Don’t make our planet the worse for wear, pleads Edinburgh fashion retailer

As she prepares for a post-lockdown expansion of her business, vegan fashion retailer Cat Anderson is determined to find a silver lining among the Covid clouds.

After turning one in June, her Stockbridge store Treen is set to move from 12 St Stephen Street to a bigger, brighter boutique just a short walk away at 2 St Stephen Place.

Having planned to make the move pre-pandemic, Cat is now grateful for the “breathing space” lockdown gave her in turning the vision for her dream shop into a reality - while at the same time nurturing the online business.

“The past few months have given us the time to see things clearly, think ahead and not get caught up in the day to day. The perspective gained has been a gift,” she says.

Cat is also heartened by signs that the challenges of the ongoing crisis have encouraged many shoppers to consider the environmental impact of their choices more carefully.

By offering a selection of style must-haves from a select group of brands that make a positive difference, Treen wants to help those considering the transition from fast to slow fashion to join those already pursuing a more ethical and sustainable lifestyle.

Still to announce the date for the move to new “mothership”, Cat says: ‘We built the store on the foundations of making it easier for others to shop more positively.

“Being vegan in any area of your life is a choice, and one we hope we are making it easier to act on by ensuring all of our products have already been researched, vetted and considered - and, of course, all vegan.

“It matters to us that we reflect the needs of the ever-growing world around us and where we stand in time right now, so we’ve made it a painless process to find your own style without having to think about how each piece you invest in came to be.”

With regard to changing attitudes, she adds: “The impact of the pandemic has been wide ranging, and it’s been clear to see how for so many it’s given us a fresh look at what is important to us.

“We’ve seen our community engage even more than usual with issues around caring for our planet, and are hopeful it will lead to positive change in the best way for everyone.”

To support the neighbourhood’s proud tradition of independent shopping, Treen is displaying “shop local” themed posters in the windows of the new premises during the renovation.

Find out more at shoptreen.com or on Instagram at @shoptreen_

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