Notable: Hot Shop: Mine and Yours

By Danica Jeffrey, Notable.ca, November 1st 2013

Mine & Yours (1060 Hornby Street) is a high fashion bargain hunter's dream come true and the brainchild of young entrepreneurs Jigme Love and Courtney Watkins. These ladies saw an opportunity to create a unique upgrade on the traditional consignment store model by inviting customers to sell lightly used, on-trend clothing for a pretty sweet profit. 

Unlike most consignment stores, Mine & Yours allows sellers the opportunity to re-sell items several times each week (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). Once the girls have done a careful inspection, they’ll calculate the possible percent of resale and immediately pay the owner – so no more having to wait around with fingers crossed.

Where did this idea come from? With Watkins' background in fashion as both a stylist and trend forecaster, coupled with Love’s polished business acumen, the style shoe just fit. It helps that both women have travelled extensively and spent time in Los Angeles, where this trade in and up trend was first spotted and continues to be in hot demand.   

Driven by the desire to create a fun, funky atmosphere for the city’s fashionistas, their 1060 Hornby Street boutique location offers plenty of options. Labels run the gamut of high (think Marc Jacobs, Christian Louboutin, Chanel) to more affordable lines such as BCBG, Topshop and H&M.  

The bonus for shoppers on the hunt is that you’re guaranteed a deal, are bound to score unique pieces, and can make your purchase knowing that you’re doing so in a sustainable way too. If the clothes don’t make the cut at Mine & Yours, an on-site donation can be done and the girls will deliver direct to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Shelter for you.

Though they quietly opened the doors of Mine & Yours earlier in October, this weekend marks the official public launch party for the boutique. Though they won’t be accepting new merchandise this weekend, you can still scoot over for some retail therapy, bubbles and bonding starting Friday at 11am. For full details, visit the boutique online or on their Facebook page here.