Local goodness in the form of stylish new shops is spreading through the various pockets of Vancouver. One of these newcomers is Trout & Co. in the Kensington-Cedar Cottage neighbourhood of East Vancouver. Owned by Hannah J. Newton and Emilie Crewe, the shop concept is a general store and art exhibition space, featuring handmade goods made in Canada (many of the makers are local Vancouverites). We caught up with Emilie to find out the scoop behind the store.
What’s the story behind TROUT & CO?
Hannah and I met in art school ten years ago in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As students at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, we both worked with a number of different mediums including, but not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, film & video and photography. Hannah went on to get a degree in architecture at Dalhousie University, and I continued on with a Masters of Fine Art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
We reconnected in Vancouver, where Hannah works as a leather crafter and designer, and I as an artist. When a commercial space opened up on Commercial Street in the Cedar Cottage neighbourhood of East Van, we jumped at the opportunity to have a joint storefront and studio space together.
Tell us about the hood. Why Cedar-Cottage?
The area is up-and-coming with local small businesses including the Commercial Street Cafe, Second Nature Home Boutique, Casa Verde Restaurant, Avalon Salon, The World Cycles bike shop, Spa Dog Organic Dog Spa, and The Vancouver Tool Library. Our shop name, actually, is borrowed from nearby Trout Lake Park, which sports a lovely little lake, mountain views and a lively community centre.
What can visitors expect when they drop into TROUT & CO. Crafted and Curated Goods?
Our shop features handcrafted products and artwork that are made in Canada. We currently work with 16 different makers. Some of our local designers and artists include HENDRIK.LOU, Wasted Effort, R I S H Jewelry, Melanie Hull Jewelry, Owl & Windsor Taxidermy Art & Oddities, Daughters of Bastards, Glasnost, and of course Hannah’s brand HJN Leather Craft Co., and my own artwork (Emilie Crewe).
Gift ideas for the upcoming holidays?
We have lovely holiday gift options here at TROUT & CO. with a wide range of prices. We’ve got you covered in terms of stocking stuffers & holiday cards, as well as unique handcrafted products like knitwear, hand-carved wooden spoons, jewelry, leather bags, mounted butterflies, framed original art & more.
Holiday Event at TROUT & CO.
As a kick-off to the holiday season, TROUT & CO. is hosting an evening with drinks and snacks at the shop. Head on down on Friday, December 5th from 5-9pm to meet the owners and do a bit of shopping! Event info here.
