A new eco-conscious retail clothing store now open in St. Marys

Julie Skirving welcomes customers to come visit her new, eco-friendly clothing store at 6 Water St. S.

By Wendy Lamond

While wandering down Water Street, make sure to pop in to Logan & Finley and say hello to owner Julie Skirving.

The new women’s clothing store is bright and welcoming, but the best part about it is how passionate Skirving is about her products and business. Skirving, who is originally from London and lived in Cambridge, has ran her business online but also spent 13 and a half years on Queen West in Toronto with a retail location.

What brought her to St. Marys? Skirving was a sales rep for 15 years, which allowed her to travel to many small towns in southwestern Ontario. She would visit her clients, one being the old Trout Creek store, and ultimately fell in love with St. Marys. When she decided to start looking for somewhere she would like to move her business and eventually retire to, St. Marys was at the top of her list.

The clothing Skirving sells has natural fibres and organic cottons made in an eco-friendlier way. This is a big draw for many people. In the short time she has been open, Skirving said she has already served customers who have come from as far as Toronto, Barrie, Waterloo, London and Guelph.

The business name, Logan & Finley, came from family names representing both sides of Skirving’s family to reflect her roots and how she led her life for decades – choosing to live an eco-friendly, low-waste lifestyle and helping people find sustainable solutions for their everyday life.

The store also carries a variety of jewellery, greeting cards and health-care products from small, Canadian businesses spanning from Ottawa and Coburg to Toronto and Winnipeg. Ingredients for these items are important to Skirving, so she ensures they’re fragrance fee, natural and within the eco-friendly theme.

Skirving loves St. Marys’ small-town feel and she is truly passionate about providing a top-notch retail experience. She can help customers with styling tips and provides personalized support for those looking for a more minimalist wardrobe.

When plans were in the works for the location change, Skirving researched what was already available in town and made some adjustments to her lines so she wouldn’t duplicate local offerings. She believes more options available in town will allow for collaboration and bring vibrancy and a good energy to the downtown.

Skirving is a firm believer in the idea of buying good-quality clothing that lasts a long time. The best way to do that is by shopping in person to find the perfect fit. The business has some core products that customers have purchased in different colours or to have a second quality piece in their wardrobe.

Last summer at the Heritage Festival, Skirving ran a pop-up shop at her current location and loved how welcoming the community was. She was excited to find out there was some interest in her niche clothing.

Though Skirving plans to adjust her hours, she is currently open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. She is also available by appointment.