Alastair Home & Design launches apparel line supporting the Local

Julie Docker Johnson, Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma and Bruce Borgundvaag show off new Stratford-branded apparel at Alastair Home & Design, with proceeds supporting the Local Community Food Centre.

A downtown business is marking a milestone by giving back to the community it serves.

Bruce Borgundvaag, co-owner of Alastair Home & Design at 151 Ontario St., has launched a new line of Stratford-branded apparel, with a portion of proceeds supporting The Local Community Food Centre.

The collection — which includes a T-shirt, sweatshirt and quarter-zip pullover — comes as the store approaches its second anniversary.

“Right from the beginning, when we were working on the idea of what we wanted to do here, there was always a focus on including a charitable component,” said Borgundvaag.

After considering several organizations, Borgundvaag said The Local was a natural fit.

“We have so many great options in Stratford, but we have a lot of customers who are big fans of The Local,” he said. “We’ve also contributed to their silent auctions in the past, so they seemed like a really logical choice for us.”

From each sale, $5 from sweatshirts and quarter-zips, and $2 from T-shirts, will be donated directly to the organization.

Borgundvaag said the goal is not only to raise funds, but also awareness.

“We really want to help raise awareness of all the good work that The Local does in the community,” he said.

The apparel is from a Canadian supplier, and they do all the custom design and embroidery work using high-quality materials. The garments are pigment-dyed and pre-washed for a vintage look and feel. Borgundvaag added the designs are intentionally versatile, appealing to local residents as much as visitors.

On April 22, Mayor Martin Ritsma and Julie Docker Johnson, community connector at The Local, visited the store to help promote the initiative.

“Any time we can celebrate a shop in the downtown core is a win for our city,” said Ritsma. “The strength of a city’s economy can largely be reflected through its downtown.”

Docker Johnson, said partnerships like this play an important role in sustaining community services.

“The stronger the economy is in Stratford, the more support we see, because we’re all part of the same community,” said Docker Johnson. “When tourists come downtown — to the theatre and local businesses — they’re helping support infrastructure that serves the people we care for every day.

“That’s why initiatives like this are so meaningful. They recognize that the people who live here matter too, and that support helps us keep our doors open and continue bringing people together over a meal as a community.”