Aaron K. Yoshino

I pronounce my name … So-chill. Everyone always asks.

My retail journey started … in middle school. I worked for a woman who owned a boutique and would take care of her son at the shop. Every cent I earned went back to the store—I would buy me and my mom clothes. I loved that a woman was running her own business and learned a lot from this job.

I was always into fashion … so, when I graduated from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, I started designing women’s clothing. It was great, however, I wanted to have my hands on all types of fashions and accessories. Opening my own boutique gave me that opportunity.

A lot of my inventory comes from … stalking designers on Instagram. Who doesn’t do that? I also go to markets in L.A.; the West Coast vibe agrees with my Hawai‘i customers. When I travel, I always have my eyes open. If I’m drawn to something, I know my customers will love it.

I would describe the shop as … island-modern lifestyle. We choose classic pieces with a twist that women (and men and kids) want to wear on vacation, and everywhere else.

My favorite items in the shop are … Agolde denim. It’s an easy classic jean, made with organic denim, and pairs great with a tee. Clare V bags stand out with a pop of color or stripes or checkers—they’re always fun. Me and my staff all use Leahlani skin care, which is locally made by a woman on Kaua‘i. She uses locally sourced ingredients, and the 3-in-1 cleanser with honey leaves our skin glowing.

The items that sell out the fastest are … Ilia sunscreen, which is tinted. Our Kaua‘i sweatshirts fly out of the shop, for sure, and Andrew Mau notecards and shaka bottle openers. I love his work.

Customers always say … it smells so good in here, what is that? Wolf Moon perfume that has notes of amber and vanilla—it’s another one of our top sellers. People also comment on how surprised they are at all the unique brands we carry; they love coming in and discovering something new.

We also carry … kids and men’s clothing, some from local designers that I love including Raised by Waves and Banks Journal. All the styles fit in with the shop’s aesthetic—fun swimwear and casual-comfy everyday-wear that can translate easily into any coastal city.

The name of the shop … comes from this romanticized idea of being shipwrecked on an island. I even designed my collection for FIDM around that. When it came time to open the store, it just seemed right since Kaua‘i is home to Shipwreck Beach.

4-1384 Kūhiō Highway, B-106, Kapa‘a, shipwreckedkauai.com, @shipwreckedkauai