3 Best Shopping in Sicily, Italy

Panarea native and stylist Giovanna Mandarano captures the vitality of the island with her women's clothing and accessories line that's known for bold prints, flowing fabrics, and lots and lots of color. Though there are now multiple locations throughout Sicily and in Rome, the original Panarea location, which opened in 2006, remains the heart of the collection. This is your go-to boutique for the effortlessly chic style that the island is known for.

Italians are passionate about footwear, and the summer island uniform requires a collection of sandals for that perfect dolce far niente look. This third-generation shoe shop specializes in bespoke hand-crafted sandals made from all-natural materials like leather and snakeskin. Choose your style (from some 20-plus designs), heel height, material, and color. They'll measure your foot, and within 30 minutes your custom sandals are ready to walk out the door. 

Artisan Barbara Calabresi hand-dyes yarns and silk with vegetable dyes from the island's flora (such as chamomile, artichokes, and pomegranates); she weaves the thread into fabric, and then designs and produces clothing and housewares (like tablecloths, bedspreads, and rugs) from the cloth. You can shop her charming boutique or sign up for a course to learn to dye (two days; €130) where you'll forage the island to find seasonal botanicals to produce your own dye, or to weave (one day; €130) on a "nomadic" loom. Both classes are suitable for beginners.