Kendall Looks Back at the First Three Years of Poppy Barley

There’s something special about this time of year at Poppy Barley – it’s boot season, our birthday and the holidays.

This November, Poppy Barley celebrates three years of business. THREE YEARS!!! This birthday passed quietly with a small one-day birthday sale. In comparison, our first birthday felt like a miracle and our 2^nd birthday felt hopeful in a we-might-actually-make-it kind of way. Our 3^rd birthday almost felt insignificant. Yet, it was a year worth celebrating – our Edmonton team moved into a new office space; our Mexico team moved into a larger factory; we had our first partnership with a national retailer (Simons); we opened a showroom; we released the best-selling Slip-on Oxford and an entire collection of custom oxfords for men; we launched this online magazine; and now proudly offer both in-stock and made-to-order footwear, wristlets and a handbag (coming in December!). All the while, we’re designing nurseries and planning weddings and traveling across the globe. We’re growing up and so is our baby of a company. And, the best things never change – namely the awesome-ness of our customers and team, and our commitment to re-thinking every step of the footwear industry while creating #LuxuryForThePeople.

Photo by Nicholas D. Yee for YEGPEOPLE

Thousands of people are part of the Poppy Barley story. I’m excited to introduce you to three remarkable people: Sasha McCauley who champions women in the wine industry, Justin Archer who runs a damn fine ad agency, and Aislin Laschowski who exemplifies a modern, smart woman. Sasha recommends her top picks for wine and a recipe for a spiced-cranberry vodka punch. Justin shares how he almost started a restaurant and his brand building tips (including "people are busy; no one really gives a shit about your brand."). Aislin tells us about her non-existent fit issue in a way that had me laughing from start to finish. This season is especially merry and bright with Poppy Barley’s first ever Holiday Collection featuring lace-up flats, beautiful, bold bow flats, wristlets (first batch sold out in 2-hours!), and our very first handbag. Read The Look to see how each of these new products inspired the theme of our holiday showroom, and meet the super talented friends who transformed it into a confetti-filled party scene. This season (and every season?), gift less, gift better is our motto. In The Read, we’re wrapping up luxury goods from our favorite Canadian brands crafted by designers and makers we admire. From candles that take 24 hours to make, to custom snowboards and warm clothes made from partially-recycled goods, our wish list is for thoughtful luxury. For a truly unique gift, Lane Edwards from Pura Botanicals shares the experience of bespoke perfume and how scent triggers memories in The Tutorial; we know you'll be creating some beautiful ones in the coming weeks. We’re staying home for the holidays (besides a 5-day pop-up shop in Vancouver – book your appointment here). We love our hometown of Edmonton – it’s full of snowy blizzards and warm hearts. For The Wanderer, we’re sharing the places we wander, shop and eat every week. As we reflect back on the wonderful year 2015 has been and look forward to the possibilities of 2016, we toast you for gifting us with your continued support. Peace, love and joy during the holidays.