By Sharon Weatherall
This story is after my own heart. A smart First Nation entrepreneur is following a colourful trend that stems back to my pre-teen years including big floppy hats, love beads and tie-dye clothing. I was a kid living on the tail edge of the hippie generation and boy it was hard transitioning from bare feet to sandals in the summer time. By the time I turned 15 hippie fashions and colours were on their way out so it brings back memories and makes me feel young to see them coming in again.
Mary King is taking people back in time with her 60’s and
70’s boutique called ‘Love Street’.
The Beausoleil First Nation woman started a clothing
business on Christian Island which she has taken to the road by operating out
of her vehicle. This summer Love Street stretches for miles stopping along the First
Nation Pow Wow circuit and some music festivals.
A trendy entrepreneur, King features exclusive fashions,
textiles and jewellery that people can really get into the groove with.
“I always had a dream of owning my own
clothing boutique and thought where better to set up than on Christian Island
and travel around to various festivals and pow wows. It keeps my family
together and is something we can do together,” said King.
“This is my first business and as far as I
know, the first of its kind on the island. Folks in the community have
been very receptive and the islanders are my best customers. My target market
is great – a bunch of groovy, fun loving people.”
King who loves being outside,
traveling and meeting new people, has always
had a love affair with fashion - particularly boho/hippie fashion and music of
the 60s and 70s. The business is a dream that stems back to her youth.
Appropriately, the name comes from The Doors song, called ‘Love Street’, which came out in 1968 on their ‘Waiting for the Sun’
album.
While having fun on the road this
summer, King practices her strategy and plans for expansion in the near future.
“My selling strategy is to promote
fair trade and eco-friendly fashions and accessories, letting my customers know
their purchase helps promote fair trade and anti-child labor practices and
environmental sustainability,” said King who will open a permanent boutique in
her home on Christian Island, while still traveling to festivals and POW wows
on weekends.
“We are going to start renovating
this fall and I have already purchased various vintage furnishings and decor to
decorate it. When they walk into the boutique I want my customers to feel
like they are walking straight into the 60s. It’s going to have a really
groovy vibe.”
King’s long term plan is to start
designing her own clothing line with inspirations from the 60’s and 70’s, all
made fair trade and with eco-friendly fabrics such as hemp, bamboo, recycled
plastic etc.
“I like to plan for the future. I
keep a positive mind and attitude that everything will work out the way it’s
meant to and it usually does.”
When the Christian Island boutique
opens in the spring of 2015 it will not only cater to women but carry men’s and
children's clothing as well as some home decor items.
While the response to Love Street has
been great King takes every opportunity to promote her business. Even though the
first summer of operations has exceeded expectations, she knows it takes hard work
to get your name out there when you first start up a business.
“Anybody can do this. I think the
most important thing to remember, going into business for yourself is it isn't
going to make you rich. For me, it was to support fair trade and labor practices
and offering eco-friendly fashions and textiles. This is my small part in
making the world a better place,” said King.
King hopes Love Street is an inspiration for more businesses
to start up on Christian Island.
“It is my hope that people would
be encouraged to take chances. It really didn't take a lot to start
up. I had a small investment that I put into buying inventory, a tent,
racks and displays and away we went,” said King.
“I worked as an accountant for eight
years, and although I love what I did, it just wasn't me anymore and I felt
like I was chained to a desk. I really needed to get out there and do something
I've always wanted to do - selling awesome clothes and making people feel sexy,
chic and different from the norm.”
For more information email Mary King at lovestreetfashions@gmail.com or
visit the web site: www.lovestreet.ca
