Poppy Barley

Footwear and accessories from Poppy Barley | Photography by Alicia Johnson Photography | Modeled by Leane Mattson and Amber Appah | Published by @the_issuemagazine

welcome to Poppy Barley.

There was little hesitation when sisters Kendal Barber and Justine Barber set out to start their business, Poppy Barley, in 2012. The brand is socially and ethically conscious as it actively rethinks every step of the footwear industry. Originally creating custom, made-to-order shoes, they believe that setting and working towards goals drives change. At the intersection of everything they love — design, architecture, fashion, social policy, the planet, and people — Poppy Barley strives to revolutionize the nuances of leather goods with conscious creation, transparency and a touch of personalization.  

Diving into the Deep

“We didn’t want to be left wondering ‘what if’? We jumped in with a firm deadline to sell 100 pairs of boots to put aside that fear,” says Justine.

Kendall has committed time to serving in the community as a member of the 1000 Women Advisory Committee for Norquest College, a board member for YWCA Edmonton, a run ambassador for Lululemon Athletica, and a supporter of Hope Mission’s Kids in Action program. She is a graduate of the University of Victoria and Grenoble Ecole de Management in France. She was selected as one of Avenue magazine’s 2014 Top 40 under 40 for her work at Poppy Barley, and Western Living’s list for the “Ones to Watch” round-up at the 2014 Designers of the Year Awards.

Pictured: Justine Barber (left) and Kendall Barber (right), Photos Courtesy of Poppy Barley

Pictured: Justine Barber (left) and Kendall Barber (right), Photos Courtesy of Poppy Barley

Justine holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta (U of A), and a Masters of Arts in Conflict Analysis from the University of Kent. Her work history is equally diverse, with time spent working in consulting, conflict prevention, and Alberta’s 10 Year Plan to end Homelessness. She has won the Alumni Innovation award from the U of A and was named one of Western Living Designers of the Year, “Ones to Watch,” and Global Edmonton Woman of Vision. In her limited spare time, Justine spends time with her two sons and husband. She enjoys running, reading, and relaxing through ‘Netflix and wine’.

Together, they knew that they could build a brand that would last. Their roots are in made to order products, and customers can see how Kendall and Justine know their industry.

Photography by Alicia Johnson Photography

Photography by Alicia Johnson Photography

Photography by Alicia Johnson Photography

“From the beginning, we understood the frustration of the customer. We’ve always believed that people deserve better accessibility to beautiful shoes that fit properly. Size plays a huge role in comfort, and comfort should not be relegated to sneakers. Also, the average shoe size is increasing but shoe sizing has stagnated,” Kendall explains.

The average shoe size is increasing, but shoe sizing has stagnated. They find a slightly wider toe box has been a better fit for more of their customers and develop their styles to accommodate those comforts and fashion. Poppy Barley offers sizes 5-12 for women and 5-15 for men. Though branching out in sizes has lowered their made-to-order element, they still see special orders and offer them to those looking for customization.

People, Planet and Ethical Production

Kendall and Justine made sure to hold themselves accountable by sharing their growth, hardships, joys, and struggles publicly. The goals and intentions are set as a company and relate to their five-year People and Planet goals.

“Our People and Planet Reports are driven by the belief that setting and working towards goals drives change. We felt strongly about holding ourselves accountable by sharing publicly.”

For the pair, conscious production starts with versatility and durability. Their website highlights their philosophy that shoes should ‘work for 80% of your life - work, weekends, travel and beyond - and be appropriate [in] 80% of Canadian weather.’

Factory, Photo courtesy of Poppy Barley

Factory, Photo courtesy of Poppy Barley

From there, it’s all about sourcing the right materials. Always looking for ways to utilize the most sustainable options, Poppy Barley has entered the world of vegan alternatives. From cactus and plant-based leathers to cotton canvas linings, Kendall and Justine have enlisted the help of global suppliers to find solutions that fit their mission. 

Sharing the tail end of their manufacturing process, the duo place a heavy emphasis on solely working with manufacturers that meet their standard for ethical production. This includes aspects like health and safety, human rights and equality, living wages and benefits, and involves auditing their partners every two years.

Finally down to the packaging, Poppy Barley has reduced their waste, using environmentally friendly materials where they can, for 90% of their packaging. Checking all these boxes, some of their favourite year-round styles that have come of this process include the On-Tread Chelsea Boot, and for spring, The Daily Pump and The Glove Fit Flat. 

Photography by Alicia Johnson Photography

Photography by Alicia Johnson Photography

Photography by Alicia Johnson Photography

Changing The Game in the City of Champions

There are perks and challenges to operating out of Alberta. Being based in Edmonton offers little outside influence, which keeps Kendall and Justine thinking fresh. At the same time, there are missed opportunities to be a more fashion-centric city. They’re futurists and optimists and believe in the potential of Canadian fashion.

“We’re thankful for Edmonton’s climate of originality and collaboration. We want Poppy Barley to be a company that helps write the story of fashion in Canada.” Kendall says.

The pandemic played a role in shifting things too — it leveled the playing field in many ways, in broadening Poppy Barley’s scope as an omni-channel ecommerce company. The Edmonton job landscape is also changing, as more diverse jobs in the fashion industry emerge to support the post-pandemic boom. In Poppy Barley’s case, they’re seeing an increased need for product designers specialized in footwear and accessories — an opportunity that is particularly scarce in smaller cities like Edmonton.

When asked if they’d do anything differently if they could start over, the pair agreed: “There are millions of things we’d change, and we’d change nothing at all. Growing and learning is part of the journey–just like it shapes us, individuals, it also shapes us as a company. We firmly believe in progress over perfection and continue to embrace that approach no matter how full of missteps and learnings.”

The Co-Founders are inspired to create more meaningful products every day while taking their responsibility of caring for the planet and people very seriously. Their endeavours allow them to have fun, creating a creative environment that allows growth for all those at Poppy Barley. If their brand and purpose don’t bring a better future, what’s the point? They aspire for Poppy Barley to be a well-recognized brand and loved for its values, design, and intentionality.

Keep up with Poppy Barley

If you’d like to follow Poppy Barley’s journey, you can keep up with them on Instagram at @poppybarley, or visit them in-store at Southgate Centre in Edmonton, or Calgary’s Market Mall. For outside cities, keep an eye on their Popup rotation for a location near you!

Showroom, Photo courtesy of Poppy Barley