Sam Morrice has opened Purple Aster Vintage in Saskatoon's Drinkle Mall, offering curated and restored vintage clothing, upcycled and recycled items, jewelry, and accessories. The store, which opened in April, focuses on giving old garments a second life through meticulous restoration.
A Lifelong Passion for Fashion and Crafts
Morrice's love for clothing and crafts began in childhood. Her business journey started 16 years ago with an online handcrafted jewelry venture called Belle Elle Handcrafted Jewelry. Over time, it evolved to include vintage items, leading to the rebranding as Purple Aster Vintage in 2021. After selling at markets in Calgary and Saskatoon, she decided to open a full-time shop this year.
“I’ve always really, really loved fashion and clothing and the way you can express yourself through clothes that you wear,” Morrice said. “I’ve also always been very crafty, so I really like working with my hands making things. So this kind of was the natural progression to end up sewing and doing embroidery and everything that they consider a ‘grandma hobby.’”
Products That Save Textiles from Landfills
Purple Aster Vintage primarily sells restored vintage women’s clothing. Morrice intentionally seeks items that are damaged or worn—pieces with holes, missing buttons, or broken zippers—that other sellers might overlook. She repairs these items to create fashionable, wearable pieces.
In addition to restored clothing, the store offers upcycled and recycled clothing and accessories made from vintage linens or discarded materials. Jewelry includes vintage pieces and upcycled creations from outdated or worn items. The store also carries shoes, boots, hats, and purses, including a section of higher-end estate jewelry.
“That was one of the reasons that I wanted to open a shop as well, was because just doing markets I was obviously limited as to what I could save and keep on the floor,” Morrice explained.
What Makes Purple Aster Vintage Unique
The key differentiator is the attention to restoration. Morrice chooses items that need mending, fixing, or replacing—pieces that might otherwise be discarded by other vintage sellers or end up in landfills. By giving them new life, she reduces textile waste and offers unique, sustainable fashion options.
“The biggest thing is that all of the items are given the attention of restoration. I purposefully choose items that need restoration – items that need to be mended, need to be fixed. Things that perhaps another vintage seller or curator might pass up at a thrift store or an estate because it needs that mending,” she said.
