Buying ‘pre-loved’ brings with it a seemingly endless list of local benefits.
From boosting the economy through job creation and benefiting charitable endeavours, to the environmental benefit of waste reduction and providing affordable options in these times of ever-increasing costs.
Cayman has a healthy selection of stores selling pre-loved items and one of the newest kids on the block is That Bird in Paradise, Sonia Sajnani’s curated consignment and lifestyle studio.
SONIA
Sonia’s varied background in Canada has benefitted her in all aspects of her present day professional life.
She funded her BSc in nursing by providing niche East Indian and Arab wedding makeup and hair services, alongside her gruelling studies.
“After graduating, I worked as a scrub and circulating nurse at a high acute care operating theatre”, she explains.
“I maintained nursing, my bridal/styling business, and a role as an expert advisor for makeup and styling on a national television show for about five years before discovering the nursing specialty of medical aesthetics.“
This specialty brought her to Cayman in 2016, to work at a local medical spa, and she maintained a creative outlet by starting Stylebar Beauty Co. that same year, doing hair, makeup and styling.
“It allowed me to stay immersed in the creative community and nurture this dimension of myself while working in a practice that was not my own,” she says.
THE SPACE
The spark for That Bird in Paradise began when Sonia added a retail licence to her business in 2019, opening The Space.
“It was a place for creatives like myself to be seen, represented, and have a venue to showcase their talents without breaking the bank,” says Sonia.
“I essentially supplemented it with my nursing income, which some would say is not a great business move, but it wasn’t about the money – The Space was about community.”
A pop-up retail shop soon emerged which included consignment offerings, and the popularity reinforced in Sonia the need for day-to-day fashion resales.
“Since I moved to Cayman, I recognised the need for clothes that reflected personal style,” she says. “I grew up thrifting, creating, designing – and it was all done on a shoe-string budget.
“When I first moved to the island, I would love to explore and discover local off-the-grid shops to see what they had – while I would find pieces here and there, quality was often sacrificed.“
While COVID claimed The Space, in late 2024 Sonia reemerged with That Bird in Paradise in Regency Court Plaza, fuelled by passion for style and affordable fashion.
“I have a passion for affordable fashion – style is certainly something that cannot be bought, and I feel everyone should have the opportunity to feel good in their clothes and how they present themselves,” she says.
“You can mix high-end brands with high-street or vintage. Fashion is interesting and playful.”
Sonia was also increasingly aware of how much excess we all have, and how it could be put to good use.
“Re-circulating is the answer,” she says.
LIFESTYLE STUDIO
That Bird in Paradise has already evolved far past a consignment store, and has become a lifestyle studio, stocking skincare and makeup, and also offering makeup application and hairstyling, luxury sunless tans, and a selection of advanced facials.
Sonia also stocks Korean skincare products, which she says has been a “quiet monster for years”, being both ahead of the curve scientifically, as well as affordable.
“You’re getting luxury-level quality at accessible price points.”
GIVING BACK
As well as being a source of affordable unique fashion, That Bird in Paradise gives back to the community in other ways, namely with an initiative called That Bird Gives Back.
“Being a business owner, I feel it is so important to give back where possible – it builds community, supports initiatives and – with what we do, it’s a bit of fun.”
Raffle tickets are sold for a luxury bag of Sonia’s choosing, and a reserve is set for how many tickets need to be sold in order for the bag to be drawn.
“We’ve done two so far,” she says. “The first was a YSL Tote in support of ARK, and our latest was for the Breast Cancer Foundation, where we raffled a Loewe Elephant raffia tote.”
FUTURE PLANS
Sonia has a That Bird in Paradise Cayman Islands souvenir in the works as well as a full menu of facial services coming out in the autumn.
The store will also be continuing to refine its existing brand, and curating more stylish, affordable and thoughtful items.
“People are so much more aware now, and it’s so clear that consumers are buying with more intention,” says Sonia.
“Shopping consignment is just a good idea all around – great pieces, great prices, unique finds, and it’s environmentally conscious.”
This article originally appeared in the 2025 Love Local newspaper supplement.
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