Ethical and Sustainable Fashion in Calgary - Transforming a Shipping Container into a Retail Store
Ethical and Sustainable Fashion Jewelry
This summer Alora decided to join other local retailers and set up shop in East Village Junction. This innovative retail park was a perfect opportunity to share our sustainable fashion jewelry with Calgarians!
We are always taking an ethical and sustainable approach to our ventures. That is why we decided to source the majority of our fixtures from local charities like Women in Need. We also got some great finds from local garage sales. Nothing better than breathing new life into an old item!
Shipping Container to Retail Store
We transformed a shipping container into a retail store in just 4 days. We started in the evening on Sunday, May 26th and Opened on June 1st.
We burned the midnight oil and worked all day to get the space ready.
East Village and the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation already painted the outside of the containers and provided wheelchair accessible ramps. They also provided drywall on two sides, electricity, and the glass doors. We were responsible for the interior.
Below is a photo of the blank space.
Fixturing for Ethical and Sustainable Jewelry
At Alora we really believe in contributing to the local economy. While we did have to get items from big-box stores like Home Depot, we did our best to get second-hand items from charities we support and local businesses.
A lot of the furniture was purchased from WINS and of Kijiji. We then painted the furniture white! An investment in the local economy we say :)
We spent many late, late nights at the container trying to get it ready for opening! We initially had carpet, but quickly found out that was a bad idea. We changed it for vinyl floor after opening weekend :)
Where to Find Handmade Sustainable and Ethical Jewelry in Calgary
Now you can find a great selection of made in Calgary jewelry at East Village Junction. Created from sustainable materials like recycled brass and ethical components like fair trade glass beads. And 5% of your purchase goes to charities that empower women out of poverty
We are happy to call East Village our home for the summer and hope you come to visit us.
Shout out to the wonderful East Village team who made this possible. They are really doing innovative things in the neighbourhood.
