Shop: Mine and Yours

They say the best gifts come in small packages and this saying is particularly true for the newest shop to hit downtown Vancouver, Mine and Yours. Taking the ever popular buy-sell-trade business model to whole new level, a visit to this adorable little shop is as close as it gets to shopping your best girlfriends closet. And the best part? You probably are shopping your best girlfriends closet. How does it work, you ask? It’s simple. Bring your clothing that you no longer wear but think that someone else might want to have to Mine and Yours and they either offer you cash on the spot or you can save that cash as a store credit for future use. You can also come by and just plain shop till you drop. Jigme Nehring and partner Courtney Watkins opened the doors to their quaint and stylish space with a store full of pieces from Vancouver’s most stylish fashionista’s closets, and have since become a must-stop on our shopping list.

This Thursday November 28th, they are throwing a VIP Party in conjunction with Red Dot Shopping Week that we think you should definitely add to your calendar but in the mean time how about getting a little more acquainted with the brains behind the brand? Their obvious love for style is contagious – we dare you not to fall for these ladies and their beautiful shop!

First of all, congratulations on officially opening your doors! How are you ladies finding it? How is the neighborhood?

Thank you so much! It’s an incredible experience seeing your vision come to fruition, and even more so to have it be embraced by the community. The neighbourhood is awesome! We get a lot of foot traffic from the nearby hotels, offices, and condos, and believe it or not a lot of “ride-ins” from the bike path. Our business neighbours include the STUDIO by MikaDoesMakeup, Jeweliette, Barrette Salon and Rumours Hair Design, and we find our clientele overlaps a lot with these businesses. We love our street!

Just from being in the store once I can tell that you ladies all have some serious chemistry. Are you all long time friends? How did you meet?

We actually found each other through professional means, and then the chemistry and camaraderie followed very naturally. I found Joanna through fashion HR website Style Nine to Five, and Courtney through a mutual business contact. But the fun nature of our business lends itself to plenty of bonding opportunities. We work and play very well together!

Where did the idea for Mine and Yours come from?

The idea for this store is inspired from my time living abroad in Paris and Los Angeles. In Paris, the boutiques are small, intimate, personal, and highly curated in the sense that tremendous thought goes into everything they stock in their stores. In LA, I fell in love with the cool, easy-going business model of the Buy-Sell-Trade store, where you could buy sell or trade your designer goods in one transaction without having to deal with the hassles of consignment. Mine & Yours is inspired by both experiences.

You basically have every fashion girls dream job; perusing the closets of some of the most fashionable women in the Vancouver fashion scene. What is the best part?

Giving designer garments from one or two seasons ago new life in a new woman’s wardrobe is very rewarding and exciting. We love mixing high, low, and vintage pieces. And we love seeing the joy on a customer’s face when she finds the perfect piece for her at an amazing price.

Explain your sense of style in five words or less.

Jigme: Classic and feminine.

Courtney: Edgy with a girly twist.

Joanna: Cool and modern.

For the ladies out there who are looking for something hot to wear for their holiday soirees, what do you recommend this season?

Mix and match garments with rich textures like leather, velvet, and brocade. For colours we love oxblood, emerald green, rich browns and cream.

Last of all, now that you ladies have moved in, what is next on your radar?

A second location of course!!!

Mine and Yours is located at 1060 Hornby St. Vancouver. For more information on how it works, click here.