We've partnered with Modern Sunday for their stylish yet timeless approach to fashion. Using 100% linen in all their products, and ethically making each item made to order in Toronto - They are truly a brand we can get behind and are so proud to include them as part of our sustainable fashion marketplace.
Join us in conversation below:
What inspired you to start an independent fashion brand?
If I'm being honest, when we first started out, it wasn't my intention to start a fashion label! Back in August 2020, I saw that single-use waste from covid was becoming a huge problem, so I set out on a mission to create a solution by making cute and sustainable reusable cotton masks that would help address the waste issue. It started as a project to keep me busy, and has snowballed from there, which I am so grateful for!Last Spring, I realized I had an engaged community of people who cared about the planet, and supporting local and sustainable businesses, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to try to launch clothing. Having my own fashion label has been a dream of mine since I was 9 years old, and it finally felt like the right time, so I went for it, and now here we are! I feel so blessed that people are on board with our vision, and have been supporting and encouraging us since day one. It truly feels so surreal to be running my dream business, and being a part of the change I hope to see in the industry.
Why does sustainability matter to you and how do you prioritize it as operating your business? To us, sustainability is so much more than just a trending word – it's a wholesome approach to a more mindful and minimal lifestyle, and we strive to have that show through in everything we do. One of our main goals through Modern Sunday is to share resources to help educate and empower our community to make more conscious and sustainable decisions in all aspects of their life. Like most people, we are just trying our best and create a more friend-like relationship with our community to wear things we love but also take accountability and share advice on sustainability. In terms of how we operate our business, it was never just about designing beautiful clothing. It was about merging our passion for design with the desire to leave a positive impact on the planet, while creating unique and effortlessly chic garments that will last a lifetime. Our goal is always to leave the planet better than we found it, which is why we use exclusively natural and deadstock fabrics, and work with skilled local seamstresses to create everything right here in Toronto. We want our customers to feel as good about the clothing as they do in them, and that won't ever change!
What do you envision when you think about your brand 5 years from now?There are so many goals I have for Modern Sunday over the next few years, but generally I see the brand growing alongside myself and our customers. Our vision is to create beautiful and sustainable wardrobe staples, so that women don't have to sacrifice their style to shop sustainably. As we continue to grow, and perhaps our customers move into different phases of their lives, we want to be right there beside them! Launching into other categories, or perhaps even launching a kidswear collection would not be out of the question, but it's not in our immediate plans right now.
We are really trying to take our time with the brand, and choosing to grow slowly, so we don't spread ourselves too thin. At the end of the day, the most important thing for me is to be able to enjoy my life and my work, and have the time to spend with the people I love. In order to do that, I need to be very intentional with our growth, and only pursue opportunities that are in line with that vision
I also hope that in the next few years, it will be the norm for all businesses to operate in a truly ethical way. We are working so hard to do everything as sustainably as possible, which we feel is the right thing to do, but can also be extremely challenging at times. Going back to our mission of leaving the planet better than we found it, we hope to be B-Corp certified within 5 years, although hopefully sooner, and we would love to own our entire production facility. Being able to create everything from start to finish under one roof would be a dream come true for us!
And this last thing is just a little goal for myself, but I would love to walk into a small boutique in Italy or the French Riviera, and find Modern Sunday on the shelves. That would be the ultimate "pinch-me" moment!
When it comes to sustainable fashion, what do you feel is a common misconception for people?
I think a major misconception about sustainable fashion is that it's just too expensive. Right now, there is such a disconnect between the price we see, and the actual cost of the garment, and it's heartbreaking. Having been conditioned for years to think that a shirt should cost $10, that's just what we expect, however it is a harmful mindset for everyone involved - ourselves included. Factoring in everything from design to fabric to labour to shipping to marketing, there is so much that goes into creating a garment, and when everyone involved in the process is paid fairly, the price will naturally be higher than what we are "used to" seeing. One thing that personally helped me when I was first getting into sustainable fashion, was considering the cost per wear of a garment.
Another major misconception is that sustainable fashion can be a bit boring. That may have been the case 15 years ago, but that is so far from true today. There are so many incredible sustainable brands, with new ones popping up every month. You can find everything from swim to clothing to undies to home goods - the options are constantly increasing, and you should not have to sacrifice your style to shop sustainably. Modern Sunday was founded to help bridge that gap between sustainability and fashion. Our design process is very intentional because we want to provide customers with versatile and effortless clothing that they will have for years to come! You should never feel like you're missing out just because you choose to shop sustainably.
What's your favourite Modern Sunday piece right now?
Ooh that's a tough one, but an outfit I've been wearing on repeat lately is our Paper Bag Trousers in Natural with the Strappy Tank Top in Honeydew. It's cute, comfy, and effortless, and I'm so obsessed with the Honeydew colour! It's exactly the juicy and fresh colour my wardrobe needed this summer!
What does a better fashion future look like to you?
For us, a better fashion future is one where both consumers and brands are aware of their environmental impact, and are actively trying to reduce it. One where our society values craftsmanship, quality, and where outfit repeating is encouraged! A future where we consider the end use of our garments, where waste is designed out, and where we are working together towards a circular economy. A future where we choose to put people and the planet ahead of profits, and where our garment workers are paid fairly and treated with respect. I think it all comes down to respect really - respect for the planet, respect for each other, and respect for the work that goes into making the clothing. This future isn't out of reach, and by voting with your dollars, you are helping us achieve the future we dream of!
Thank you, Brodie for the work you do to build a more sustainable fashion future. You can browse and shop Modern Sunday on Shopwise here.
A month ago we hosted our first pop-up. Over a two day weekend on Queen West in Toronto, we brought together 15 sustainable brands and vendors, all woman owned and welcomed 100s of you through our doors.
