OW X H Project at Holt Renfrew: What It Means To Me

I have always been surrounded by strong female influences (too many to name - but my family and friends…you know). My mom’s family is primarily female and we are all very close (my aunts have been like second moms to me at various stages of my life). My mom always tried to help me dress with intention (even though I wore a graphic tee to picture day one year…sorry mom!) I also went to an all-girls school. All of these factors influenced my interests and while I played a ton of sports (never well), beauty & fashion were always on my radar. I started a skincare routine at a very young age (thanks to my Dad and Stepmom!) and became interested in makeup early on. I liked to put my best foot forward, but ultimately wanted to feel good in my body. There were of course times that this didn’t happen but I’ve always pursued feeling my best.

I vividly remember shopping with my aunt Susan at Holt Renfrew. We would ride the escalator to the second floor (women’s designer at the time) and she would point out all of the latest fashions. She helped me understand how a quality garment would be cut and sewn to fit your body in the best way possible. I didn’t really understand until I tried on a DVF dress for my graduation. I felt like a million bucks.

Holt Renfrew is where I learned about new brands, where I tried on shoes and realized that they could “make” an outfit. I learned how to apply makeup through countless appointments getting ready for school dances and really special weddings (my go to’s were Bobbi Brown and Dior). Holt’s on Bloor is an institution and every time I stepped foot in there, I felt like I was being educated in all things glamorous.

When we initially started conversations with H Project at Holt Renfrew, I was blown away by the team’s dedication to ethical & sustainable brands that also gave back. Not only that, every single person I connected with was warm, welcoming and genuinely curious in One Wednesday and the brand we had built. Since our humble beginnings, Joni and I have been obsessed with the idea that we want to leave the world a better place for our children. For us, this manifested in a large charitable component of our brand: we pick one charity partner per year and dedicate a portion of proceeds to that organization. We have been very lucky to work with BC Women’s, BC Children’s, and this year, Baby2Baby. These efforts are continued even through our wholesale partnerships. On top of that, we are focused on working with small, Turkish-based manufacturers that are Oeko-Tex certified, and have produced our Dress and Candles locally. We are committed to doing our best. While we still have room to improve (who doesn’t), we are proud of how far we have come.

It goes without saying that the launch of One Wednesday in H Project at Holt Renfrew is a huge milestone for our brand and myself personally. After launching on goop.com, I honestly didn’t think it could get any better, but it has. I am grateful for this opportunity and for all of your support over the years. We couldn’t have done it with you.

xx S

a real life screenshot that I sent Joni when I realized we were live ❤️