A Love Letter.
‘The Lost Art of’ is a collection of journals exploring analogue habits that are currently at the whim of the modern world. Sun & Shine Studio delves into how people expressed & enjoyed themselves before tech made things instant, infinite and just a little bit frictionless. Nostalgia incoming.
Not long ago, we watched one of the most beautiful clothing stores in our local town close its doors. We’d first discovered it from the other side of the world, back when we were still living in Australia — drawn in by the positive power of social media. The shop was a little oasis: California-inspired clothing, dried flowers hanging softly from the walls, sunlight filtering through high ceilings, and mellow reggae playing low in the background. It was more than a store — it was a feeling.
When the store announced its closure on Instagram, the response was immediate — a wave of sympathy, surprise, and sorrow. It left us wondering: How can we ensure that places like this remain part of our towns?
To us, the high street holds the same spirit that Sun & Shine Studio stands for: slow moments, creativity, and a vibrant beauty. It’s where the values of the Slow Movement come to life — and though it often feels like a chicken-and-egg situation, the connection between the two is undeniable. At the intersection of the high street and slower living, you’ll find intention over impulse, quality over quantity, community over convenience. You’ll find sustainability, localism, and human connection.
More than just a place to shop, the high street is a space that gently invites you to pause — to slow down, look up, and breathe in both the literal and metaphorical roses.
Cornwall is alive with creative entrepreneurs — pouring their heart and thought into spaces that feel personal, grounded, and real. These are physical places where you might bump into a neighbour, breathe in the scent of a handmade candle, press your thumb into a ripe piece of fruit, or let your eyes wander slowly across a carefully curated shelf.
So here it is — a love letter to the high street.
Not a how-to guide. Not a checklist.
Just a glimpse into what we at Sun & Shine Studio cherish about a vibrant, living high street — and how we choose to support it, in our own way.
Amid the hustle and chatter of our local high street lies the most enchanting little bookshop. Step inside, and the noise softens into a gentle calm. On a whim, we sent the shop a message, wondering if they had any books we could dive into on an upcoming holiday. Though the shopkeeper was away on holiday themselves, they took the time to find the perfect book, ordered it for me, and had it waiting at the shop.
And it was just right.
Would Jeff Bezos have done the same?
Our daughter recently turned seven, and with her love for crafting and drawing, we signed her and her friends up for a kids’ art class run by a local creative in town.
A few weeks later, the woman who leads those classes came by Sun & Shine Studio and picked up a cap.
On our way home, we stopped at the local bakery for a loaf of sourdough and grabbed a coffee from the van by the beach.
Sometimes, we like to imagine where that money travels next within our community — and the small moments of joy it brings to the next hands it touches.
We wish we could say we’re 100% high street loyal, but the truth is, often we dash into the supermarket like everyone else. And oh, how it pains us to buy blueberries from Argentina, wrapped in layers of plastic. Yet, our two-year-old devours them with joyful abandon, so here we find ourselves.
Then there’s the other world — the one where we make it to the local farm shop, picking up loose blueberries grown just down the road. Less plastic. Less travel.
That, in many ways, is what the high street stands for: less waste, less distance, more care. And that’s a journey we’re always eager to take.
Every Sunday, we laze around, wrapped in the slow comfort of a pillow fort, until the scent of freshly ground coffee gently pulls us up the hill to our local bakery. There, we savour flaky croissants and warm drinks, letting time unfold as we watch the world drift quietly by.
Shopping so often feels like a rushed chore — a maze of choices and speed. But for us, the high street is something different: a place of leisure, where you might bump into a friend, slip into an unhurried hour over coffee and conversation, or simply sit back and watch life meander past.
We deeply believe in local high streets as places where community and stories come alive — spaces filled with passion, care, and connection. There are many ways to show up and support these cherished corners of our towns. Here are some of the ways we, at Sun & Shine Studio, choose to nurture and celebrate ours.
Vote with our money.
Whenever we can, we choose independent stores over chains or online giants. We try and make space in our days to wander down to the local high street — to pick up books, clothes or food. What we discover are shelves filled with quality and creativity, treasures we simply wouldn’t find in a chain store.
There’s a common belief that shopping on the high street means paying more, but more often than not, whether it’s clothes, books, or especially the refill stores, the prices are fairer — sometimes even better than big chains, and all better quality. (Trust us, we’ve done the homework.)
Every penny spent is more than a purchase — it’s a vote for a thriving, vibrant high street.
Be Present.
High streets have always been places to gather — to meet, chat, laugh, and celebrate together. We walk down to our local high street, lingering just a little longer; grabbing a coffee or simply sitting back to watch the world drift by.
A vibrant high street is a living one, and the footsteps of the community are what keep it breathing. Our local high street works hard, hosting late-night events, extended openings, and community clean-ups.
The simplest way to support? Show up.
Pass it on.
“Pssst — the laundry powder at the fill-up store is cheaper than the supermarket. Pass it on!”
And it’s true.
We can’t help but sing the praises of our local shops: from the plastic-free fill-ups, to the surf shop that mended our wetsuit, to the shopkeeper who went the extra mile to order that book we longed for.
When you have a great experience in a local store, don’t keep it to yourself — shout it from the rooftops. Word of mouth is a quiet but mighty force, especially when it comes from one neighbour to another.
Go Beyond ‘Stuff’.
From alterations to accountants, our high street is rich with local services that shape our community. Supporting the high street isn’t just about buying things — it’s about trusting these skills and spaces to keep our neighbourhood thriving.
We also make a point to embrace local experiences whenever we can: joining art classes on rainy afternoons or exploring the town through local tours.
The kids love trips to the library — a quiet haven where shouting is off-limits, much to their disappointment — or spending a day in a co-working space, stepping out of the house and into the pulse of the living world.
Use our voice.
Once upon a time, our family lived in Byron Bay — a town where independent businesses flourish. Back in 1990, the community stood united to block the arrival of a McDonald’s, and the corporate giant quietly retreated.
Today, Byron Bay is alive with locally owned cafes, where the antipodean brunch is, in our humble opinion, some of the best we’ve ever tasted.
The moral of the story? Our voices matter. They carry power, and when we speak together, change is possible.
As Slowly As Possible.
Do we need it right now? Or can it wait?
Next-day deliveries can feel like a lifeline when we are facing a busy week and our child has nothing to wear for the school’s ‘Dress as your future self’ day.
But here’s the thing — shopping locally isn’t all or nothing. Every time we choose to pause, to wait a little longer, and take our money to the high street instead, it makes a difference. It counts.
Now more than ever, we need places that bring people together — face to face, to meet, chat, share, and laugh. And what better place for this than the heart of a town, its high street?
Whether you support your local high street with your time, your spending, or your voice, every little bit matters.
All our love,
Sun & Shine Studio.
Our local favourites.
Some of our most-loved, local stores are below - we are always chasing recommendations for our next high street store obsession,no matter how near or far…drop the name and location of your favourite in the comments.
