Scout is a recently-opened boutique located on Essex Street West in Temple Bar run by Wendy Crawford, who fashion-conscious ladies will remember from Bow, the shop she ran on a co-op basis in the Powerscourt Centre with Eilis Boyle and Margaret O’Rourke (who now runs MoMuse selling predominantly jewellery in the unit where Bow resided). Beyond clothing lines, Scout also has selections of homeware, knitwear, accessories and top-notch vintage finds. Fans of the Makers & Brothers pop-up shop that appeared last Christmas should be enthused. Totally Dublin caught up with Wendy Crawford to find out all about being useful and beautiful.
What does the word “Scout” mean to you?
Scout means a few things to me. When I was trying to come up with the name I thought about what my role is in the store and business. Primarily I find beautiful things and objects to sell, so scouting for things is one meaning. Then I thought about different meanings of Scout and I thought about what it means to be a scout. I liked the utilitarian aspect of being a scout. I like beautiful things but I always need them to also be useful. I hate useless things like a vase for a single stem! When I’m in doubt about buying something for the store I refer to William Morris’s quote “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
It’s always a breath of fresh air to stumble upon eclectic independent shops in the city. Does your boutique reflect your personality?
Absolutely. I think that’s the joy of shopping in indie stores. It’s very unique to them and therefore creates a unique experience not found elsewhere. My store is very much like my home; same paints and wallpapers, an eclectic mix of “junk” and treasures. The store props, furniture and so on, often rotate between the store and my house so there is constant change.
You stock and support Irish and international clothing labels in your boutique. What collections does Scout currently consist of?
I think it’s really important to have a careful edit of home-grown and international labels. Currently on the Irish front I have Petria Lenehan, Eilis Boyle knitwear, 31 Chapel Lane homewares along with McNutt woven blankets of Donegal. Add to that I have Fog Linen clothing of Tokyo, YMC, Grenson, Armor Lux & Paris found vintage. Most recently I have added Le Bas leather goods. These are the most stunning leather bags & back packs designed by a gorgeous Argentinian girl who lives in Dublin so that brings a unique element to the store! Other suppliers include Kinfolk magazine, La Bougie candles & Snug. A Wicklow based duo that make really beautiful, useful objects from wood for the house.
I am aware that your favourite cities are Dublin, London and Paris. Is there an array of these cultural styles in the boutique?
Sure, those cities and countries weigh in heavily in my inventory! I like to think I have extracted the best from these cities. Simple, elegant pieces that work hard in your wardrobe and home for a really long time.
Do you handpick vintage wear for the boutique?
Yes, every piece of vintage is chosen carefully. I tried to bulk buy it as it seemed easier but it’s very wasteful if you only get one or two nice bits and the rest never sees the floor. It’s better to find each piece individually which is nicer anyway as there’s a story attached to each find then. It can mean that stock levels go up and down a lot as I need to have the time to go to Paris to find the pieces. It would be way easier to just order it from behind my computer but the results aren’t the same.
Do you have any future plans for Scout?
I want to have lots and lots more homewares and interiors. I absolutely love finding these pieces and it’s so much easier than clothes. Also, to build up my website!
Visit Wendy in Scout at 5 Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 or online at scoutdublin.com
Words: Seana Henry / Photos: Evan Buggle
