From Kara: It's no secret that I am a lover of small businesses. Every month, I will be highlighting an individual or a business who inspires me. I hope you love them as much as I do! This month is Ashley Brooks of Caus.
Why I Created Caus
I had my first son 13 years ago and left my job at a small design firm so that I could be home with him. At that time, I started designing a sustainable children's clothing line that was rooted in social impact but ultimately decided there were too many moving parts and too many components that I wasn't fully versed in to follow through with the concept. Even though my own line never came to be, the process led me to know and admire many other ethical fashion brands that I kept catalog of.
Years and 4 kids later, we decided Essex was the place we knew we wanted to be, only problem being, there were zero houses and only antique stores on the market. We bought the two buildings that now house Caus.
While hoping to attract future tenants/collaborators for what I thought may be a creative co-op of sorts, I ended up hosting pop-up markets and other small events to connect with other creatives and like-minded people on Cape Ann.
Each pop-up organically built on itself, and I ended up finding that I really enjoyed curating the events and being able to pull in brands that I long admired or had newly discovered, and wanted to celebrate on a local level.
The shop is named Caus because of its dreamy location by the river on the Essex causeway as well as for its mission (or cause) to support Slow Fashion and Slow Living with the hope of eventually introducing more social justice initiatives as time allows.
Living in the Shop
Living and "working" in the same building where the shop also lives, is definitely both a blessing and a curse but it for sure affords me way more flexibility and opportunity than I would have if it were any other way. Sometimes I have a rogue 3 year old shopping with their parents that escapes through the shop door and ends up getting pushed around by my kids in a doll stroller upstairs, or get asked to use my bathroom (which is NEVER safe territory since I have 3 boys), or someone is curious and wants a tour ... all which I partly love because in my head homes and lives should be open doors, but is also equal parts cringey when its my door that's perpetually open and they see ALL of us, like the whole kit-and-circus-kaboodle.
That said, it’s forced me to be vulnerable in ways that the perfectionist in me would never have allowed and has made me realize that authenticity is way more important than appearing buttoned up, which I very much will never be. Humans relate to humans, and we are VERY human around here ... and I love that my little humans can pop in out of the shop in their socks to say hi to mom when I'm open. It majorly helps with my family FOMO.
Favorite Slow Fashion Brand
Ahhhh tough one! There are so, SO many. I think I'll go with Rita Row on this one because I love how the line is fun and contemporary while also managing to be timeless (and somewhat approachable) for the wallet. I also love OZMA, First Rite, Maria Stanley, Kordal Studio and Michaela Greg to name a few :) Also, it was a real treat this summer to have Misha & Puff in our barn for their summer residency. Sharing space with such an inspired brand, and champion of slow fashion, was a gift.
Favorite Class on Range
Arrow and Precipice and anything down by the River.