The Other Side Artisan Collective - New Owners and New Offerings

The Other Side Artisan Collective, founded by Chris and Kristin Moon, has been a staple in the Coombs area for the past 4 years. A creative couple inspired by a desire to connect local artisans and people who love locally made products, they created an inviting space where people can come check out all that Vancouver Island and the Gulf Island areas have to offer - from artisan teas, to handmade soaps, screen printed clothing, eco-friendly home wares, records and more.

In 2019 Chris and Kristin opened a second location in Cumberland BC - Moon's Records, where they continue to sell the work of local artisans alongside a wide selection of new and used vinyl records. Feeling pulled to this part of the Island, they decided to focus their energy on their new space and knew they wanted to find someone to carry The Other Side forward.

When they approached us with the idea - we knew it was meant to be. I had been running my organic, handmade children's clothing company (Rooted Sprout) for three years. In this time, I attended many markets and craft fairs around the Island forging connections with several local artisans and gaining a good picture of the local handmade community. Always working on bringing new creative ideas into being, I am excited to continue to offer my Rooted Sprout line through the shop and to share several new products including a women's clothing line in the works for the past year, called Rooted. Eamon, an accomplished artist, woodworker and wizard of alchemy, will be producing a few of his own product lines at The Other Side.

We plan to keep the original vision of The Other Side alive by continuing to sell the works of local Vancouver Island and Gulf Island artisans through the shop. We will be bringing in several new artisans and aim to make regular journeys to new places in this beautiful area of the world to source new products for the shop. In addition, we plan to convert a storage area in the back of the shop into an in-house workspace for the creation of Rooted Sprout, Rooted and several other product lines. There will be a large opening into the space so purveyors of the shop can get a glimpse into our creative process and gain a sense of connection to how their wares are made.

Another big change you can expect is that we will no longer be selling records through the shop. Instead, the downstairs area that currently houses Moon's Records will be converted into a studio space for gatherings, workshops and yoga classes with the goal of bringing connection and valuable life skills to the local community. This inviting space will act as a gathering place where people can learn, stretch and grow - together.

We're so grateful to Chris and Kristin and excited to be carrying their vision forward while bringing new offerings to Coombs. Stay tuned to see the development of the workspace and studio as they are created! Follow along on instagram @theothersideartisancollective for updates and glimpses into our progress.

With love,

Lauren and Eamon
New Owners - The Other Side Artisan Collective. (opening February 8th, 2020!)