Whenever I see a person dressed in the exact same thing I’m wearing, I always feel as if the authenticity of my outfit has been somewhat compromised. No longer is my outfit new and fresh, but it’s just another skirt worn by a hundred other girls. I was introduced to vintage shopping by a good friend when we spent the whole day in and out of Toronto stores looking for that perfect outfit. After returned to my university, I frantically googled stores in Ottawa only to realize that my beloved city wasn’t exactly vintage friendly. The next step was online shopping but after a horrible experience with Anthrolopogie, which included hidden extra fees for shipping and cross border handling, that option was quickly crossed off the list.

Then I came across a fabulous new Canadian website that made me fall in love with fashion all over again. Boat People Boutique and the Sample Boutique was born in 2009 by two style-loving girls from Quebec City who wanted to create a business that was new, changed mentalities and at the same time was eco-friendly. On their website the girls write that one of the many advantages of buying vintage is that you help reduce your imprint on the environment while also refusing to support unethical sweatshops overseas and extra polluting garment factories. Fashionable and eco friendly? I was instantly sold.

Each garment sold in the Boat People Boutique is hand selected for its style and flair by the girls who make sure to put extra attention on details like the quality, condition and cleanliness of the garment. The girls also re-design some of the garments or “up-cycle” them to add a little bit of a modern twist to some of these classic pieces. Their other store, the Sample Boutique, offers buyers street wear industry samples like Vans, Insight and Volcom at incredibly low prices.

Not only were the fashion choices endless, but the Boat People offer free delivery on all domestic orders of $75 dollars and more. Strapped for cash? Shipping charges for items under $75 dollars is a flat fee of $8 in Quebec and $12 for any other Canadian province.

So go ahead and splurge. After a couple of purchases from the Boat People you’ll not only feel as if you’ve helped the environment, but you’ll also be wearing a truly one of a kind outfit.

To visit the Boat People go to: http://www.boatpeopleboutique.com/