Curepipe is Mauritius's main inland shopping town, and the central shopping street has a concentration of fabric shops, jewellers, and craft outlets that draws Mauritians from across the plateau. For visitors, the most interesting purchases are the ones you can't easily find elsewhere: hand-crafted model ships and quality knitwear.
The model ship industry is one of Mauritius's distinctive crafts. Workshops produce detailed scale replicas of famous sailing vessels — the Bounty, the Endeavour, 18th-century frigates — in camphor wood, with individually carved planks, rigging, and brass fittings. Visiting a workshop to watch craftsmen at work is worthwhile even if you don't buy; the level of skill involved is remarkable. Several workshops are in and around the Curepipe area.
The Floreal Knitwear factory outlet, in the adjacent suburb of Floreal, sells quality wool sweaters, cardigans, and accessories at good prices. The brand has been operating since 1949 and is well regarded across the Indian Ocean region; their products are sold in upmarket boutiques across Mauritius at higher prices than you'll pay here.