At its core, Canterlot Boutique is an exploration of the relationship between commercialism and art, particularly the potentially constraining and corrupting effects that the former can have on the latter. This is achieved through the use of two principal characters, Rarity and Sassy Saddles, who personify differing ideologies.
Rarity is an artist, driven by the creative process and a wish to spread beauty and joy rather than any desire for profit. At no point in the episode is she shown to
