YYC Feature: ROCK & PRAIRIE CLOTHING CO.
Amy Hancock helps reshape the slow fashion industry as she creates ‘beautiful clothes for beautiful bodies’ of all types
When Amy Hancock became disheartened by the lack of inclusive sizing in the slow fashion space, she decided to ‘throw her hat in the ring’ and do something about it. Her company, Rock & Prairie Clothing Co, offers beautiful pieces for women of all sizes, and Hancock pays special attention to how her pieces fits curvier body shapes. All her clothes are made ethically right in YYC, where sewers have a safe, healthy working environment and are paid fairly for their labour. Being eco-minded is also an important part of her business model: ‘I choose sustainable fibres such as Bamboo, Organic Cotton and Hemp Denim’, Hancock says, ‘So not only do my garments feel good on, but they do good as well’.
Hancock herself is a big supporter of community in Calgary— she volunteers with local non-profit organizations including The Samaritans Club, to help the city’s most vulnerable. Her passion for making an impact in all facets of her life is, without a doubt, motivating for anyone who wants to carve out a unique, positive life for themselves. We’re excited to see how she continues to build her body positive brand!
Find her at: https://rockandprairie.ca/
When and why did you become interested in fashion?
My background is in Learning and Development, and I left the Calgary Corporate world a few years ago to pursue my dream of owning my own business. For as far back as I can remember I have had an interest in fashion and design, when I was a kid instead of coloring books, I would draw outfits onto figures I made from a stencil. I am a woman who has literally worn every size on the rack and I really wanted to create something special for women of all shapes and sizes; Clothes that would feel amazing on, and clothes you could feel good about purchasing.
Why was it important to you to start a ‘slow fashion’ company— what is it that you were seeing in the industry that inspired this?
When I decided to embark on this journey I knew very little about Slow Fashion, I just knew I wanted to have my garments made by people who were paid fairly for their labour, and working with local businesses made sense to me as I wanted to be involved with the process and the people who were making my designs. Since I started my business, I have done a lot of research, and learned so much more about the harm caused by fast fashion. As Maya Angelou has said " when you know better, do better' and I take this to heart in every aspect of my brand. I will continue to learn and adapt as I go so that I can continue to be proud of the work I produce.
You dedicate your time to various organizations in YYC, which is awesome! What is one example of an organization you have done work with?
I spent over 10 years volunteering in different roles with YMCA Calgary, and currently I volunteer time with The Samaritans Club, a women's organization that raises funds for Calgary's most vulnerable, the Samaritan's Club is often accessed as a last resort, and offers emergency funding for groceries, infant supplies and transit passes for example.
Where do you source your sustainable fibres from?
I work with a Canadian Textiler based in Vancouver!
What would you say in the greatest challenge or obstacle that you have had to overcome thus far in your entrepreneurial journey? Do you have a ‘favourite failure’?
Well I started my business one year ago this June, and I would say launching my first full collection during a Global Pandemic has been my greatest challenge, it is one thing to book markets and meet people face to face where they can touch the garments and try them on, but quite another to try to launch online as a virtual unknown, I have been able to overcome this through the amazing support of family and friends as well as using the Canadian Social Media Influencer community. My favourite failure? Going through several iterations of one garment because I made a ‘snap decision’ on snap fasteners for my outerwear, a costly and wasteful mistake.
What is your hope for Rock & Prairie Clothing Co. over the next 5 years? In what ways do you see your company expanding and/or improving?
I would love to become the 'Go To' for Canadian Women to get their style staples, I am already in one small shop and would love to see my pieces in more small local boutiques. I really believe in quality over quantity so I will continue to only make small batch garments that are timeless wardrobe favourites. In five years, I want Rock & Prairie to be a well recognized and respected brand as an Industry leader in accessible Canadian Slow Fashion and I would like to expand into offering some size inclusive men’s casual wear too.
What is a valuable piece of wisdom that has helped get you where you are today?
Don’t be afraid of the success you are working towards. Also, I think it is really important to slow everything down, for me that means mindfulness, taking time to really research my choices, and to make decisions I can feel great about.