Our Story
At Vagabond Boutique Cape May, we believe that fashion should never come at the cost of the planet or the people who make our clothes. That's why we use only the highest quality, eco-friendly materials and work with suppliers who share our commitment to sustainability.
Mary is the owner of Vagabond Cape May and the co-owner of Vagabond Boutique in Philadelphia. Her background is in fine art, history, and making artisanal goods such as hand-knit sweaters and one-of-a-kind clothing. Vagabond started as a way for her to employ her artistic talents while building a small business and providing a place for local designers to find vintage clothing and sell their creations. From the first day, it was committed to, and still is, helping marginalized people, both locally and overseas. It first opened on Pacific Avenue in Wildwood, across from Common Ground coffee house.
Megan Murphy, her housemate at Trinity College Dublin and later in a barely heated, giant industrial warehouse in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, came onboard in time for the opening of the original Vagabond Cape May in 1997, which was located on the Perry Street side of Congress Hall until renovations began there. Vagabond then moved to Carpenters Square on Perry Street.
Mary and Megan opened Vagabond Philadelphia in Old City, Philadelphia at 37 North 3rd Street, in 2000, where it remains open today. It has evolved over time and while staying true to its vintage and artisanal roots, by approximately 2003 it began to add higher-end, hard-to-find, ethical and sustainable, independent designers such as Uzi, Rachel Comey, Black Crane, Atelier Delphine, and later, by 2013, Riverside Tool and Dye, Po-‘em, Rita Row, Paloma Wool, Tach, Lauren Manoogian, Simple Folk, Le Bonne Shop, PrintFresh, and many others. Mary held knitting lessons and a knitting circle and Megan gave sewing lessons. Linda Smith, the current owner of Casa Vida boutique in Old City and designer of We Who Preys jewelry, found local artists, musicians, and designers and held many art openings, music shows, fashion shows, and pop-ups over the years. Vagabond still holds art openings, pop-ups, and small gatherings to introduce local designers. Mike Brenner, Megan’s partner, is a current member of Wild Pink, and his other project, John Train, has played several small shows at Vagabond.
In 2003 Vagabond also began to sell Stellapop hand knits, designed and hand knit by Mary Clark and by 2005, sold in over 40 stores, including Barney’s, Ron Herman, Scoop NYC, Anthropologie, two stores in Tokyo, and several in London. All the sweaters were and still are designed by Mary, who knits the prototype while writing the pattern, then gets help from local Philadelphia knitters for the production of the more popular, best-selling styles. When Stellapop was selling in other stores aside from Vagabond, Mary employed over 30 local knitters. Her right hand for running the operation was Leah D Ambrosio who later launched Wol Hide, which is also available at Vagabond. In approximately 2014, after the birth of her third child, Mary pulled back from selling Stellapop to other stores and began to sell them only at Vagabond and online. They remain a sought-after hand-knit sweater line and Mary still designs all of them and is continually working on knitting and writing new patterns.
In 2020 Mary and her family purchased a home in West Cape May and decided to move there full-time. While still remaining with Vagabond Philadelphia, Mary opened Vagabond Cape May on her own in February 2023. Vagabond Cape May is now open full-time and carries Stellapop and some other lines from Vagabond Philadelphia as well as some vintage and other lines which are unique to Vagabond Cape May.
From organic cotton to recycled polyester, our fabrics are carefully selected to minimize our impact on the environment. We also prioritize ethical production practices, ensuring that every garment is made by skilled artisans who are paid fair wages and work in safe conditions.
But our commitment to sustainability doesn't end there. We also believe in reducing waste and preserving resources, which is why we offer a range of up-cycled and recycled clothing options. And when it comes to packaging and shipping, we use only biodegradable and compostable materials to minimize our carbon footprint.
At Vagabond Boutique Cape May, we're proud to be leading the way in ethical and sustainable fashion. So why not join us on our journey toward a brighter, more sustainable future? Shop our collection today and see the difference for yourself! 🌿🌎