Collection Filter

Shopify Discussion
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Hello everyone,

I’m running Whispers of Wisdom Clothing, built on the Minimog 5.8.0 theme with over 30,000 products. My store follows a 3-level collection structure (Gender → Category → Subcategory) using a standardized tag taxonomy like Dresses - Clothing, Midi - Dresses - Clothing, Black, Leather, S, etc.

I want to create a clean, scalable filtering system using Shopify’s Search & Discovery app—without custom coding—that works efficiently with a large catalog. The goal is a professional, Farfetch-style filtering experience that adapts automatically across all collections.

I’d appreciate any best practice advice on:

  • Structuring tag-based filters (color, size, material, style).

  • Managing different filter sets per collection level.

  • Keeping everything automated and compatible with Minimog for a large inventory.

If anyone experienced with Minimog + Search & Discovery for big catalogs can jump on a quick call or walkthrough to guide me on the best approach, it would be highly appreciated.

Whispers of Wisdom Clothing

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Hi @samer_1985,

That’s a really well-structured question — and it’s great that you’re thinking about scalability early on. Managing over 30,000 products with a 3-level taxonomy definitely needs a clean and automated approach.

Here are some best practices for achieving a Farfetch-style filtering system using Shopify’s Search & Discovery app (and Minimog 5.8.0):

:puzzle_piece: 1. Use a Consistent Tag Taxonomy

Since you already have standardized tags (e.g. Dresses - Clothing, Midi - Dresses - Clothing, Black, Leather, S), you’re in a strong position.
Keep your tag structure flat and consistent — avoid nested or overlapping tag names.
For example:

  • Color: color_black, color_red, color_white

  • Material: mat_leather, mat_cotton, etc.

  • Style: style_midi, style_maxi

That naming consistency helps Shopify’s Search & Discovery filters recognize and group attributes automatically.

:gear: 2. Configure Filters by Product Attributes, Not Collections

Instead of building separate filter sets for each collection, use Product tags and Metafields for global filters.
Then, in Search & Discovery → Filters, enable only the relevant ones (Color, Size, Material, Style).

This ensures every collection (Gender → Category → Subcategory) automatically displays the appropriate filters without manual work.

:brain: 3. Use Automated Collections Where Possible

Create your Category and Subcategory collections as automated collections that pull products using tag conditions (e.g. tag contains "Dresses - Clothing").
That way, when you tag new products correctly, they’re automatically organized — no extra admin.

:rocket: 4. Keep It Light for Performance

With 30,000+ SKUs, avoid adding too many filter types at once. Shopify recommends staying under 20 active filters for optimal load speed.
Minimog handles filters beautifully, but you’ll get the best results if you limit your filters to the ones that matter most (Color, Size, Material, Style).

:magnifying_glass_tilted_left: 5. Optional Enhancements

If you ever want to go beyond what the Search & Discovery app offers, tools like Boost AI Search & Filter or Searchanise can provide dynamic filtering with caching, sorting, and better control — all without heavy coding.

I’ve worked with large catalog setups (20K+ SKUs) on themes like Minimog and Impact — and once the tag structure and automation are right, the filtering becomes almost self-maintaining.

If you’d like, I can walk you through how to configure your tags and filters so the system scales cleanly — feel free to reach out, and I’d be happy to help.

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