Boutique Cornerstone is the one fundraiser of the year when women across the city happily clear their calendars to score standout fashion finds in support of a good cause.

Starting next week, volunteers will begin transforming the upper-floor gathering space at Thyme & Again on Wellington Street into a shop stocked with carefully curated designer labels. One hundred percent of proceeds from the two-day sale will go to Cornerstone Housing for Women.

The sale of gently used and otherwise unsold fashion pieces from local retail stores is open to the public on Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Regulars know there’s an art to dressing for Boutique Cornerstone. Leggings and a fitted tank top make try-ons quick and easy, avoiding precious time lost waiting for a makeshift changeroom.

This year’s designer labels include Burberry, Valentino, Gucci, Prada, Vera Wang, Hugo Boss, Lafayette 148, Elie Tahari, Ba&sh Paris, Armani, Escada, Hermès, Oscar de la Renta, and many more. Expect to see a lot of linen and cashmere for sale.

For months, organizers Katie Faught, Andrea Laurin and Anna Rumin have been collecting and storing more than 1,000 items, including clothing, purses, shoes and accessories. The response from their wide network has been “overwhelming,” said Rumin with a laugh of disbelief.

It’s so much work, she concedes. “But, it’s also fun and really inspiring,” added Rumin, who has a PhD in education and teaches memoir-based writing courses.

What’s passed along is more than clothing; it’s a commitment to community. This year, the team has grown with two younger volunteer organizers joining the effort: government relations professional Katrina Draper and Cara Upward, sales and leasing consultant at Surgenor Hyundai.

Draper is chair of Cornerstone’s Young Professionals Advisory Board, while Upward also sits on the board of the group, which supports the charity through volunteering, advocacy and fundraising initiatives.

Part of what drew the pair to the cause was its focus on women helping women. There’s also an environmental benefit, with clothing being recycled and kept out of landfills.

All proceeds will support Cornerstone’s emergency shelter for women and gender-diverse people. “Safety is really an issue for women in this city, and Cornerstone provides a safe spot,” said Draper.

From left, volunteer organizers Cara Upward, Andrea Laurin, Katrina Draper and Anna Rumin share a laugh during a planning meeting ahead of Boutique Cornerstone, a two-day charity fashion resale fundraiser taking place May 1–2 in the Nest at Thyme & Again on Wellington Street. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Schad Boutique, Judith & Charles, Victoire Boutique, Justine Studio, Muriel Drombet [Clothes], Bellwethers Vintage and Bee You Creative Styles are among the local retailers supporting the cause. Any unsold items will be passed on to local charity shop Encore Fashions.

While there are at least 200 known donors to Boutique Cornerstone, the total number of women who contribute each year is difficult to pin down.

Donations have come from as far as Montreal and, in at least one case, from a donor who was herself nearly in need of emergency shelter. “I had one woman who reached out and said, ‘Last year, I was almost homeless and the only organization that responded to my call was Cornerstone, so I have one piece of clothing that I want to donate,’” recalled Rumin, who never got to personally thank the woman. “She just left it at my door.”

Last year, the sale raised about $30,000. Over the course of its six years, Boutique Cornerstone has brought in over $100,000.

This year’s sale has been further elevated by two women ambassadors who cleared out their closets. It also received donations from those honouring the generous spirit of their loved ones, offering cherished pieces to be worn and appreciated again.

Boutique Cornerstone kicks off Thursday night with a private shopping evening for donors and proven high-volume buyers. It’s sponsored by LAURIN Group. Organizers say the public need not worry about being left with slim pickings; the inventory is so extensive that only a fraction will even make it onto the floor that night.

And for those who can’t get enough of style, beloved Ottawa designer Frank Sukhoo of Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture will be back with his spectacular fashion show at the Taste of Ireland Garden Party in support of Cornerstone. It’s taking place on the afternoon of Sunday, June 7.

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WEALTH (WCPD), Syntax Strategic, RBC, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, Welch LLP, and Brazeau Seller Law.
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