12 min read
12 Best Websites Like Touch of Modern for Design Shopping
The best websites like Touch of Modern are Uncrate, Huckberry, Gear Patrol, Grommet, MoMA Design Store and Bespoke Post. Each one does the thing Touch of Modern became known for: a small, well-photographed product mix, time-limited drops, and a sense that someone with taste already filtered the catalog for you. Touch of Modern itself is still trading in 2026 as a Shopify store running daily drops, but its range is narrower than it was, which is why so many shoppers are looking for alternatives.
Updated August 2026. Two sites from earlier versions of this list, Fancy and Canopy, have closed or gone dormant and have been replaced. Every site below was checked live this month.
The alternatives fall into a few clear groups: editorial gear sites, premium lifestyle retailers, maker-focused marketplaces, and design stores that care more about aesthetics than catalog size. The right pick depends on whether you care most about unusual products, brand storytelling, gift-worthy finds, or a cleaner shopping experience. This guide covers what each site does best, where it falls short, and who it suits.
What Makes a Good Touch of Modern Alternative?
The best alternatives do more than sell stylish products. They usually combine several of these strengths:
- Curated selection: Fewer products, better presentation, and less browsing fatigue.
- Strong visual merchandising: Product pages feel editorial, not cluttered.
- Distinct brand identity: The platform has taste, not just inventory.
- Story-driven commerce: Products are supported by context, reviews, or maker stories.
- Giftable and aspirational catalog: Items often feel premium, interesting, or conversation-worthy.
If a site lacks those qualities, it may still be a useful retailer, but it will not scratch the same itch as Touch of Modern.
One more thing worth knowing before you compare. Touch of Modern went through an insolvency process in May 2022 and its assets were bought by CSC Generation, the group that also owns several other distressed retail brands (Wikipedia has the timeline). The site survived, but the product depth and the flash-sale pace of its early years did not fully come back. That is the gap the sites below fill.
12 Best Websites Like Touch of Modern
| Site | Closest to Touch of Modern for | Model | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncrate | Premium gear and gadgets with editorial framing | Publication + shop | Mid to high |
| Huckberry | Outdoor and men’s lifestyle, exclusive runs | Curated retailer | Mid to high |
| Grommet | New-product discovery and inventions | Launch platform | Low to mid |
| Uncommon Goods | Unusual gifts from independent makers | Curated marketplace | Low to mid |
| Gear Patrol | Researched buying guides | Publication + shop | Mid to high |
| Cool Material | Casual everyday-carry and gift picks | Editorial affiliate | Low to mid |
| Shinola | Premium watches and leather | Single brand | High |
| Bespoke Post | Themed boxes and curated collections | Subscription + shop | Mid |
| Design Within Reach | Authentic modern furniture and lighting | Design retailer | High |
| Food52 | Kitchen and home with community | Editorial + shop | Mid |
| MoMA Design Store | Design objects and gifts | Museum store | Mid to high |
| Etsy | Handmade and personalised one-offs | Open marketplace | Varies |
1. Uncrate
Uncrate remains the closest match for Touch of Modern shoppers who enjoy premium design, gear, and editorial-style product discovery. The site mixes commerce with magazine-style coverage across gear, style, cars, tech and home, and its own shop at shop.uncrate.com sells a tighter selection of the things it features. Browsing feels intentional rather than transactional.
Best for: Men’s lifestyle products, gadgets, EDC gear, outdoor items, and well-shot premium finds.
Why shoppers like it:
- Clean product presentation and strong photography
- Editorial framing that makes products easier to trust
- A premium, design-aware audience and product mix
Watch out for: It reads more like a lifestyle publication than a broad shopping destination, so variety is narrower than a marketplace. Many featured items link out to other retailers.
2. Huckberry
Huckberry blends rugged lifestyle branding with careful merchandising. It suits shoppers who want products with an outdoorsy, practical, premium feel rather than purely futuristic aesthetics. Its in-house labels and limited collaborations are the nearest thing to Touch of Modern’s old “you will not find this elsewhere” appeal.
Best for: Outdoor gear, premium apparel, travel accessories, watches, and home goods with a masculine lifestyle angle.
Why shoppers like it:
- Strong curation and cohesive brand identity
- Exclusive collaborations and limited runs
- Editorial content that supports purchase decisions
Watch out for: The catalog leans heavily toward adventure and men’s lifestyle, so it is not always the best match for broader gift shopping.
3. Grommet
Grommet (it dropped “The” from its name) is the strongest option if you liked Touch of Modern for product discovery rather than luxury branding. It launches new products every week, lets visitors vote on upcoming launches in exchange for a discount, and focuses on inventions with a backstory from smaller makers and emerging brands.
Best for: Unique household products, smart gadgets, gifts, practical inventions, and maker-led brands.
Why shoppers like it:
- Interesting products that are less mainstream
- Strong creator and maker storytelling
- Good for shoppers who want novelty without pure gimmicks
Watch out for: The visual style is less sleek than Touch of Modern, so the experience feels warmer and more maker-driven than aspirational.
4. Uncommon Goods
Uncommon Goods replaces Fancy on this list. Fancy’s social-feed shopping model was a good match for Touch of Modern’s sense of surprise, but the site has been showing a “coming soon” page for months and we no longer recommend it. Uncommon Goods covers the same ground with a far more reliable operation: a curated catalog of unusual, often handmade gifts, a long-running commitment to independent makers, and a B Corp certification that tells you something about how it treats them.
Best for: Discovery shopping, gift inspiration, personalised items, and products you will not see in a department store.
Why shoppers like it:
- Strong “I have never seen that before” factor
- Maker stories attached to most products
- Good gift filters by recipient, occasion and price
Watch out for: The aesthetic is playful rather than minimal, so it is a weaker match if you loved Touch of Modern for its sleek, tech-forward look.
5. Gear Patrol
Gear Patrol is part publication, part buying guide, and part commerce platform. It is the smart alternative for shoppers who want explanation, context, and product testing before buying. It describes itself as a publication covering products for enthusiasts, and that is an accurate summary of the experience.
Best for: Buyers who prefer informed purchases across tech, automotive, home, style, and outdoor categories.
Why shoppers like it:
- Buyer guides and editorial depth
- Strong authority-based recommendations
- Useful if you want to compare before you buy
Watch out for: It is content-led rather than deal-led, so it feels less like a flash discovery store and more like a premium recommendation engine.
6. Cool Material
Cool Material covers a broad mix of stylish and practical products with a lighter editorial tone. It is useful for shoppers who want well-presented recommendations without the more exclusive vibe some curated platforms lean into.
Best for: Everyday carry, men’s style, gifts, gadgets, and casual design-forward shopping.
Why shoppers like it:
- Accessible editorial voice
- Strong product mix across multiple categories
- Easy browsing for gift and lifestyle discovery
Watch out for: It can feel broader and less premium than Touch of Modern in certain categories, and most purchases happen on other retailers’ sites.
7. Shinola
Shinola is a better fit if what you loved about Touch of Modern was premium presentation and brand identity rather than wide discovery. The Detroit-based brand offers a focused, brand-owned shopping experience built around watches, leather goods and craftsmanship, with free US shipping on most orders.
Best for: Watches, leather goods, gifts, and shoppers who prefer fewer but better-positioned products.
Why shoppers like it:
- Strong premium branding
- Clear craftsmanship narrative
- Consistent visual identity across products
Watch out for: It is brand-centric, so you do not get the multi-brand discovery feel of Touch of Modern.
8. Bespoke Post
Bespoke Post is worth considering if you like curated taste but want a more membership-like buying model. Its themed boxes, collections, and lifestyle framing create a structured discovery experience that still feels premium. You can also shop individual products without subscribing.
Best for: Subscription-style discovery, curated boxes, men’s gifts, and themed product collections.
Why shoppers like it:
- Clear curation around themes and lifestyles
- Strong giftability
- Recurring discovery model for repeat buyers
Watch out for: If you dislike subscription framing, the experience may feel more guided than flexible.
9. Design Within Reach
Design Within Reach takes the slot Canopy held in earlier versions of this list. Canopy, the Amazon-curation site, shut down in 2023 and its homepage now carries a farewell note. DWR is a very different business but serves the same shopper need: someone has already narrowed the field. It sells authentic modern furniture, lighting and accessories from named designers, and runs a semiannual sale that is the best time to buy.
Best for: Shoppers who want the “modern” half of Touch of Modern taken seriously, especially for furniture and lighting.
Why shoppers like it:
- Licensed originals rather than lookalikes
- Clear design provenance on every product page
- Consistent, calm presentation
Watch out for: Prices are high, and it has no gadget or EDC category at all.
10. Food52
Food52 is not a direct category match, but it is one of the better examples of editorial commerce done well. Recipes, community comments and the shop sit side by side, so the content, visuals, and community all help shape trust before you buy.
Best for: Home goods, kitchen products, gifts, and shoppers who value context-rich buying.
Why shoppers like it:
- Strong editorial integration
- Community and recommendation layers
- High-trust product presentation
Watch out for: It is home-focused rather than lifestyle-tech focused.
11. MoMA Design Store
For shoppers who care deeply about design language, MoMA Design Store is one of the strongest alternatives. It leans into modern aesthetics, object design, and products selected for taste as much as utility. Every item has been approved by the museum’s curatorial staff, which is a filter no commercial retailer can match.
Best for: Modern home accessories, design gifts, office objects, and art-adjacent shopping.
Why shoppers like it:
- Strong design credibility
- Distinctive catalog with gift appeal
- Excellent fit for aesthetic-first shoppers
Watch out for: The catalog is design-object oriented and light on gadgets.
12. Etsy
Etsy is broader and messier than Touch of Modern, but it is still relevant if your main goal is finding unusual, giftable, or design-conscious products from smaller creators. It works best when you know how to filter for quality and seller credibility: sort by reviews, check shop age, and read the most recent feedback first.
Best for: Handmade goods, personalized gifts, niche products, and creator-led shopping.
Why shoppers like it:
- Huge variety of creative products
- Strong maker economy participation
- Great for one-off finds and custom items
Watch out for: Quality and presentation vary widely across sellers, and mass-produced resellers have crept in, so curation depends on the shopper.
Which Touch of Modern Alternative Is Best for You?
If you want the closest editorial-commerce feel, start with Uncrate, Gear Patrol, and Huckberry. If you care more about maker stories and unusual finds, look at Grommet, Uncommon Goods and Etsy. If your priority is design credibility, MoMA Design Store and Design Within Reach are the two to bookmark.
The best choice depends on your buying style:
- For gift shopping: Grommet, Uncommon Goods, Bespoke Post, MoMA Design Store
- For premium gear and lifestyle: Uncrate, Huckberry, Gear Patrol
- For creative discovery: Uncommon Goods, Etsy, Food52
- For design-first aesthetics: MoMA Design Store, Design Within Reach, Shinola
What These Sites Get Right About Modern Ecommerce
The strongest Touch of Modern alternatives do not win by offering the most products. They win by reducing noise. They make shoppers feel like someone already filtered the catalog, cleaned up the presentation, and highlighted items worth noticing.
That usually comes from a few repeatable strengths:
- clear visual hierarchy on category and product pages
- strong lifestyle positioning instead of generic product dumps
- trust signals such as editorial reviews, maker stories, or recommendations
- faster discovery through curation, collections, and smart merchandising
- repeat engagement driven by themes, drops, or community interaction
That matters for shoppers, but it also matters for brands and store owners trying to build stronger ecommerce experiences. The two sites that dropped off this list since our last update are a reminder of the flip side: curation alone does not pay the bills. Canopy relied on Amazon affiliate margins and Fancy never found a sustainable model. The survivors either own their inventory, run a subscription, or pair the shop with a publication that earns on its own.
How Curated Shopping Sites Turn Browsing Into Community and Retention
One of the smartest things these platforms do is move beyond simple catalog browsing. The best ones create habits. Shoppers come back for new drops, recommendations, trending collections, gift guides, or product conversations. That repeat engagement is where curated commerce starts to behave like a community. Grommet’s weekly launches and voting, Food52’s recipe comments and Huckberry’s email-first drops are all versions of the same idea.
For brands, marketplaces, and niche stores, this is a useful model. A modern storefront gets much stronger when it adds features that keep visitors connected between purchases: member areas, buyer groups, saved collections, reviews, or interest-based communities. That is especially relevant for stores built around premium products, curated collections, or recurring discovery. We build a lot of these on WordPress and WooCommerce, and the pattern that works is the same one these sites use: fewer products, more context, and a reason to return.
If you are studying these platforms as business examples, look at how ecommerce experiences improve when they combine merchandising with stronger buyer engagement, reviews, and community features. Related reads from Wbcom include WordPress review plugins, multivendor marketplace plugins, and WooCommerce plugins to enhance customer experience. If you are planning a curated marketplace of your own, our multi-vendor marketplace development team has built several.
Frequently asked questions
Is Touch of Modern still in business?
Yes. Touch of Modern went through an assignment for the benefit of creditors in May 2022 and its assets were acquired by CSC Generation. The site is live at touchofmodern.com in 2026 and runs daily drops and limited-time sales, though the catalog is smaller than it was at its peak.
What is the best alternative to Touch of Modern?
Uncrate is the closest overall alternative because it combines premium product discovery, strong editorial presentation, and a design-forward audience. Huckberry and Gear Patrol are also strong depending on whether you prefer rugged lifestyle products or research-heavy buying guides.
Are there websites like Touch of Modern for gifts?
Yes. Grommet, Uncommon Goods, Bespoke Post, MoMA Design Store, and Etsy are all good choices for gift-oriented shoppers looking for unusual, well-presented, or design-conscious products.
Which Touch of Modern alternatives are best for home and design products?
MoMA Design Store, Design Within Reach, and Food52 are the best picks if your focus is modern home products, thoughtful design, and visually strong shopping experiences.
What happened to Fancy and Canopy?
Canopy closed in 2023 and its homepage now reads “Canopy 2014 - 2023”. Fancy.com has displayed an “under construction” page for an extended period with no relaunch date. We removed both from this list and replaced them with Uncommon Goods and Design Within Reach.
Where to start
The best websites like Touch of Modern do not just sell products. They package taste, discovery, and trust into a smoother shopping experience. Pick the one that matches your buying style rather than the one with the biggest catalog: Uncrate or Huckberry for gear, Grommet or Uncommon Goods for gifts, MoMA Design Store or Design Within Reach for design.
In curated commerce, the strongest experience comes from better selection, not more selection. That was true when Touch of Modern launched, and it is the reason its best alternatives are still growing.
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