By Tina Carver, Columnist
The next time you’re in the mood for a little retail therapy, check out The Social Boutique located at 1595 Bedford Highway in the Sunnyside Mall. You’ll be impressed with the huge selection of brand new and previously loved clothing and accessories. By doing so, you will be supporting marginalized women in the area to get back on their feet.
The Social Boutique has been around for 10 years, and their sole mission is to support “Dress for Success” Halifax which is the only one in Atlantic Canada. It’s completely run by volunteers and all proceeds from the Boutique go directly to support all the important work being done by Dress for Success.
As a client of Dress for Success, you’ll receive all their programs at no cost. A woman may need help with Literacy Training, Interview Training, Confidence Building, Financial Literacy and more. The clients will need a referral to access these services and that may come from places like Community Services, Immigration Services, Prisons, Women’s Shelters to name a few. They’ll assess your needs and support you all the way, whether it being an outfit for a court date, a job interview, or a new wardrobe to carry you through the first few weeks at your new job. This is a complete outfit as well… right down to footwear, handbag, jewelry, outerwear, tops, blazers and more.
The Boutique appreciates donations. When Alia and Tan Jay shut their doors, all their clothing was donated to the Boutique. Talbots regularly host clothing drives to help them and of course they accept individual donations from the public. The store is huge and very well laid out, making it easy for the shoppers. Everything is on racks according to size as well as color blocking. Don’t be surprised if you find a $300 blazer for $20. The prices are a fraction of what you would pay for retail. The volunteers are so helpful and happy to assist you in any way. You’ll find a ton of high-end brand name footwear, outerwear, handbags galore, wallets, jewelry, workout wear and more. It’s a pleasure to shop at The Social Boutique and score some beautiful pieces for myself all the while knowing I’m making a difference by supporting a non-profit charity that is doing so much to support women in need.
Check out The Social Boutique’s Facebook page. They are great at posting lots of new arrivals and they even have flash sales and different promotions that you don’t want to miss.
