05/23/2026
I grew up lower-income.
Every year before school started when I was growing up, we would head out to all the local Whitby and Durham Region thrift stores and I would pick out my entire wardrobe for the year.
I remember hunting through the racks searching for the perfect items and the most popular & recognizable labels that would make me fit in with the other kids at school.
I don't remember being told NOT to share that we were thrift store shoppers, but it seemed like something I shouldn't say out loud.
20 years later, here we are in the world of sustainable, affordable & conscious shopping.
Thrifting is not only one of the best ways to afford the items you love, but is also considered to be a savvy shopping choice for numerous reasons - sustainability & budget-friendly being two of them.
We have heard the positive responses from our shoppers about the changes we have made in the store and we are so grateful for all of you.
We also have heard and we do genuinely empathize with the challenges or difficulties adjusting to the changes we've made. We understand change is hard, we feel that too.
What we have also been listening to though, are those moments that go unspoken.
The silence that comes after the "omg this is so cute" and then the slight shoulder slump when the tag is checked & the price or the sizing is just not going to work for you.
I hear that silence the most, probably because I have lived in that moment every time I go shopping since I was a child.
The world is not an easy place to survive in right now.
We can't look at a price tag without thinking through the LIST, the "oh the kids need new shoes" and "the car needs an oil change" and the "I'm overdue on the $800 Costco restock for the house" LIST.
And to the parents and caregivers out there - I see you the most.
We walk through the world giving and giving everything we have and then giving even more, & when we see a jacket or a purse we love, we think about the LIST and we forget to make sure we have added ourselves onto it.
If you're caring for children or a parent or a spouse, and if you're managing the mental load of life, it's not easy to decide to buy a beautiful item for yourself without the doubt & the guilt of "maybe this money should go elsewhere".
We see you because we ARE you, and we want to acknowledge that, yes, we have been sourcing & posting more expensive items in our store & on our socials - the purses & shoes & clothes that you definitely want, but can't consider buying when you've forgotten to add yourself to the LIST of things to be taken care of.
We have spent the last three weeks contemplating what types of clothing, which labels & what price points do we want to accept & sell now.
We have told you "no more fast-fashion" brands.
And we have sourced Miu Miu, Nike, Valentino etc.
Are we Thrift? Are we Designer? Are we Vintage? Are we affordable? Are we expensive?
We are still figuring that all out - and it's likely that we will include a little bit of ALL of the above!
But why am I writing this novel on a rainy Saturday?
Because I want to communicate to you, our community, the ones who care so much for your families, your homes & your careers, that what we are REALLY aiming to do here is provide you a shopping experience that leaves you feeling great - about yourself, about your purchases, about your confidence & even about your LIST.
We're avoiding fast-fashion labels because we want the treasures you find here to last you longer than a couple of washes.
We're bringing in higher-end items because we believe you should be allowed to treat yourself sometimes, splurge on something luxurious that you can enjoy for years to come.
We also want you to find these items at a reasonable price, on top of the other great staple & statement pieces and accessories that you can adorn your wardrobe with confidently every day for less than if you bought it brand-new.
We want to help you find the perfect dress for your child's wedding.
We want to help you find the designer purse you can wear out for date night & feel glamorous with.
We want you to wear that colorful unique jacket you found here & smile when you get complimented on it during your morning commute.
I grew up lower-income, and I grew up wearing thrifted clothing. I grew up hunting for designer labels amongst the racks of Zellers and Walmart fashions.
I remember the long-term dopamine hit of finding the trending labels that my friends wore at a fraction of the cost and we want to make sure we remain able to provide that feeling to our shoppers too.
We appreciate your patience & your collaboration while we grow into our vision & dreams for our store & our community, but while we keep learning, we want you to know - we are a family-owned business run by Neurodivergent & Disabled parents who also have a lengthy LIST and also forget to put ourselves first sometimes.
But most importantly, we want you to know, we are here for you & so excited to provide you with the shopping experience, the "wiggle room" on those price tags and the variety of options of clothing that let you shop with us whether you're looking for amazing budget-friendly finds or you're ready to splurge on a designer label you love.
Because honestly we're right there with you. 🥰
So keep your eyes out on our socials as we continue to post more variety, more affordability, more luxury at a great price, and most importantly more "I'm so excited I put myself on the LIST & let myself be taken care of too".
Happy Saturday everyone!! We are open until 7:00 PM today if you want to come for a visit 😊
