How to wear a rainbow. (ragamuffinonline.co.uk)

Member Name: anwar7

Product:	ragamuffinonline.co.uk
Date:	09/02/09 (265 review reads)
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The Isle of Skye, although beautiful, is not renowned for it's shopping. It caters well for everyday needs but if you are after fashion then you probably need to travel a few hours to Inverness. However there is an exception to this, the exciting and unusual shop that goes by the name of Ragamuffin.

I first discovered Ragamuffin by accident a few years ago when the horizontal rain had persuaded us that walking was not an option. We had driven to the Sleat peninsula in the south of the Island and had followed the signs for the pier. We had intended to eat a picnic looking out to see and watch the ferry arriving from Mallaig on the mainland. I was intrigued to spot an open sign, fairly unusual to find much open on Skye in February! Braving the rain I went of to explore and found Ragamuffin. To give clear directions, Ragamuffin is situated to the left of the Caledonian Mc Byrne shipping office. There is a small path that leads to the shop, that looks a bit like a hut from the outside, but don't be put off!

Ragamuffin is a clothes shop with a difference. Inside the shop is a riot of colours and fabrics, from wool and cotton to silks. There are rails of gorgeous jumpers, next to silk skirts all in amazing colours. There are lots of brightly coloured hats and scarves and jewellery. The clothes come from designers all over the world, and are certainly unique.

When I entered the shop for the first time on a cold, wet February day I was warmly greeted and offered a very welcome cup of tea and a biscuit. The staff are very knowledgeable about their stock and nothing was too much trouble for them. I spent a happy hour trying on lots of the clothes and ended up buying a very unusual jumper.

Unlike many high street shops, Ragamuffin has limited changing rooms. You will need to negotiate the spiral staircase and the piles of clothes if you want to try anything on. This would be a problem for anyone with a mobility problem.

Ragamuffin doesn't sell children's clothes but does sell a range of soft toys. I have taken my children into the shop with me on several occasions and they have always been made welcome. If you time it right you could always sit them next to the shop window to watch the ferry arriving! Talking of children, there are no toilets in the shop but you could always go over the car park to the shipping office and use theirs!

Ragamuffin has been trading for 25 years now and has another branch in Edinburgh. Originally Ragamuffin sold clothes made and designed by the owner Lesley. However to day it features the work of over 50 designers from all over the world. As you might expect the prices are not cheap, but if you are looking for something unique then this is the place for you!

Ragamuffin also has a web site at www.ragamuffin.co.uk where you can get an idea of whats on offer. However you can't buy online.

Summary: Designer clothes on the Isle Of Skye