Kendall On: Welcoming the New

Welcome to our very first Poppy Barley Magazine. For months, our team has been re-thinking our “blog”— it felt too simplistic, too circa 2009, and disconnected from our purpose.

Our team is motivated to create shoes that fit better, feel better and live better while building an organization with a positive impact on the world. At Poppy Barley, we strive to share stories that matter. Our magazine will talk with the people that matter to our business; share our inspiration; be transparent about our business; and be full of good reads. Let’s get personal first, then down to business. On Mother’s Day (after running a 10km race), Justine announced her pregnancy to our family. We all cried – big sloppy tears of joy! After weeks of waiting, we’re finally sharing the news – #PoppyBarleyBaby coming in January 2016. In our new column, The Conversation, author and Story Engine co-founder Todd Babiak is also getting personal: he says the weirdest interview he's ever done is with Matthew McConaughy; that he finds Daelan (our developer) particularly wonderful and attractive; and would, if he could, take a walk in the Pope's shoes, or be a bonobo for a day, if only for a day, and if only bonobos wore shoes. When we design shoes at Poppy Barley, we imagine the woman who will wear them. At the top of our list is Melina Kawecki: she has a cool job (internet marketing manager), she’s funny and charming, she volunteers with What the Truck?! and has the most impressive shoe care routine ever. Oh yeah, and she owns NINE pairs of Poppy Barley shoes. In The Fit series, Myles Fee tops the list as one of the coolest people to wear the Edmonton Oxford. Myles and his Size 15 Poppy Barley shoes travel everywhere together for his role as Video Coach for the Edmonton Oilers (which is an impressively analytical role). In learning about Myles' story, we're sure that thousands of others can relate to his frustration with off-the-rack footwear and all of its restrictions. Another story we're inspired by is photographer Tyler Stalman's, which you'll discover in The Read. He’s passionate about dissecting lighting setups, hosts a podcast called Cameras or Whatever, co-founded a stock photography company called Stocksy and works alongside his model/photographer wife, Ania B. Here, Tyler takes you inside his camera bag and life as photographer. For the Poppy Barley Fall Collection, we sent Ania and Tyler into the Rocky Mountains. Ah, the Canadian Rocky Mountains! Just a 4-hour drive to the west of us, we visit the Rocky Mountains multiple times a year to hike, ski, relax and get clear. Our Fall Collection is inspired by the luxury, boldness and colours of the Rockies. Writer Miranda Post captures my kind of Jasper weekend in The Wanderer, and Justine shares how Jasper (her birthplace!), Marilyn Monroe and Francoise Hardy influenced our newest collection in The Product. While it still might be hot, hot, hot outside, go order your boots! With a 8-10 week delivery timeframe, your boots will be arriving just in time for leaves crunching, and cool-air autumn. On that note, Yvonne shares three things to carry with you for on-the-go leather care in The Tutorial. Our Fall Collection is available online and at upcoming pop-up shops. This fall, we’ll be traveling to Vancouver, Calgary and more. Want a Poppy Barley pop-up shop in your city? Convince us! (What are you doing September 26? If you live in Vancouver, the answer is BlogPodium. Caroline and I are speaking about “Building a Brand” while sharing the journey of Poppy Barley. You’ll also hear from the likes of Jillian Harris, the keynote speaker, and Erin Sousa from The Sparkle!) On the topics of pop-ups, did you know Kit and Ace (makers of luxurious, machine-washable technical cashmere – ie. the best t-shirt ever!) is “popping-up” in our Edmonton showroom? Kit and Ace will be in-shop with us for the next few months. Come visit! Your first excuse: our Fall Collection Launch Party, happening Wednesday, August 26th from 4 to 7pm. And finally--the big prize. Enter to win $1000 worth of Poppy Barley shoes on Instagram by identifying your #PoppyBarleySquad. Contest closes Sept. 1st. Here are all the details. We hope you're excited for the new season--and our new collection--as we are. To get a play-by-play, sign up to become a PB Insider.