EmmyDeveaux is expanding their presence with a by-appointment Kelowna showroom set to open on Jan. 18.
While the sustainable fashion brand has an online presence and a warehouse in Edmonton, founder and designer Emily Salsbury-Deveaux sees stores as a way for guests to experience their products and learn about the company’s values.
“Our in-store shopping experience is what I think we’re all craving,” she says. “Whether it’s us offering champagne and espresso, or talking about your personal style journey or the way that the clothes just fit differently, it’s a unique opportunity.”
All new EmmyDeveaux items go through the FundIt program, which allows the business to determine the demand for a product before it’s made.
Customers purchase the item during a period of two to five days, and once a certain number of items are sold, the piece is considered funded and goes into production.
“It’s part of our financial strategy, but also our sustainability strategy,” Salsbury-Deveaux explains.
EmmyDeveaux also has low returns.
“The industry average for an apparel brand is 30-40%, and we’re sitting at less than 4%,” says Salsbury-Deveaux. “We do product audits every year and figure out what was returned the most and what we should stop carrying because we really are focused on trying to reduce the amount of waste and returns.”
In May 2020, the brand launched their BuyBack program.
“We buy back our products from our customers, whether they’re worn or used, and we give them back 50% of what they paid on a gift card, which they get to use in store or online, and then we wash and resell that product on our website."
From 10 am to 10 pm on the 10th of every month, the clothes are listed for sale on EDBuyBack.com.
And because Salsbury-Deveaux is passionate about supporting apparel entrepreneurs and artists, funds are raised for the Art and Entrepreneurship Fund through clothing sales, and the Lower Mission location features a mural by their resident artist Josh Harnack and a piece by eight-year-old Aspen Parker Fitzsimmons.
To book an appointment at EmmyDeveaux, visit EmmyDeveaux.com.
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