SUMMER STYLE UPDATE | Crop, Jump, Spin!

We are lovers of slow fashion, and don't tie ourselves to a seasonal fashion calendar to update our styles. So when we do add a new style in, it's sort of a big deal. It's like adding another member to our growing family. A lot of time, research, and attention to detail goes into every one of our styles, and we are really excited to share with you the latest items we have been working on.

Each style name we choose is inspired by the Ocean. Our first ever jumpsuit is sporting one of our favourite ones yet – Mizuko. It means Water Child. It makes us think of children and adults alike splashing through the waves, running along the sand, and diving in and out of blue waters. It’s playful, like the style who took the name.

This fun piece was inspired by one of Jessica’s best friends Caitlin. She visited SALT one day wearing a cozy long legged cotton jumpsuit that Jess was immediately drawn to. As a curvy girl herself, she has always wanted to rock a jumpsuit she would love, so she made one. The Mizuko Jumpsuit is made of soft 100% cotton with a waffley, mesh inspired finish. This style will relax with wear, but will tighten back up after a wash. It’s neckline is long in the front and the back, high enough to still cover the chest but designed to be worn with a top underneath. It is loose through the hips and tapers to cuffed ankles. Two long lines run the length of the front, creating pockets on each side. With a belt, rolled hems, and some fancy sandals or heels, you’ve got your summer going-out outfit sorted.

Raising the hems of most things seems to be the go to choice these days, and with that, comes crop tops. Our Marine Crop Top is made of bamboo jersey, designed to be fitted instead of flowy, achieved by the slight stretch the fabric has. A great match for high waists, or to be worn under overalls or jumpsuits (like the Mizuko!). In black or charcoal, we think this is going to be a staple in many wardrobes.

 

Inspired by our Yara Tank’s v-shaped neckline and delicate straps, we think our Delta Dress is headed to become just as much the favourite. The design lines follow that of the tank to create an a-line silhouette suited for casual lounging or for dressing up for an evening out when topped with a denim jacket or cardigan. Two tencel options give the style a flowy finish, in basic black and in the first sign of our colour for the season, Blush (we are loving how it turned out!). The third option changes up the fabric to an organic hemp and silk blend in a black and white option that we are affectionately calling Pepper. These are both new fibres to the SALT line and we are excited to bring in a new plastic-free fabric. It wears with more structure than the tencel, giving the style a slightly more profrssional look. Whether you throw it on to make dinner at home, or to dance the night away, this lightweight dress is up to the task both in style and comfort.

 

We are excited to hear what you think of these new items, and even more excited to see them on. Come into either store to try them in person and have a chat!

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/jumpsuit-delta-dress

SALT VICTORIA NOW OPEN | 813 Fort St

It's finally here! SALT 2.0

For those of you who have ever started a business, you know how insane it can be to tackle the big milestones. And how rewarding! For anyone who hasn't, let us tell you, it is quite the ride! 

There are a thousand and one decisions to be made, and they all seem to culminate at the same time. There are so many balls in the air all the time and keeping them floating is like running a circus. Our brave leader Jessica has had her life dedicated to this project non-stop for months. 

“Coming to Victoria is a big deal for SALT. I wanted to do everything I could to ensure that my brand makes a big impact in it’s new home. This store is my vision come to life.”

As a designer, Jessica is used to the feeling of trying to explain her ideas to people who have trouble grasping them. That makes seeing them coming together in real life all the more satisfying. The new space has undergone a huge transition and Jess’ signature stamp is shining through. She didn’t put any limitations on what she wanted for the store and didn’t compromise the parts that she felt were integral to the feel of the interior. There are lots of clean lines and geometrically inspired features. We particularly enjoyed working with welder Lindsay Mitchell from Biophilia, the previous tenant of the space, and our hardworking friend Tristan Fetherston of Fetherston Fabrication. They created some of the more intricate and unique parts of our space.

So many great local trades helped bring this store together. A big thank you to them all!

Vic City Painting

Tony the Drywaller

Ken from Houle Electric

Henry, who made our concrete counter top in a rush! 

Kenwood Design, for our shelving

Philco Construction + their guys for our framing

Tristan from Fetherston Fabrication for our welded structures

Lindsay from Biophilia  also for some of our welded structures

As SALT has grown as a brand, so has it’s team. With the upstairs loft we will finally have a proper shipping and stock area, as well as an office space where we can have staff meetings, training sessions, and a communal work space where we can collaborate with other business owners and dream our big dreams together. The staff area was designed to be plastic free, in conjunction with our 2018 commitment to be plastic-free in our daily operations. Piled in the cabinets are our new 100% cotton labels and paper hangtags. We tried to compromise as little as possible to make our space eco-friendly, and built our design around natural materials like wood, metal, and concrete.

Jessica is excited to become a part of a new community and bring another sustainable shopping option to the Fort St area. We are all looking forward to connecting and collaborating with our neighbouring entrepreneurs. And to sample from all the nearby restaurants and cafes. Our spot is surrounded with so many delicious establishments like Discovery Coffee, La Taquisa, and Fishook; we will certainly never go hungry!

As the proprietors of these businesses, and any business surely know, building a company from scratch isn’t easy. Taking on expanding it to be more, to go beyond what is required is an even bigger undertaking. There isn’t time to slow down and focus on one thing in any given moment. You still have to keep everything else running, and Jessica has been running till most people would drop, and getting up every day to do it again.

“Being your own boss can be tough. You could always be working. Managing production schedules and orders, leading a team, plus all the added work that goes into opening a second store – it has been a lot. But I still choose to make time for myself to achieve balance and make sure I am enjoying the process and sticking to my values. I am so grateful for everyone on my team and everyone I have worked with to make this new location happen.”



We could go on about every screw and drop of sweat that went into this process, or you could come down and check it out for yourself. We are very proud of this new space and super excited to share it with you and all the strangers who will become friends in Victoria. 

Our doors are open and for the next few weeks we will be working out any kinks that arise. Our Grand Opening Party is set for August 9th. It will be held in the beautiful outdoor Fort Commons space behind the store, and will be an evening of food, music, fun, and touring the new space. Stay tuned for details!

Address | 813 Fort St, Victoria

Store Hours | 

Monday-Thursday 10-6

Friday- Saturday 10-7

Sunday 11-5

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/victoria-opening

FALCON ENAMEL | Inside and Out

To so many of us, summer means getting back to things we’ve been longing for after many grey months. Back to a connection with nature. With dewey mornings, vitamin-D enriching rays, and more time outdoors. 

We were meant to live amongst nature. The way we are now, stacked atop one another in so many places, it is a natural solution to being over-crowded, and yet such an unnatural way to live. Humans are social beings yes, but we need to run through open spaces, marvel at wide skies, and feel Earth beneath our toes. It's programmed right in. There is a reason so many campsites book up months in advance. We are waiting until we can drive away from our desks, kick off our shoes, and sleep out in the fresh night air.

Camping is an odd tradition if we really think about it. We leave our perfectly functional homes to escape into the woods and set up a temporary lodging, only to take it down again in a few days. Yet we all understand why we do it. If you live in an urban environment, it may be the only time you get to smell the forest, see the stars, hear the quiet. 

While we're out there, we need the right supplies to keep us fed as we embark on our adventures. Falcon Enamel is a 1920s established enamelware company that we have been carrying for just under a year now. Enamelware, for those unfamiliar with it, is a type of dishware that is created by fusing porcelain onto metal, usually steel, iron, or aluminum. The result is a (usually) glossy finish that can withstand high heats and is very easy to clean, being the second most stick resistant material used in cooking (Source).

Falcon uses a heavy-gauge steel for extra durability, smoothness, and chemical-resistance. All their enamelware is oven safe and can be used on both electric and gas burners. Plus, if you drop them, they may chip, but very rarely would they break. Meaning, these dishes could be used for a very, very long time, and in very diverse ways.

Enamelware is perfectly suited for use both indoors and out. Whether it is in classic white or black, or a more modern choice like Pigeon Grey, a table set with Falcon dishes will always be presentable, and easy to pair with whatever meal you may be serving. And everything can be served hot, as anything ready ahead can simply be popped into the oven right in their dish.

We would be less inclined to take our regular dishes camping if they were made of porcelain, for fear of breaking them. But with enamelware’s durability, that is no longer an issue. Say goodbye to needing a separate bin of dishes for camping or picnics. Simply open your cupboards and pack out what you need. Long-lasting, multi-use; beautiful and functional. It ticks all the boxes! And once it truly does meet the end of it’s lifecycle, the enamel doesn’t effect the recyclable nature of the material that it covers. 

We love the idea of everything in our homes having the same life cycle as we do, or beyond. There truly is peace in knowing you are living a de-cluttered life and what possessions you do require, will be forever useful, even after they are re-purposed. 

Shop Falcon Enamel here.

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/falcon-enamel

MULTI-USE LIFESTYLE | Purchasing with Purpose

We all know that single-use plastics are bad. That is unless we have been living in deep denial or deep in the woods somewhere. Plastics are getting the most attention right now, as they should, they are poisoning our Earth. Realistically though, we should be deterring the production and consumption of any item that is single-use, or even designed for short-term use, no matter what it is made of. 

The discussion of lifestyles takes place so much these days, that the word has reached buzz worthy status. We don't want to forget what the core of that discussion is though. Whether you think about a lifestyle as being a set of virtues or principles, or more activity based, our chosen lifestyles guide how we impact our surroundings. With so many advancements in the way we can produce basically anything, we have to consciously choose options that prioritize sustainability over convenience. 

There are things in our modern society that are too difficult to obtain any way other than in some sort of container, like most beverages, or sauces, most non-solid food items. And in most places getting a fully prepared meal to go, even one that is healthy and filling, is all too easy. But those bottles and containers stack up, and even if they can go in our blue or green bins, the energy it takes to produce them can't be reversed. That should encourage us to be cooking more at home, purchasing whole ingredients that don't need packaging that we can turn into something healthy and delicious ourselves. Some things need to be specialized, but eating out less, focusing on a diet that incorporates whole foods and less processed items will decrease how much waste we create. 

Using recyclable items is great, we want all the materials we use to fit into a closed loop system, but something that can be used over and over again before it moves on is even better. And as we have learned lately, a large percentage of Canadians are not recycling properly, which results in more landfill waste. 

An item that we can re-purpose or use multiple times in different ways, has a longer life, potentially an infinitely useful one. Glass jars for example. Mason jars specifically are a very trendy item. And we love that! There are innumerable uses for a glass jar with a lid. Serving and transporting food/drinks, crafts, decor, and storage of anything that will fit. It is one of the most useful things you can have on hand, and something that can be used again and again. (And if they do get damaged in some way, they are recyclable.) We suggest buying a few and keeping them in your car, your home, at work, anywhere, just in case. We take on this practice as part of our #nocupnocoffee commitment. 

We want this mentality to spread to designers of all industries. Think about planned obsolescence - all the focus is on sales, not on the impact to the bottom line of our ecosystem. This is an issue in the tech sector especially. Some technology does need to be upgraded, but if we could say goodbye to the desire to have the newest thing, the most up to date item, we could likely get a lot more use out of our items. 

The same goes for fashion. We all want a few exciting, more out there pieces for fancy occasions. Our every day wear though, should be as versatile as our life is. SALT styles are designed with longevity in mind. Their quality, eco-friendly fabrics are friend to the environment, the palette we choose from is timeless and goes together with everything, so you can keep the items you purchase longer and wear them more.

We want everything from our store to be both beautiful and useful. From the Uashmama paper bags, to Falcon Enamelware, to beautiful handmade serving boards, we try to carry items that can be used over and over for all kinds of different things. We are excited to bring in a few new re-purposeable items, like Goldilocks cotton beeswax wraps, and our own line of SALT candles, that melt away to leave you with a cocktail glass. 

In the end, it really comes down to choices, options, and being conscious of our decisions. Purchasing with purpose can decrease the amount of waste going into our oceans and landfills and help make our Earth happier and healthier. What items do you find the most useful in your home?

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/multi-use-items

OXFORD & KIN | Beyond Sight

"Sight can make the difference between a life of poverty and a life of opportunity." -Optometry Giving Sight

What is the first thing we do when we wake up? Open our eyes. Blink in the morning light, maybe rub the blurriness out of our vision, and start our day. For some of us, a simple rub doesn't banish the blur, it stays with us always. Millions of people around the globe are in need of some level of vision correction to help us see clearly. Sadly, not everyone is fortunate enough to have access to the care they need to address this loss of sight. Thankfully, there are people in the world who are working to change that.

In our hunt to find the perfect frames, we stumbled upon (well, not so much stumbled as were pointed towards) the style and social impact of Oxford & Kin. Founded by award-winning Optometrist Harbir Sian, this Vancouver based brand is going beyond making great glasses (which they are doing a fantastic job at) and baking social responsibility right into the brand. After nearly a decade of practicing and giving back in different ways, Harbir has found himself somewhere that may once have been unexpected.

"As an optometrist, I've always tried to do more than just see patients in the clinic...Starting my own eye wear brand was not something I envisioned years ago. It was something that came to me in a flash of inspiration on my way home from a vacation. However, it allowed me to channel my desire to be more creative (by designing the branding and the frame styles) and to reach more people around the world (through our social responsibility)."

Unexpected or not, it seems that he has landed his focus in the right place. By using his expertise in eye care and what is clearly a keen sense of style, Harbir has taken Oxford & Kin from a passion project to a successful business inspired by the world.

"I'm inspired by people and places. I love chatting with my patients and learning about their experiences. I also enjoy travelling and experiencing different cultures. Each of the frames in the Oxford & Kin collection is named after a place that I have either lived or visited and been inspired by."

Harbir and his team care deeply about the quality of their products. Every frame is hand-made using acetate from a family owned manufacturer in Italy and they offer high quality lens options such as anti-reflective coating, O&K Blue blocking lens technology, and polarized lenses. 

If you asked him what the most important part of the business is to him though, he would say the social responsibility. Every pair of Oxford & Kin glasses sold equals a full eye exam and a pair of glasses for someone in a developing part of the world. This goes beyond the buy one give one model and is key in the sustainable impact that Harbir envisions the company having. 

 "Over the years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer in various clinics in North and South America. The purpose of these clinics was to provide eye care services to people who did not have access to them. This first-hand experience really showed me how important it is to use my education and skill set for a greater good. It's one thing to give a person a pair of glasses, but I believe that the eye care aspect is often overlooked. Much of the vision loss that people around the world suffer from is actually preventable. A simple eye exam will help determine the cause and treatment for the vision loss."

Harbir himself could continue to participate in these clinics, which we are sure he will when he has time in between managing his work at the clinics and building a new brand. It's clear he knows that his reach can go so much further by partnering with an amazing organization called Optometry Giving Sight. Their mission is to prevent blindness and impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error – simply the need for an eye exam and a pair of glasses. Harbir choose them because, like him, they go beyond the offer of relief and use education to become part of the long-term solution.

"What makes their approach even better is that they do not simply go in, provide the service, and leave. They also train people in many impoverished areas to continue to provide the services after the initial aid has left. This allows communities to sustain the care and build better services for themselves."

Giving back and helping create a better world is a huge part of what Oxford & Kin stands for. We believe they are well on their way to creating a legacy of education and opportunity. We support them in opening the eyes of so many around the world and thank them for the great work they are doing!

Browse the collection of Oxford & Kin frames we have in store now. Ask us about getting custom prescription lenses for any style!

 

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/oxford-kin

CONSCIOUS COSMETICS | Going Clean, Going Green

As we've known since elementary science class, our skin is the largest organ in our body. Being the first line of defence we have against virtually everything, it is in a vulnerable position. What we put in and on our bodies have a direct effect on it's overall health. 

We're willing to bet that the average North American uses at least one product on their skin a day, and probably more. Shampoo, cleanser, lotion, all kinds of make up; they all have contact with our delicate epidermis. But, do we really know what's in them? And what effect are they having? It is a known fact that our skin absorbs topical treatments, which has been proven as it is used to transport drugs into our bloodstream in the medical industry. So what about the toxins in our cosmetics?

Recently, one of our team members had the opportunity to experience a #MaketheSwitch appointment at The Green Kiss, an ethical make-up and self-care boutique with an authentic approach to changing the beauty industry to be healthier for us and the planet (and also our soon to be neighbour on Fort St in Victoria!). Among other things, this consultation aims to educate you on what clean cosmetics options are available to replace the 'dirty' products you are currently relying on. Carly Flint, one of their fantastic team members and lead make up artists, reviewed our make-up bag to assess what we were using regularly, and what recommendations she could make. 

We took the opportunity to pick Carly's brain on what she sees as some of the biggest issues and dirtiest ingredients in the beauty industry. 

 

The Green Kiss has 6 non-negotiable buying principles that Founder Megan Johns uses to stock their shelves:

1. Safe + Natural Ingredients
2. Results (Quality tested)
3. No Animal Testing
4. Social Responsibility
5. Environmentally Friendly Packaging
6. Biodegradable

With this commitment driving their business, you know that everything they carry is going to be a quality product that is safe for the planet and all it's living creatures. That means whether you are a label reader or not, they have done the work for you to ensure whatever you purchase is ethical and healthy.

As much as we'd like to think that our governments are not only informed enough but also have our best interests at heart enough to create stringent regulations that protect us from any harmful chemicals being used in our self-care products, Carly points out that is often not the case. Many harmful, synthetic ingredients are being used in our health care products and cosmetics, such as the ones below:

• BHA + BHT
• Coal Tar Dyes (Lake Dyes)
• Phthalates (Plastic)
• Formaldehyde
• Parabens
• Parfum/Fragrance
• PEG Compounds 
• Petrolatum/Silicon
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Carly tells us that any and all of these items "...are  known carcinogens, hormone disruptors, synthetic preservatives linked to health concerns, harsh ingredients that are known to irritate the skin, and harm animals in testing...[and] whatever we put onto our skin is partly absorbed into our bloodstream, they say about 60-70%." Basically, by using any product that contains these and other toxic ingredients on our skin we are running the risk of increasing our chances of cancer, hormone imbalances, chronic skin irritations, and all matter of other health concerns. 

Not to mention what they are doing to the environment when washed down our drains! Many of these substances are persistent, meaning they don't easily break down and can stay in the environment long after they have been washed away. We can't imagine anyone would want to be drinking from a water supply full of these ingredients, and neither do our plants or animals. 

On top of that, purchasing products that aren't socially and ethically responsible means that they could be contributing to problems like deforestation, to harvest ingredients like palm oil. And the packaging! Designing packaging that reduces the use of plastics and can be easily separated to be recycled needs to be a priority for the beauty industry to reduce the amount of waste it produces. Our furry friends need us to give them a voice as well, to stop animal testing, and focus on products that are primarily, if not 100% vegan.  

We left the Green Kiss with a fresh face, a number of clean, beautiful self-care products, and feeling a whole lot more knowledgeable.  We are excited to have discovered a business committed to your health, that promotes feeling good about what we are putting on our skin daily. A big, BIG thank you to the Green Kiss team for all their help and the awesome work they are doing!

There is a muddle of information out there. There can be a lot of green washing and scheming to try and convince us a product is healthier than it really is. As with any industry, we need to be wary of any information that is presented to us as advertising. With brands being sponsored on social media in sneaky ways, this can get more subliminal than we are conscious of. Word of mouth is a great way to discover great new products, but if you see something being used by someone you admire on Instagram, take their recommendation with a grain of salt, as it is not always clear when it is a paid promotion. The best thing you can do is educate yourself and support businesses and brands that you have done your research on and know you can trust.

At SALT, we have always chosen our self-care products based on their ethical and environmental merit, and now we are even more equipped to make safer, more ethical choices for ourselves, and for you. Our research is always ongoing, and as we learn, we will do our best to put our knowledge into practice.

Check out ethical self care products we already have in store from brands like Artifact Skin Co., BKIND, Leaves of Trees, Charlotte & Castel, and David's Toothpaste. 

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/conscious-cosmetics

MARKET CANVAS | To Carry With You

Necessity is the mother of invention. We've all heard it, but have we lived it? When was the last time you made something because you needed it? Not bought it, but conceptualized it, sourced it's materials, and made it real. Not a solution that everyone turns to in their time of need. Julie Boocock of Market Canvas is not everyone. 

In 2014, Julie found herself in need of a dependable bag to carry her everyday things, so she made one. And thus an idea (and a business) was born. What started as a simple solution has grown into a daily passion. Julie has partnered with Lisa Fletcher Jewellery and Kyler Vos, a local photographer, to create a shared studio space and store called The Factory, which can be found on the main drag of Tofino, BC. 

A self-taught leather worker, Julie has always been drawn to hands-on creative projects.

"I love working with my hands, and designing new pieces. I would probably design a new bag everyday if that was sustainable."

Some restraint must be shown! Even though she can't find the justification to be creating new designs every day, every bag she makes is still one of a kind due to the nature of her chosen material. Julie works with leather because it is a dynamic material into which she can infuse her two pillars of design, Minimalism & Structure. 

"I love the natural texture and properties of leather. Each hide is so unique in its shape, texture, temper, and markings that to some degree the hide determines what can be made from it. It keeps my work interesting."

With it's natural durability, a good leather bag could last you a lifetime, or longer, and will reflect the life it has lived. As leather ages, it changes. It softens and creases, each piece absorbing the lifestyle of it's owner. We all live differently. A tote for one person may hold a laptop, a camera, a notebook, and whatever else they need to run their own business, whereas for another it may carry fresh vegetables and other locally found treasures. 

 

Steeped into every carefully handcrafted bag is a little piece of Market Canvas' Tofino roots, the oceanside town that Julie calls home. While it may be a laid-back West Coast hamlet, as an entrepreneur, Julie can't spend all her time walking her dog on Chesterman's beach or enjoying dinner at Wolf in the Fog. As the maker, marketing team, accountant (she uses that term loosely), and sales person, she spends her days switching her hats back and forth to keep the company moving. 

"Each role comes with it's own challenges to figure out, but that is also rewarding. I've learnt so much in the past four years."

Challenges aside, there is great flexibility and excitement in being the creator of her own future. Julie enjoys the freedom to "...collaborate with the people that interest [her] or pursue new projects because [she'd] like to learn something new." It is that elusive work/life balance that she is chasing now. Nothing a little extra organization and time management won't fix!

For now, she is enjoying her creative freedom, incorporating years of feedback into new projects and designs, and enjoying working in her new space shared with like-minded people. If you find yourself in Tofino, be sure to stop by and meet the mind behind the designs.

SALT carries a selection of Market Canvas bags and wallets. Find them in-store or online today!

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/market-canvas-leather-love