Vancouver-based Petits Vilains will have the kids hitting the books in style
It’s back to school season and that means your little ones are probably going to need a fall wardrobe makeover.
Petits Vilains is a local children’s clothing company founded by Vancouver-based moms Jennifer Christie, formerly senior designer for Aritzia, and Rachel Shamash
Shamash and Christie have crafted a very adorable and ethically-produced line of children’s wear that will have your kiddos hitting the books in style. All Petits Vilains clothing is designed, cut, and sewn in Canada using natural fibres and organic materials where possible.
Daily Hive had a chance to catch up with Shamash and Christie to learn more about the fashion and ethics behind Petits Vilains.
Daily Hive: How did you ladies come up with the idea for Petits Vilains?
Jennifer Christie (L) and Rachel Shamash (R) of Petits Vilains. (Image: Submitted)
Rachel and Jennifer: When we and our friends started having kids, we weren’t seeing clothes being made locally that lived up to our aesthetic. We wanted to create special pieces that we could dress our own kids in every day and that would stand the test of time. With the name Petits Vilains, we wanted to capture the mischievousness of children in a tongue-in-cheek way.
Daily Hive: What inspired you to focus on children’s wear?
Rachel and Jennifer: We were inspired by the clothes we were dressed in as kids and our own childhoods roaming through forests, mountains, and beaches in our little corner of the Pacific Northwest. We want to get back to the ethos of owning fewer and better things that are made with integrity. The collection is a modern take on those timeless childhood silhouettes; tunics, pinafores, and bloomers are balanced with relaxed harem pants and sportier knits.
Daily Hive: Why is being ethical with your designs important?
Rachel and Jennifer: Ethical production is at the core of our brand. We want to know how and where our clothes are made and we think there is a growing appetite among consumers who do as well. All of our pieces are designed, cut, and sewn right here in Vancouver by men and women with tremendous skill and expertise. We respect their work which is why we expect to pay fair prices to have our clothes produced here.
Daily Hive: Can you tell us a little more about how you incorporate sustainability into this line?
Rachel and Jennifer: We take sustainability seriously. On the sourcing side, it has been a steep learning curve for us to really understand how fabric is grown, milled and dyed. All of our knits are made with 100% organic cotton that is grown and milled in the USA and dyed using low impact and fiber reactive dyes in a closed loop system where water is continually recycled. For our woven pieces, we are using all natural fibres and organic fibres whenever they are available from a select group of mills.
We also do our part to reduce packaging by providing our factories with reusable bins to put our finished garments in.
And lastly, we truly believe that buying high-quality clothing that can be passed down, again and again, cuts down on waste.
Daily Hive: What are some fall trends happening with kids clothing?
Rachel and Jennifer: Although we aren’t chasing trends, our collection is designed to be of the moment. Key details for Fall include modern ruffles, pockets for treasures and adjustable draw cords. The colour palette is sophisticated but still playful; rose, honey and mauve accent classic neutrals like navy, khaki and black. The trend we are loving the most that we really hope isn’t a passing fad is a greater focus on sustainability in fashion.
Daily Hive: Where can people purchase these pieces?
Rachel and Jennifer: Our line is available at our web shop www.petitsvilains.com and will also be carried at select stockists which we’ll be announcing very soon!
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