Walking into Anna Rumin’s home last week, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in a high-end fashion studio rather than a house, so packed was it with donated items destined for Boutique Cornerstone, an upcoming pop-up clothing sale.

By Friday, additional volunteers arrived in their cars to help transport the items, which had filled three bedrooms and a basement, not to mention a dining room table covered with garment bags. There were roughly 1,000 dresses, sweaters, skirts, coats, purses, pants, shoes, jewelry and other accessories, all clean and very neatly organized.

Every last blouse, blazer and belt will soon be heading to the Nest. It’s an intimate gathering space owned by Ottawa businesswoman Sheila Whyte, located on the second floor of her Thyme & Again catering business and food store at 1255 Wellington St. W.

The Boutique Cornerstone sale — expected to draw crowds of women from all parts of the city — will open to the public this Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The fundraiser is organized by Rumin with friends Andrea Laurin and Katie Faught.

For the past three months, the tireless trio has been collecting, sorting and curating gorgeous pieces of clothing and accessories to be put up for grabs. Oh, and at these prices, you better believe there’s going to be some grabbing.

“We price to sell,” said Rumin with the seasoned savvy of a pop-up pro. “Our goal is to make money for Cornerstone.”

A colourful stack of cashmere sweaters waits patiently in a closet at Anna Rumin’s home, ready to be picked up and taken to Thyme & Again on Wellington for the Boutique Cornerstone pop-up sale, which starts Friday. Photo by Caroline Phillips.

Cornerstone Housing for Women supports hundreds of vulnerable women each year by providing emergency shelter, supportive housing and support services. For more than 40 years, it has operated as a community ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. All money raised from the sale goes directly to the cause.

Last year, Boutique Cornerstone brought in $40,000.

“The women who shop at the sale really feel good about their purchases because they know they’re helping other women,” said Laurin from Ottawa-based general contracting and project management firm LAURIN, which is supporting the fundraiser through sponsorship.

The organizers share a common thread: their belief in the cause and their enjoyment of working together. “We also love fashion,” added Laurin.

This year, 209 women generously donated items. “Our circle widens each year, and with it so does awareness of both housing insecurity and the important work Cornerstone does in addressing that issue for vulnerable women in our community,” said Faught.

Boutique Cornerstone is built on a foundation of women supporting women.

That’s why Laurin chose the black linen dress she wore to deliver the eulogy for her late mother, Jean Meakin, in 2022. It was a treasured find, a piece from German designer Basler, that she’d purchased from the inaugural Boutique Cornerstone in 2017.

Wearing the dress on that difficult day brought her strength and comfort.

“I didn’t feel as alone walking up to the pulpit,” Laurin explained of the sense of support she felt from her friends, Faught and Rumin, and the entire circle of women involved with the fundraiser. “They are the backbone of this whole thing.”

Her fashionista mother would have approved, not only because the outfit was stylish but also because “I bought it to help other women,” said Laurin.

It’s now a well-loved and worn keepsake for Laurin, who wore it to the interview as a way to share her story.

The home of Anna Rumin was filled with roughly 1,000 items — all destined to Thyme & Again on Wellington Street for the Boutique Cornerstone pop-up clothing sale in support of Cornerstone Housing for Women. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Cornerstone Boutique began with humble roots, like many grassroots fundraisers. Over time, it has not only grown in size but also in the quality of its donations, with contributions from heads of foreign missions, passionate shoppers (a.k.a. shopaholics), and women looking to refresh their wardrobes, whether to start a new chapter or clear out space for something new.

“We try to have different styles, sizes and budgets,” said Rumin. “We want shoppers to find pieces that they could not otherwise afford and to make sure these donations find a new home.”

The sale will feature such fashion brands as Moschino, Valentino, Marc Cain, Ted Baker and Kate Spade. The hottest sellers are purses. This year’s best deal is likely a chic Vera Wang dress priced at $95. Also included is an every-day collection of clothes.

Organizers have built a strong network of friends who, in turn, tap into their own connections. Fairy god“friend” Terri Hoddinott is especially good at mobilizing her contacts to donate. Another big supporter has been Cindy Harrison. Some of the donors live as far away as Toronto and Montreal.

The organizers also credit volunteers such as Katie Faughnan, Karen Reynolds, and Heidi Conrod for helping to schlep the inventory around.

Several local women’s clothing stores have been very generous in donating new clothing, often items that are overstocked or slow to sell. Chantal Biro, owner of Schad, was the first to start contributing. Other stores now include Justine Studio, Judith & Charles, Manhattan West and Muriel Dombret [clothes], which is located across the street from the Boutique Cornerstone sale.

Madison Kelly from Bellwethers Vintage and Jess Vaillancourt at Bee You Creative Styles are two young female entrepreneurs in the Centretown district committed to fashion sustainability. They buy items from Cornerstone that they resell at their own stores.

For store owners who are directly confronting the city’s homeless issue, their support of Boutique Cornerstone is a way for them to help, said Laurin. “It’s something they can get behind.”

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel and RBC.

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