Tell Us Your Story. What motivated you to start your business? Why are you passionate about what you do?

The magic sparked from a vision to fill a significant gap in the market: truly size-inclusive, sustainable clothing. As a disabled, plus-size designer based in Vancouver, I have firsthand experience with the challenges faced by many in finding stylish, sustainable clothing that fits well and aligns with our values. Following a skull fracture in 2018 and adjusting to my new reality, it became clear that I couldn't continue working on this dream alone, so with a passion for functional design & a commitment to inclusion, I set out to create Connally Goods—a brand that ensures everyone has access to high-quality, fashionable attire. It took a while, but now, with a small team in Vancouver, BC we make small batches of garments in sizes XS-6X (While many mainstream brands' sizing stops at 3X). At Connally Goods, we also offer custom sizing, since the human body comes in a myriad of shapes and sizes! It's thrilling to see the shift in how we see and carry ourselves when our clothing fits, and makes us feel like our most authentic and powerful selves. By something as simple as providing clothing that's durable and appropriate for work, for weekends, for playing with pets, for celebrating, people who live in marginalized bodies have more access to opportunities and experiences. At Connally Goods, we are dedicated to ethical practices and environmental responsibility. We carefully select sustainable materials like organic cotton, linen, and work with mills and suppliers in Canada, the UK, Austria, Japan and South Korea who share our commitment to living wage and fair, safe, and ethical labour practices. Our goal is to provide clothing that not only looks good but feels good, knowing it was made with respect for people and the planet. All the remnant scraps of fabric and thread from production are separated and repurposed as accessories, patchwork quilts and the smallest bits are used as stuffing for pet toys, bedding and lastly as insulation . We don't use polyester; we don't make disposable clothes. Beyond design, I actively participate in panels and conferences on inclusion and the garment industry, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable world as a whole. My experiences as a disabled, plus-size individual inform my work, ensuring that Connally Goods stands as a beacon of diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry. We're all uniquely, wonderfully human, worthy of respect, compassion and celebration.

Describe and demonstrate, including metrics, your community support. How do you support and uplift your community, and how do they show that support in return? Minimum 25 words, maximum 2500 characters.

Community is what's made my small business possible. The people you see on the website wearing the clothes? Most of them have never modelled before, and it's a joy getting to share candid expressions of people in our local community, celebrating what makes us unique and relatable. Represented are activists, teachers, advocates, artists, students, parents, individuals in our community who enrich the lives of others and belong to LGBTQIA2S+, disability and other marginalized groups. Together, as a small business and our customers, we are shifting away from anti-fat bias, ableism, sexism, racism and exclusion and we're embracing body liberation, living wages and an overdue attitude adjustment in the fashion industry. Here are a few specific examples of community support and engagement: In 2020, I started the "Compassion Toque" project, which began as a small batch of cotton toques, and for each one sold, a second one was distributed in care kits given to community members living without shelter in the DTES of Vancouver. As the initiative grew, we didn't want to create excess product, so in 2022 we shifted to donating $10 from each hat sale to PACE Society in Vancouver, where proceeds continue to be sent. Another ongoing project is an exclusive illustration series of anatomical organs by Victoria, BC artist, Morrigan Shay. Prints of these illustrations are sold with all the profits going to The Addison Fund for paediatric transplant research, part of the Transplant Research Foundation of BC (TRFBC). It's also an ongoing delight to partner with YVR Fat Clothing Swap, presenting accessible, size-inclusive clothing swaps and events. Through that community, I've been invited to present at other events and conventions, like Fat Con Philly and Fat Con Seattle, the latter of which I will be doing in early 2025. Over the past year, it's been a joy and honour to be interviewed by CBC Radio, spoken as a panellist at KDocsFF, be featured in print and digital magazines, and most recently, receive the BC Achievement Award as an Emerging Leader in Community. It's humbling, as there are so many incredible people I continue to learn from, and none of these experiences or distinctions would be possible without this community.

Why do you deserve to win the Business Impact award?

For a business to be good, that means more than turning a profit. It requires commitment to core values, compassion for people and the planet. It requires tenacity to hold true to the ethical, economic and environmental standards that we're known for. It sounds simple, but it's amazing how far we've come by just genuinely caring and listening. By factoring inclusive sizing into the business plan from day one, we've been able to consistently grow instead of needing to overhaul any infrastructure in order to put action behind the intentions of inclusion. This also has allowed our repeat customer base to build trust in the quality of our goods and in the business as a whole. Garment production is a fundamental industry and trade which cannot be fully automated; the machines still need human beings to operate them. The skills required and the people who make our clothes are often undervalued, but at Connally Goods, respect and compassion are a reflex. When a business is good, its environment and community grow organically; there's transparency and genuine connection. I've learned that these qualities can't be manufactured, synthesized, pretended. Yes, lots of businesses thrive on presenting a curated reality. Many are happy with saying anything to sell whatever concept, product or entity that's the current zeitgeist darling. However...it's thrilling to see more consumers making informed choices on where they spend their money. That's allowed my business to grow without sacrificing any of the values we started with. In uncertain economic times since 2020, I'm proud that not only are we still here, but continuing to surpass expectations. The main benefit of this growth is putting it back into the community, getting to push the bar of what it means to be a truly sustainable business. Now, in 2024, we've grown the team and just shipped the 2500th order of the year. We have customers all across Canada, the US, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, England, Japan, Singapore and South Korea; the positive impact we're making is demonstrable and honestly, such a thrill!

Tell Us About Your Culture. How are you creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome? Provide examples of leadership you show in interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff and others.

Part of what makes me appreciate the work of each individual comes from me starting this business from scratch with some fabric, a needle & thread. Teaching myself how to sew, how to run a website, learning by messing up, understanding the years of experience it takes to become proficient makes me incredibly thankful for each member of the small team. There is no Connally Goods without them. It may seem simple, like remembering how people take their coffee, bringing cookies to the team, being flexible when their schedules need shuffling, asking for their feedback on the look, feel & fit of different styles-- those are some small ways we keep a caring & communicative working environment. During photo shoots, comfort and safety is paramount, so that means having accessible seating for larger bodies, accommodating any allergies or sensitivities for everyone's well being, & asking consent each time before approaching anyone to adjust a garment, etc. When it comes to our suppliers, I'm thankful to have a face-to-face relationship (either in person or over videocall) along each step of the supply chain. Over time, we continue to build trust and it's exciting getting to work with others who share my nerdy excitement over fabrics, snaps, buttons & compostable shipping materials. Getting to communicate openly about slumps & successes, navigating a new approach to garment production, has opened my mind and the way that I approach challenges. As my small business has grown, some aspects of client relationships have become streamlined, like getting a label printer instead of addressing each parcel by hand...however, each order still gets a personal, handwritten thank you note pertaining to the individual, not just a generic packing slip. It's important for me to tangibly express my gratitude while affirming clients' choice to support the humans making their clothes, not a faceless entity. Dedication to size-inclusion means listening to the most marginalized, and continuing to learn & improve as I push forward. It's a privilege, getting to make the clothing that people choose to wear every day, so it's my responsibility to take community input and turn it into action.

Why do you think you should win the Premier’s People’s Choice Award?

The positive impact a small business has on a community is tremendous. Through a kaleidoscope of entrepreneurs, businesses, ideas, we add to BC's unique culture at a time when it's easy to slip into mass-produced, beige "stuff." We don't need more stuff. We need to build a connection to the actual human beings who grow our food, who build our homes, who make our clothes. Starting a small business and nurturing its success takes a certain level of stubborn persistence, which is something I understand intimately. Adjusting to life with disabilities has taught me that while life, our circumstances can change in an instant, progress is something we witness over time, and it's something we do not achieve alone. As the owner of a small brand, I know that every sale counts. Every boost to funding also improves morale, and most importantly, that money stays in our local economy and allows more small businesses to stick around. We all need this community. Winning the Premier People's Choice Award would be phenomenal proof that our future is more inclusive, as well as an opportunity to share about the important work we're doing. We can celebrate small business success while sending a clear message that hate, bigotry, and anti-fat bias has no place in our community. Recognition and awards are like jet boosters, providing a surge of necessary energy, growth and yes, that persistently sought reward: progress.