We are so passionate about the brands we carry, many of them small businesses themselves, that we thought it would be cool to share their stories! We will be featuring many of the folks behind the incredible companies that we partner with. Today, we have the founders of Charlie Paisley sharing more about their exciting story and what drives them.
Photo: Charlie Paisley / Credit: Paige Owen
Who is Charlie Paisley?
Charlie Paisley is a slow fashion brand with a mission to create a new sustainable standard for accessories. Our products are handmade in Vancouver, Canada from naturally derived, biodegradable, and vintage deadstock fabrics such as hemp silk, washed linen, and recycled polyester.
Why did you start Charlie Paisley?
Currently, many fashion accessories are made from poor quality, non-biodegradable fabrics and by the means of exploitative production. This is how the concept of Charlie Paisley was created – a high quality hair accessories brand that creates products using only sustainable materials and ethical production here in Vancouver, Canada.
What are you most proud of?
We’re very proud of all the good we’ve been able to accomplish with Charlie Paisley.
- For every order we receive, one tree is planted. Trees help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink and provide habitat to over 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity. Forests provide jobs to over 1.6 billion people, absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere, and are key ingredients in 25% of all medicines. Therefore, every Charlie Paisley purchase has a direct eco-friendly impact.
- Breast cancer is one of the more common types of cancer in Canada, and is reported to account for about 25% of all new cancer cases in women. As we’re a slow fashion brand for women, we created the Boobie Scrunchie with the goal to help spread awareness and to donate to breast cancer research. For every Boobie Scrunchie sold - we donate $5 to the BC Cancer Foundation to directly help them further Breast Cancer Research.
- At the beginning of the pandemic, we started making face masks to help those immediately around us (as we already had fabric and elastic when there was a shortage of both as they’re both essential for sewing face masks). When we decided to start selling face masks, we donated 1 face mask for every face mask sold to the Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley (who did not have enough face masks for their staff). We partnered with them as animals are near and dear to our hearts (Charlie Paisley is named after our cats Charlie and Paisley) and we did not want to make a profit from simply helping our community.
- We also have donated to the following organizations: Mama’s for Mama’s, Canadian MPS Society, SFU: Kappa Beta Gamma, SFU: Chang Institute of Entrepreneurship, SFU: Her Campus, UBC: Land and Food Systems Undergrad Society, UBC: Enactus, and SU/UBC: Young Women in Business. We’re really passionate about giving back to our community in any small way that we can!
What is your favourite sustainability quote?
“As consumers, we have so much power to change the world by just being careful in what we buy” – Emma Watson
What do you do in your spare time (outside of work)?
We really enjoy practicing yoga, wheel thrown pottery, and reading.
Thank you so much to Charlie Paisley, we are in awe of your commitment to the Earth and your communities!
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