Passion for pillows Kentville’s Girliture teams up with East Coast Lifestyles
It’s amazing what a passion for pillows can lead to.
In Tanya Owen’s case, her penchant for custom-made pillows is the inspiration behind the business she’s been running for more than three years with the help of her husband.
“I’ve always loved pillows,” said Owen, owner of Girliture in Kentville.
“It started from just trying to stencil a few pillows to see what they looked like. I never dreamed it would turn into a full-time business.” So why focus on pillows?
“There was no one around here creating custom pillows and I quickly realized how (much) people loved personalized pillows,” she said.
The pillows have since garnered media attention from throughout the province, and even landed in the hands of well-known television personalities, athletes and musicians.
“Just recently, CBC meteorologist Peter Coade received a custom pillow for his last day of work after 54 years and personally called me to thank me for the pillow,” said Owen.
Owen’s work from her home-based studio in Kentville captured the attention of East Coast Lifestyle Clothing founder Alex MacLean, and the Nova Scotia grown businesses formed a partnership.
“Working with East Coast Lifestyle is an amazing opportunity for my business,” said Owen. “Having the extra exposure through their well-known brand offers people an extra vote of confidence in our product.”
Owen started producing East Coast Lifestyle pillows for Mahone Bay’s MyHome Bay store in May. The store is partly owned by Alex MacLean’s mother, Cindy MacLean.
“MyHome Bay and Girliture have just partnered to make the pillows available online for the holidays after so many requests from all over Canada for them,” said Owen. “We clearly have a big population of East Coasters living in Ontario and out west.”
Owen’s pillows have covered everything from common phrases to celebrity faces, and there’s no telling what Girliture might come up with next.
“I think you need to always be changing designs and keeping ideas fresh,” said Owen. “That’s what makes people stay connected and keeps my pillows interesting.”