An online store selling: Loved clothing. Local artisan items. Consignment. Gift cards. With a shop local blog. In East Vancouver. Delivery included within 10km.
I acknowledge, and am very grateful, to live and work in the territory of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people.
For those of you who don’t already know me here are the Coles notes:
I was a self-employed Travel Agent of 15 years, a wife, and a mother of two kids ages 6 and 3.5. Covid devastated my career, and thanks to Covid, I had A LOT of time to think, and decided to start up a second business that encompasses many other aspects that I am passionate about:
-Buying locally from small businesses versus box stores
-Promoting small businesses and local artisans
-Supporting a circular economy by keeping our money in our community
-Buying second hand as much as possible
-Only buying new items if they are locally made (if possible)
-Reducing, reusing, recycling, and zero waste
-Our neighbourhood and giving back to our community
-Donating to those in need
-Buying products that are not carcinogenic: Shop Local Blog
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I grew up wearing second-hand clothes, as it was just myself and my Mum, who had me at 16. Money was tight. New clothes were not feasible. When I was a kid, I hated that my clothes were mostly used. I was embarrassed about it. Then in my teens when my own style emerged, I realised how awesome second-hand clothes are. In my 20’s, I realised the impact outsourcing, fast fashion, our consumption rate of everything, and capitalism are having on our world. In my 30’s, I realised how challenging it is to balance a career, raise a family, and somehow get everything done on the family to-do list. Researching locally made items when buying new is very time consuming, as most items are outsourced now. Shopping for myself was always at the bottom of the priority list as I felt like I didn’t have time to go, or my kids were with me, and I don’t like shopping online as I need to try everything on (hence my flexible return policy). I started hosting clothing swaps instead, which was also put on hold due to Covid.
I realised a lot of people just want “the stuff” out of their place, and do care where it ends up, but usually don’t have the time to funnel it where they’d prefer, so they end up dropping it off at Value Village because they take everything in one place. Hence where I come in. I pick everything up, keep most of the clothing, and streamline the rest to charities in the neighbourhood for you.
And that is how Loved & Local has come to be!
Jenn
Loved & Local
PS- here are a few of my favourite short documentaries that inspired me:
Clothing Waste / 22 minutes
Made in Bangladesh / 45 minutes
Fashion’s Dirty Secrets / 45 minutes
