2 Sustainable Businesses Offering Environmentally Responsible Fabrics in Strathcona
Everything we purchase has an environmental impact. The growing popularity of fast fashion over the last couple of decades has led to a cheaper price point but has also been a contributor to the negative impact on the environment.
Making environmentally responsible choices with our clothing is a great way to show your love for fashion but also the planet. Having a high standard for the social and environmental impact of our clothing is a great step we can take as individuals to help create a cleaner, greener and more fair planet.
We spoke with Strathcona businesses Blackbird Fabrics and Our Social Fabric about why having a positive, sustainable impact is an important part of their businesses. Read more below.
Blackbird Fabrics
Blackbird Fabrics is a Strathcona business that provides high-quality fabrics and supplies for sewists, by sewists. They offer a range of apparel fabrics that feel at home in any modern wardrobe including natural fibers, deadstock fabrics, and custom print lines, with an emphasis on fabrics that are environmentally and socially responsible wherever possible.
How does your business make a difference to the environment?
By providing home sewists with the fabrics & tools they need to make their own garments, we aim to steer people away from fast fashion and towards a slower and more sustainable way of engaging with the fashion industry.
The growth of our business has allowed us to take on a number of custom projects where we are able to ensure that we are working with suppliers that meet our social and environmental standards. We also work with a number of deadstock suppliers where we source leftover rolls and offcuts from fashion brands and textile mills, breathing new life into existing fabrics rather than purchasing all of our fabrics brand new.
Within our warehouse, we strive to produce as little waste as possible, repurposing and recycling our scraps wherever possible. We do this by selling our remnants and flawed cuts at reduced prices, creating bundles out of our scraps, and recycling any leftover fabric pieces with a local textile recycling company, Fabcycle.
Why is social and environmental impact important to your business and/or in your industry?
Having seen the negative effects that have resulted from the rise of fast fashion, such as overconsumption, inhumane labour practices, and devastating effects on the environment, we believe that it’s important to commit ourselves to use our platform and our purchasing power responsibly.
Likewise, as a team made up of home-sewists who have a personal investment in the slow-fashion movement, we believe that it’s important that our practices as a business reflect these shared values.
What do you find inspiring about the slow-fashion movement and community?
It’s incredibly inspiring to see the wealth of knowledge that has been made available to regular consumers by way of the slow-fashion community. In an industry like the fashion industry where many of the details around production have traditionally been behind closed doors, it’s so encouraging to see people pushing their favourite brands for more transparency and asking industry-level questions surrounding their practices.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Alongside Earth Day, this week is also Fashion Revolution week, an annual global campaign dedicated to mobilizing consumers, brands, and policymakers to advocate for a safer, more transparent, and less exploitative fashion industry. We’ll be participating by sharing articles and information over on our Resource page and Instagram, we also encourage you to check out the numerous resources provided by Fashion Revolution if you are interested in learning more.
Our Social Fabric
Our Social Fabric is a non-profit fabric store selling donated deadstock fabric and fibre arts supplies online and in person. They keep ‘waste’ fabric out of landfills by getting it into the hands of the fibre arts and slow-fashion community. They believe in a future where no useable fabric ends up in Canadian landfills.
How does your business make a difference to the environment?
Our Social Fabric is a non-profit selling donated deadstock fabric and fibre-arts supplies online and in-person. We keep ‘waste’ fabric out of landfill by taking donations of fabric and selling it to the fibre-arts and slow-fashion community. In 2021, we kept more than 20 tons of textiles and sewing-related materials out of landfills. Over the last five years, we have diverted a staggering 85.5 tons!
Our fabric, notions and supplies are priced at up to 75 per cent less than regular retail prices. We sell to the public through weekly in-person sales at our store on Venables Street and ship across Canada through their online store.
Our shelves, virtual and real, are crammed with unique high-quality fabrics that shoppers won’t find anywhere else.
We help to make sewing more affordable, approachable and more sustainable for our creative community.
Why is social and environmental impact important to your business and/or in your industry?
Our Social Fabric exists to reduce the environmental impacts of ‘waste’ fabric caused by overproduction and overconsumption and to provide more sustainable shopping options to those in our creative community who are enjoying the practice of making their own clothes as opposed to consuming fast fashion.
We were founded in 2009 by a set decorator and a fashion designer who were both alarmed at the large volumes of fabric ‘waste’ being generated by the movie industry in Vancouver and took action to save it from going to landfills.
We still receive donations from the movie industry, but now count clothing manufacturers, designers, wholesalers, estates and home sewers amongst our donors.
As an organization, we believe that fabric waste can not only be avoided, but channelled to create positive change in our community. As a non-profit our pricing structure is designed so that we make just enough to keep the business running.
Joanna Wyatt, chair of Our Social Fabric, explains further, “Being part of a wider community is really important to us. Any surplus funds we have are channelled back into sewing-related educational opportunities and organizations as well as key community causes. For example, we offer three annual scholarships to Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s school of fashion design. And in 2021, when first the fires and then the floods were raging in British Columbia, we donated part of our sales or made an in-kind donation to support the rebuilding efforts.
What do you find inspiring about the slow-fashion movement and community?
All our volunteers and employees are sewists and fabric lovers. We swap pattern ideas and love showing off our latest makes and share sewing tips. We are firmly part of the slow-fashion movement and community!
When we spend time selecting fabrics and patterns and then sewing them up into wearable garments we are making conscious and deliberate choices about what pieces we add to our wardrobes. When you invest time and learn new skills to produce a garment you have respect for it that can be lost when you purchase fast fashion items.
But best of all, when you sew the garment is uniquely yours. You can proudly wear something you made and know there is little to no chance that anyone else will be wearing the same outfit as you anywhere in the world! Don’t like the colours or trends in stores? Not a problem, make it how you want. It’s so liberating to know that the only limitation is your imagination.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Our online store can be found at www.oursocialfabric.ca or visit us at 270-1275 Venables St during one of our in person sales. We’re open every Thursday 3pm-7pm and one Sunday a month, 10am-1pm. Check our website for the latest sale schedule. Our staff and volunteers are always on hand to answer questions and help you make fabric selections. We also sell sewing machines for anyone wanting to get started.
5 Female Entrepreneurs Flourishing in Strathcona
March 8th is International Women’s Day and to celebrate we want to highlight five women who are making a difference in Strathcona all year round.
Our neighbourhood is home to a diverse group of business entrepreneurs in wonderful sub-districts that all contribute to the eclectic vibe that is Strathcona. And over 35 of those businesses were founded by women.
We’re featuring five women, each with unique offerings and interesting stories. From a bakery owner to the founder of a co-working space, the women below all represent the hardworking, determined characteristics that are at the core of the Strathcona way of being. We hope you discover something new and amazing.
For a full list of women-owned businesses operating in Strathcona visit this link here.
Janna Bishop
Janna is the co-founder of Flourist, a newer addition to Strathcona and one of the yummiest bakeries we’ve had the pleasure of indulging in. With her partner Shira, Janna created a company that works exclusively with Canadian family farms to source premium local grains and beans and provides high-quality fresh flour, dry goods and other baking supplies. They now have two successful locations (their flagship store is on Commercial Drive) which include both retail and baked goods, and an online store for all their specialty items.
What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Spend as much time as you can figuring out who your business helps and make sure you know that person as well as you can. Also, that old cliché to plan for half the sales and twice the costs is an old cliché for a reason.
What was your motivation for starting your own business?
I was mostly motivated to see through the vision that I couldn’t get out of my head. There were other reasons of course, but the driving force was being able to bring something new to life.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?
I love connecting with customers, the ones that truly appreciate why we do this. Nothing is more gratifying!
Monique Cherrie
Monique is the founder of Makeshift Work Space, a beautiful co-working space in Strathcona. Monique has created a space that is inviting, comfortable, and inspiring – the perfect space to build something meaningful. Monique has a unique career path and journey that led her to becoming an entrepreneur in the event space and co-working space business.
What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
I remember in the beginning things were nerve racking, but if you have something that you believe in, make a plan and chase it. Don’t do it without the plan. You’ll never regret the chances you take, only the ones you didn’t, but you also have to remember that not every chance you take is a success, and you have to roll with the losses by learning a lesson from each one. Keep moving forward and remember that the road you take to success will look very different than it did when you take your first steps.
Who inspires you and why?
I am truly inspired by Queen Latifah. In addition to her success in business and the arts, she is running a campaign called “It’s Bigger Than Me” aimed at changing the conversations about weight and obesity, addressing the shame, bias and stigma of being overweight. I appreciate her role in this difficult conversation, and the impact it has on society. She is also Producing and Starring in a TV show that is addressing the challenges we have as a society with racism and social justice. She is not shying away from the conversation, and that is captivating and motivating me. I understand and aspire towards the effort it takes to succeed in any line of work.
What was your motivation for starting your own business?
I had a very long career in the security industry, but I left it feeling unfulfilled. I questioned whether my children would be proud of what I do for a living and ultimately I realized the answer was no. It is a real challenge having to reinvent yourself and choose a new path, but I found success in my last career, I felt I could find success working for myself. I also felt zero impact being a person of color and a woman in my last career, and I wanted that to become a large part of the business that I run since it is a large part of who I am.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?
I do enjoy working for myself but I revel in the opportunity to meet new people. I always hope that there is a chance I can help someone forward in their life or career. I know I have the strength to run a strong operation but its first and foremost about building a community. A place where people enjoy working from, and networking within our community.
What does the future hold for your business?
We are in a rebuilding phase after the impact of COVID on our community. We are growing and looking towards expanding our operation. It’s all about supporting other businesses and helping each other out.
Kendra Klemke
Kendra is the owner of Goodbye Graffiti Vancouver, a company that has an integral role in how the Strathcona BIA supports our business community. Goodbye Graffiti provides graffiti removal from any surface, and currently removes graffiti from almost 3,000 individual locations on a weekly basis, including servicing four BIA districts. Not only is Kendra running the show at Goodbye Graffiti, she’s also got an incredible story that led her to becoming an entrepreneur.
Who inspires you and why?
I grew up in a family with strong female entrepreneurs. My parents were both self-employed, and as a child, I was fortunate to come from a home where business was always talked about at the dinner table. My mother raised my sister and me while going to college and running multiple businesses at the same time. She demonstrated to us at a young age that you can be a successful entrepreneur and a caring and involved parent at the same time. My mother has always been an extremely important supporter of my career, and I am so grateful for her overall guidance and lessons on business that continue to this day.
What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
I have three key pieces of advice. First, Imposter Syndrome is a very real thing, especially for women working in male-dominated fields. You assume that everyone who already has a seat at the table (most often men) is so much more qualified, capable, and knowledgeable than you. And then you get to the table and you realize…that’s really not the case. That’s one thing that’s really struck me in my journey in business. Being able to witness and experience first-hand the shattering of the myth that certain positions just aren’t meant for you because you’re a woman.
Second – always take care of your people! This has been instrumental in my success. You’re only as good as your team and healthy company culture is incredibly key. So it’s really in your best interest to communicate transparently, authentically and frequently. Check in regularly so that they feel empowered by your support and ask them what they need from you to be successful. And never assume that you can’t be growing and learning too. Ask your team what more you can be doing to better yourself and the business, and never let yourself get too comfortable. You should always be working on improving your business and looking forward, and that means asking for feedback on your own performance as well as your organization’s.
Last but definitely not least, when you’ve reached a point of success and have the opportunity to, make sure you’re holding the door open for the people, ESPECIALLY the women, behind you. There’s no reason it should be “every man for themselves” out there. I am a firm believer that you have to help all your employees reach their full potential and sometimes that means holding the door open for them to move on, which could mean leaving your business for another opportunity. It’s hard to see top performers go, but you are doing yourself a disservice if you think closing off opportunities to people behind you will advance your business.
What was your motivation for starting your own business?
As a kid growing up I was challenged and struggled in school. But my parents taught me that even if I was a ‘C’ student but was doing my best that was okay. They promoted the fact that even if school wasn’t easy for me, I could still be very successful in life as long as I had a positive attitude and strong work ethic. I took this advice to heart and when I got my first job at 14 I started implementing these strategies for many years to come. I would always be the one to offer to stay late, to cover shifts, take on work no one else wanted to do. I did whatever I could to make my manager’s job easier, to support others, and I believe these tactics helped me grow my career in business much more quickly. Struggling in school as a young person motivated me to work harder outside of the classroom, which lead me to eventually go into business for myself.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?
One of the things I have enjoyed most about owning my own business is having the ability to build out my own team of people. At Goodbye Graffiti™ we have such a unique and diverse workforce and I feel strongly it’s one of the key pillars to our success!
What does the future hold for your business?
Today the future means reinvesting in our business at Goodbye Graffiti. I’m sure it will come as no surprise to hear that since 2017 we have seen unprecedented growth in overall graffiti volumes, not just across the city of Vancouver but in all major municipalities in Canada. Our organization has plans to add many more vehicles, staff, and is even planning to pilot some new and innovative graffiti management strategies with key stakeholders.
Mithalee Rawat
Mithalee is the founder of Shorba Bone Broth, providing collagen-rich bone broth with medicinal spices for gut health & immune support. Mithalee is a chef who used her passion for traditional food products and strongly held values of food as medicine in the Ayurveda tradition, and turned it into a full-scale business.
Who inspires you and why?
My parents were both entrepreneurs so watching them inspired me to be one myself.
What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Do you research before jumping in! Informational interviews are super helpful – entrepreneurs are busy but always love making time for enthusiastic entrepreneurs. Just have pointed questions ready.
What was your motivation for starting your own business?
I was a chef in the health food industry when I noticed bone broth becoming trendy. However, all the other brands were making it like soup stock. I had learned the medicinal ways to produce bone broth through Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, so I felt passionate about providing representation from those lineages in the offerings of bone broth.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?
When customers have shared with me that they have experienced positive health impacts because of my broth. Makes me teary thinking about it!
What does the future hold for your business?
This is the year of scaling up! We are finally expanding into more of BC this month. As well, as a brand new offering this summer which will offer a ready-to-eat bone broth-infused side dish!
Lillie Greenwood
Lillie is the owner of Small Potatoes Commissary, a space that has been instrumental to the production of some of Strathcona’s best and emerging food and beverage businesses. A long-time veteran of the food business scene in Vancouver, Lillie is passionate about plant-based eating, zero-waste initiatives, and all things food!
What was your motivation for starting your own business?
I come from a family of entrepreneurs, both my parents ran their own businesses throughout my childhood, so I was well versed in the joys and pitfalls! Going into business for myself was very much second nature, and I never viewed it as any more or less challenging than setting off on a more “typical” career path. I think that deep down, even from a young age, I knew I wouldn’t flourish working for someone else in the way that I would working for myself.
What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
