One of my absolute favourite parts of the entire event experience was shopping the gorgeously curated Pop-Up Market! ALL of the brands featured in the Academy in the City market are Canadian, female-founded small businesses, and I was so thrilled to meet the makers behind each and every brand! Check them out below!
Smash + Tess
A brand that needs no introduction, I was SO thrilled to once again have Smash + Tess pop-up at this year’s event! I have worked with them for years and love everything they stand for. They even brought a few pieces to sneak peek our upcoming collection and it was a huge hit!! Ps – I loved seeing the collab booth that Smash + Tess and Poppy + Peonies created for this event!
Poppy + Peonies
A must-shop for every season, Poppy & Peonies offers trendy, affordable and versatile handbags that can be worn multiple ways to suit the many events in your life! This brand played a BIG role at this year’s event, setting up shop in the market and having the inspiring Founder, Nat Dusome, take the stage during the Jilly Academy Panel! Oh, and a VERY special treat: each of our attendees went home with the most stunning, custom-designed Poppy + Peonies bag!
withinUs
The withinUs Hydration Station was a MUST-HAVE at this event—especially after a gala filled with free-flowing wine LOL! The withinUs ReHydrate has been my go-to for YEARS… I seriously drink it every single morning, and I was so happy that they featured my favourite Lemon and Watermelon flavours for all of our guests!
Mad About Style
In case you’re not familiar, this brand was included in last Fall’s Jilly Box! If you are looking to add your future favourite dress to your wardrobe, this shop is your go-to! I had the chance to visit the Mad About Style shop in Winnipeg during my book tour… and these girls know what they are doing! Run, don’t walk, to check out their Spring line!
Melanie Auld
I have been working with Melanie Auld for, gosh, almost 10 years now?! We recently launched the Unlocked Collection, which I’m so excited about. It was so special and full-circle to have the brand as a vendor in the pop-up market! Their pop-up looked exactly like one of their real stores… it was SO beautiful! Their permanent bracelets were a huge hit with our attendees!
Emma Allen
Emma’s artwork can be seen throughout Academy in the City, as she designed the stunning watercolour toile seen on the backdrops, notebooks and more! Emma’s portfolio offers beautiful high-quality digital watercolour, typography, calligraphy and stationery prints… PLUS her art has been featured in The Jilly Box!
Mini Tipi
I LOVE this Canadian-made brand featuring authentic Indigenous designs that celebrate the richness of the culture. Mel + Trish, the talented co-founders of Mini Tipi, guarantee these blankets are made with the most eco-friendly and high quality fabrics available! And yes, I used one of these blankets to get cozy for my flight home!
Kanel
Spice up your life! Founded by a crew of food and wellness-loving women in Montreal, Kanel makes perfectly balanced salts and spice blends from real, premium ingredients and are free of preservatives, fillers, hidden allergens, and artificial flavourings. Guests were treated with a sampling of Kanel’s gourmet truffle popcorn during our afternoon food drop!
SOAK Bath Co
SOAK Bath Co is a woman-owned, handmade, luxury bath and body brand based in Niverville, Manitoba, Canada! Each of SOAK’s products are handmade by a local team of women in their Canadian studio with all natural, vegan friendly ingredients—you know I love my baths, so all of this is right up my alley!
Delia Estelle Designs
Travelling in from Ottawa, this brand showcases absolutely stunning Indigenous beaded accessories, with each piece being hand-crafted by Ojibway founder, the dynamic and talented Stephanie Peltier! Every single piece of jewelry was SO beautiful… it was impossible to choose a favourite!
Wandering Locavore
The Wandering Locavore brings gourmet food to you and specializes in small-batch preserves that are made with local ingredients. And can I just say… their gin cherries and ‘Cowgirl Candy’ jalapenos are a MUST-HAVE at your next dinner party to garnish your cocktails!
Wild Flicker
I love a good candle, and Wild Flicker brings TOP quality to the table! This small business, founded by the lovely Ainsley, showcases handcrafted all-natural soy wax candles and home fragrance products you can feel good about having in your home! I loved walking into the Ballroom and smelling the amazing scents from these candles!
LumberJill Apparel
No, this brand didn’t name their company after me – but I am TOTALLY on board with what they are showcasing! Founded by friends Krista and Meagan, LumberJill features high-quality outdoor apparel for women, locally and ethically made in Canada! I picked up the cutest ribbed white t-shirt from their pop-up and I’ve been wearing it non-stop!
PURA Botanicals
You may remember this brand from our 2021 Summer Jilly Box, where we featured PURA’s decadent watermelon mask—a truly luxe skin experience! Based out of Alberta and founded by visionary Lane Edwards, PURA Botanicals crafts feel-good potions that will leave your skin saying thank you! Not only did they set-up shop in the Pop-Up market, they also created a gorgeous botanical garden in the VIP Lounge, where guests were gifted PURA’s Overnight Watermelon Mask and Radiant Face Drops!
We were SO lucky to have these brands be a part of this event—they truly are the heart and soul! To continue to support these small businesses, give them a follow on Instagram and check out their websites!
Xo
Jilly
