Interview with My Planet Liverpool Magazine

Interview Sue Gannon-Kendrick owner of Mooshy La La, Liverpool’s Bohemian Vintage Boutique – November 2017 issue

“Mooshy La La is one of Liverpool’s finest vintage clothing outlets it has now been open for over four years and going from strength to strength”

My Planet Liverpool fashioned up some questions for Sue about Mooshy La La and the popular vintage fashion boutique’s origins…

Sue Gannon-Kendrick – November 2017

MPL: How long has Mooshy La La been open?

SUE: Just over 4 years now. This will be my 5^th Christmas coming up

MPL: Have you always been in this business?

SUE: I started in the retail industry 45 years ago.  

My work history has always involved display & presentation, a side of retail I really enjoy!

Starting in the fashion industry in the early seventies, I trained as a Visual Merchandiser, (Known then as a “Window Dresser”) for a chain of small independent fashion boutiques.

This was a time before the high streets were dominated by chains of fashion stores when department stores did not really cater to the younger market. I would travel to London from my hometown Liverpool on regular buying trips, exploring, always looking for new trends & inspiration!

A very exciting time in the fashion industry!

My promotion & retail skills then took me into another sector of Fashion – this time in the Prestige Perfumery/Cosmetic Industry, I was lucky enough to work for Christian Dior and even luckier to train in Paris for this Iconic Couture house!

I continued in the Cosmetic/Perfumery world, working with wonderful companies: Chanel, Givenchy, YSL, Jean-Paul Gaultier, to name a few, until the early 90’s. I had started my family at this point and became a full-time mum to my two children, in their early years.

I now felt the time had come to take my career down a different path & qualified as an Interior Designer, I adored the history/antique side of this profession – my preferred styles being Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Bohemian & Gothic of course with added Glam.

With a passion for antique/vintage clothing & jewellery! I have gone full circle and now have my own little Vintage Fashion Boutique, & find myself selling items that I might have sold & worn over 40 years ago!

MPL: Who or What has inspired you the most in creating Mooshy La La

SUE:  My biggest inspiration has been Barbara Hulanicki’s Kensington High Street store – BIBA, which I was fortunate to experience firsthand before its closure in 1975, this magnificent emporium greatly influenced my own little vintage bazaar.

“What was your inspiration in creating Mooshy La La?”

MPL: What makes Mooshy La La different from many other vintage stores?

SUE: I would say it is not just about the Stock (which is of course very important- I hand pick all my stock, I don’t buy by the Kilo) but it is the whole concept, the experience, the fantasy, the inspiration, and the look of the store, and I pride myself on customer service. (I’m very much ‘Old School’ on that one!)

“So what makes Mooshy La La different from other vintage stores?”

MPL: Who, would you say is your main customer? 

SUE: I do not strive to please everyone (that is an impossible task and in doing that, you please no-one!)

My store is not for everyone, yet my customer base covers all ages, all walks of life. Many have a deep concern over mass consumerism and sustainability and prefer not to be caught in that web. They want value for their money. They want something that isn’t all over the high street.

The one common denominator is – they each regard themselves as an ‘individualist’ and not a ‘follower’! That’s not to say they don’t take inspiration from others, we are all inspired by others – inspiration gives stimulation! That’s what I want people to feel when they come into Mooshy La La – ‘Stimulated’ & ‘Inspired’ – so they can create their own look and express their personality!

They do not feel the need to be told how they should look “they like what they like” and when they come in here they are often spoilt for choice!

 MPL: Where do you buy your stock from?

SUE: There’s not a day goes by without me being asked that question … My answer; “Well! I’d have to shoot you if I told you that!”!!!  Hahahaha!!!!  Seriously though, it is an interesting question, but you’ll have to go onto http://www.mooshylala.com – where I answer that very same question! It’s on Mooshy La La’s BLOG post “How would you like to know where I buy all the magical treasures of Mooshy La La?”

MPL: If you didn’t have Mooshy La La what would be your dream job?

SUE: Well I strongly believe “Your dream job does not exist, you must create it!” and I think I’ve done that, but if you asked me “If I didn’t have to earn a living or I had unlimited funds, what would I do? Then the answer would be either creating a small Independent fashion museum (I say, Independent because I could not handle being controlled by a Governing body who dictated how it was to be done) or creating a small Emporium giving several like-minded people an opportunity to set up their own creative business under the same roof. Possibly in a beautiful Victorian Gothic Villa, surrounded by exotic gardens!  Sigh!

Maybe the answer to that original question is ‘Dream-Maker’ Hahaha!

 MPL: Where did the name come from?

SUE: It’s the nickname of my daughter Misha Lily.

When she was born, my son, Lloyd, (then aged 4) decided on his own variation of ‘Misha Lily’ hence…..Mooshy La La!

I adore the Deco period & I think Mooshy La La is a perfectly frivolous name that conjures up the image of a coquettish Ziegfeld Flapper of those ‘Jazz Age’ days!!!!

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Taken from issue 24 ‘My Planet Liverpool Magazine’