Her Dandy Wolf
Our Story
The beginning
It all started in the summer of 2007. One of us on holiday under the clear blue skies of Canada, the other in Wales receiving news of a big change in work. It suddenly made sense – the question “do you want to open a shop with your ma?” an instant reply of “yes”. A mother daughter partnership was formed.
We were both clear what kind of shop we wanted, what the feel of it would be and the values behind running it. A lifestyle shop selling a mix; clothing for men and women both new and vintage, gift, homeware (new, vintage and repurposed) and original art and creative works by new and emerging artists. All in a relaxed and friendly environment where everybody was welcome to come and browse.
SEven months later her dandy wolf opened the door to customers in our first premises in Eastgate Street, aberystwyth on 20th March 2008
Through the next 12 years the business flourished and grew and later in 2014 we moved to our present shop in Market Street. A larger, beautiful space where we have been ever since. Over these years our business has evolved. As vintage clothing fairs closed and moved on-line we stopped selling vintage clothing. Womenswear expanded, childrenswear came in and our range of handmade furniture, repurposed lighting and other vintage home pieces grew.
During this time the fashion industry has been going through a very welcome re-set of production values, prioritising ethical practices and sustainability. It’s been our pleasure to increasingly work with brands committed to these values using sustainable and recycled fabrics made in factories with more responsible production values and still producing exciting clothing! We’ve also welcomed the collaboration with artists that some of our brands are using to create new collections.
SEven months later her dandy wolf opened the door to customers in our first premises in Eastgate Street, aberystwyth on 20th March 2008
Through the next 12 years the business flourished and grew and later in 2014 we moved to our present shop in Market Street. A larger, beautiful space where we have been ever since. Over these years our business has evolved. As vintage clothing fairs closed and moved on-line we stopped selling vintage clothing. Womenswear expanded, childrenswear came in and our range of handmade furniture, repurposed lighting and other vintgae home pieces grew.
During this time the fashion industry has been going through a very welcome re-set of production values, prioritising ethical practices and sustainability. It’s been our pleasure to increasingly work with brands committed to these values using sustainable and recycled fabrics made in factories with more responsible production values and still producing exciting clothing! We’ve also welcomed the collaboration with artists that some of our brands are using to create new collections.
So, 12 years of enjoying a bricks and mortar business. The simple pleasure of putting our plant pot outside, buying flowers for our vintage jug on the counter and the smell of our morning coffee! Exciting buying trips discussing all aspects of retail with the brands we buy into. We’ve built friendships with our customers which has been one of the nicest things about a face-to-face shopping experience.
Then along came 2020. A horrible, hard year for everyone. Worry, restrictions, limitations and the rest. A year when every business has had to re-evaluate, re-focus and adapt just to get through. We had been asked so often over the years whether we planned a website. We always said no, feeling happy with our physical shop and feeling we had got the all important work-life-family balance in place…but if ever there was a time to do something about a website 2020 was it.
So here we are launching Her Dandy Wolf on-line …
We hope that what we’ve come up with is a complement to our business as our existing customers know it and reflects the values of our ‘real life’ shop. It was important for us to get all the details right – hopefully all our new customers will like it too!
Packaging
We re-use and recycle every bit of packaging that comes into the shop at Her Dandy Wolf so we gave a lot of thought to the packaging we would use to send our items out into the world.
We have made the switch to paper tape which is recyclable and made with a natural rubber adhesive. Our custom made tape means that our parcels are instantly recognisable when they reach you.
Where it is not possible or practical to re-use packaging we have decided to use sugar cane mail bags, which are the perfect sustainable alternative to standard polythene. These are produced from a by-product of sugar cane and grown on reclaimed wasteland and therefore have no impact on the rainforest. Sugar cane is a bio-based material that belongs to the grass family. As it grows sugar cane absorbs carbon gas from the air. Once you have re-used this item as much as possible then recycle it as you would any other recyclable product.
