Get to know Past Lives!

If you’re on the hunt for…

Vintage

From quality vintage basics to effortless cool collectors items, we believe personal style should be accessible and sustainable.

Local Goods

We proudly stock local handmade goods from your neighbours that celebrate our creative community in and just outside of Ottawa.

Gathering Space 

We regularly host community events, workshops, pop-ups, and collaborations that bring people together through fashion, art, and shared experiences! 

The kind of business where you know the owner

Alex - Capricorn Sun / Aries Moon / Libra Rising 

I started Past Lives because I really give a sh*t. I’ve always deeply felt the need to be very intentional about the way I spend my time and energy. Past Lives gives me a career and space to explore everything thats really important to me: sustainability, fashion, community and fun! Outside of Past Lives, you can find me teaching yoga and meditation, going on adventures with our MVP Billie and heading to the next music festival.

Born on October 13, 2020

Like many small businesses, I began Past Lives as a creative outlet (and a lil extra cash) during the pandemic. At the time, I was teaching yoga full time and since that industry was so impacted, I felt called to try something new. I have always been very into thrifting and second hand fashion and when I saw others selling their old clothes on Instagram, I thought ‘hey I could do that!’. In 5 years, we’ve built a successful website, done about a million markets and moved shops twice, landing in our current home at 194 Nepean St. 

Intentional

I want people to feel equal parts at ease and inspired when they walk into Past Lives. Vintage shopping should feel approachable, not intimidating, and I want the space to invite curiosity, creativity, and self-expression. Clothing is one of the few creative rituals we all engage with every day, so I see the shop as a place where people can slow down, explore, and reconnect with that part of themselves. 

The devil is in the details

I aim to walk the talk , so the details of the Past Lives shop really matter to me. Everything, including our racks, tables, displays and even our bags are secondhand. We separate our clothing sizes on different hangers so our customers can easily find their size with out stress (size L & under on black hangers / XL & over on white hangers). We carry 17 other local women & queer owned businesses in shop. All of these details keep us aligned with our mission of providing a space that holds sustainability, connection and integrity at its core.