I love #shoppingsmall. Supporting a small business (especially local) is one of the tiny joys I get in life. Luckily, a big aspect of my job as a writer is seeking out these entrepreneurs and helping get the word out about shop. Recently, I’ve met a lot of wonderful women here in Calgary who have chosen to sell their wares online. The beauty of online shops is that they can be located just about anywhere which opens up a lot of opportunity for business owners - brick+mortar takes away that luxury and freedom. And on the shopping end of things, online shopping also opens you up to a whole new group of people making, selling and importing great items that you might never have access to.
Also, it is pretty amazing that don’t have to look far to find really great baby + kids goods right here in Calgary. These shops often have the option for local pick-ups or pop-up shops which is a huge plus if you live in the same city. Each shop is so different but all of the same sentiment at heart: purchase things that your family will love and cherish.
A new shop that just opened up this fall, Community Folk is for the design-conscious family. With a decidedly modernist aesthetic, their shop is stocked to the brim with items imported from Scandinavia and beyond, including sustainably-made toys, gorgeous minimalist clothing options and plenty of fantastic decor options. The owner, Cheyanne Rudmik, has four children of her own so every single item is tried and tested by her adorable family.
If you love Canadian-made goods you are going to LOVE Little Blue Canoe. This online shop is a labour of love for owner Kelly; she handpicks every single item for the shop from makers across Canada. Letterpress, wooden toys and adorable clothing are on regular rotation in her fun and colourful online shop.
This adorable apparel shop was started by Melissa, a mom of three that were all born premature. Inspired by the amazing people that helped her children in the NICU she started designing cute kids clothing to give back to the NICU community. She always has one shirt design that has a portion of proceeds going to the NICU. What a great cause and a win-win for shoppers.
Designed and created by a local designer, My Mila is your one-stop shop for a hip wardrobe for your little one. They are famous for their stripey toques with furry poms on top - they instantly make winter that much cuter. Another great benefit of shopping local is knowing the person that is making your product - all in a completely sustainable way.
Teepee Tots & Co. is an adorable online shop (that does regular markets and pop-ups in Calgary) featuring handmade leggings and moccasins for your little one. Known for their fun prints (I’m obsessed with the eggs leggings) and trendy styles, this is a great place to shop for gifts for any of the babies and toddlers in your life. They also have super cute beanies and scarves to complete the look.
Consignment isn’t just for adults anymore - pick up fantastic brands and style from Canadian children’s consignment shop Preshrunk. Based in Calgary, this awesome concept participates in pop-up shops regularly and loves to connect with their local consigners. They also have a section for maternity wear - a great place to look for gently used or new designer maternity wear.
Everyone loves a good fort so why not make it a stylish one with one of Modern Tipi’s cool teepees?! Each teepee is hand-sewn and made in Calgary by Modern Tipi owner, Lindsay. She started the company when she wanted her kids to have a playhouse or tent that would go with her decor - fast forward to current day and she can barely keep these cute forts in stock. She also recently had a pop-up at West Elm Calgary!
Great finds! I’ll be sharing this with my readers this week!