Calling all pregnant and breastfeeding vintage lovers!

My interview with Jen from Moon Mama Vintage, plus a hello from rural Ontario

Hi!

It’s been awhile. My plan to send off this newsletter every two-three weeks has been waylaid due to a) a huge amount of freelance work that I needed to prioritise, b) preparing for our trip to Canada, and c) carrying out said trip which involved an 8 hour flight on my own with a toddler. Since then we’ve been slowly adjusting to the time difference. The first night she was up at 1:45am ready to start the day. I kid you not.

So now it’s week two of quarantine here at my Aunt’s farm in rural Ontario and we are basically living a fairytale. Chickens, ducks, turkeys and rabbits roam around, there is a fat goat called Twerp and an overly friendly alpaca (I am talking two inches from your face and staring deep into your eyes kind of friendly). We feed the animals in the morning and wander around the barns, fields and neighbouring woods during the day. Later on we might scoop leaves out of the pool or go pat Darwin the donkey. At night we watch VHS classics over wholesome lentil stews. I’m now wondering if I could pull off a Demi Moore “Ghost”-style crop…

But enough about me, on to this week’s features!

A little chat with Moon Mama Vintage

After you have a baby you feel like you’ve been hit by a train, says Jennifer Grainge, sunnily. Mum of a two-and-a-half year old and owner of vintage shop Moon Mama Vintage, Jen is describing the difficult postpartum period that many women can relate to.

“I remember somebody saying to me in that first year that you’re so focused on being a mum that you don’t care [what you’re wearing],” she says. “My maternity clothes were horrendous! Most of them were hand-me-downs from friends which was so kind but they just weren’t my style. And then when I got really massive I started wearing Ross’s [her husband’s] jackets.”

Jennifer’s experience with maternity clothing is not uncommon. I think back to my pregnant days and a shapeless, style-less, synthetic purple dress roughly the shape of a bin-bag pops into my head. I resisted buying purpose-built maternity clothing at the time, resenting the fact that I would only wear them for a matter of months before they became redundant. Instead I often opted for normal clothes that were loose-fitting or flowy, but that only worked to a certain extent. No matter how stretchy your leggings are, once you’ve got an 8 month baby belly, that waistband ain’t gonna work.

“It’s still a market where there is not a huge amount of choice,” continues Jen, speaking about both maternity and breast-feeding friendly clothing. It’s sort of like, oh you’re breastfeeding, here’s a v-neck dress from Mothercare.” Case in point.

She talks about the fog many mums emerge from after awhile. “I remember somebody saying to me in that first year you’re so focused on being a mum that you don’t care, but then you start finding yourself again. You start emerging from the labyrinth of motherhood. And as my son turned two I started thinking, I just don’t like what I’m wearing!”

It was around that time that Jen decided to take matters into her own hands. She launched Moon Mama Vintage right around lockdown, which, in retrospect, was very good timing indeed. As we all collectively reached for our phones to connect, shop and socialise, there was a veritable blossoming of secondhand and vintage sellers.

Luckily, Moon Mama Vintage has a niche that sets her apart. I for one, have not come across any other shops specialising in maternity or breastfeeding-friendly vintage. Jen works with a local seamstress in the tiny village she lives in near Inverness, adding custom zips to garments for easy breastfeeding. She also sources a lot of pieces which already have buttons or a zip at the front and ideally she hopes that her customers keep on wearing the pieces after they have their babies or finish breastfeeding.

She says it’s been interesting working with her village seamstress Noreen, as well. “She's quite old fashioned. If I said, could we put a zip at the front, she might say, ‘Oh, goodness! Why would anybody want to show that they’re breastfeeding!? And I'm like, I really don't think people care, they are proud of it.”

Yep, times they are a changing, Noreen. As the volume of vintage and preloved sellers continues to grow, expect to see more niche brands popping up. Those specialising in children’s vintage are on my horizon - something for a future newsletter. Get in touch if you’d like to recommend any.

And in the meantime, even if you’re not with child or breastfeeding, Jen has some amazing, versatile pieces that are suitable for anyone. Check her out on Oct 25, 11-5pm during the next A Virtual Vintage Fair event.

Listen

The Preloved Podcast - I haven’t had a chance to listen to this yet but it sounds good.

“A weekly interview show about rad vintage style with guests you’ll want to go thrifting with, hosted by Emily Stochl. 

We chat about style, running a fashion business, sustainability, slow fashion, the stories behind incredible vintage pieces, and why we choose second-hand things first.”

Read

Fashion brands design ‘waist up’ clothing for video calls

‘Who doesn’t love a plaid?’ How the Clueless look was made 25 years ago

Tales of the prairie…This season’s best cottage core dresses - in pictures

Trending: Levi’s, thredUP fuel momentum behind secondhand fashion

Jobs and opportunities

The Craftivist Collective is looking for a business partner - “Someone with a background in business, finance and the commercial sector who is passionate about the potential power of ethical social enterprises.” Deadline Dec 12th.

News

A Virtual Vintage Rental is now live!

Ok, that’s all from me for now. If you’ve got something you’d like me to include in the next edition, just email: sarah.julie.lab@gmail.com.