The owner of Birch Hill Studio is keeping things Canadian.
Sierra Harris’ downtown boutique celebrates Canadian style and creativity by selling only clothing, jewelry and decor that is either made or designed in Canada.
Harris moved to Vernon with her husband, Gerran Thorhaug, and daughter, Stella, last summer after selling their restaurant in Terrace and purchasing Brown’s Social House in Vernon.
After staying home with their four-year-old daughter, Harris felt ready to follow her passion and open a boutique that reflects her own hip, casual style.
She opened Birch Hill Studio in November after carefully designing the space to create a cool welcoming store.
The bright walls hold industrial wooden shelving that is dressed up with gold accents to showcase her changing and evolving inventory.
“I always sold my own crafty things I made on Etsy (an online store),” said Harris.
“I wanted to empower the creative community as a whole and help other vendors sell their products.”
Harris sells her own handmade jewelry in the store and is launching her own apparel line.
Birch Hill Studio carries women’s, men’s and children’s clothing and accessories, home decor, jewelry, bath and body products from producers from all over Canada.
Born and raised in Terrace, she is excited by their new home in Vernon.
“We love it here. It is definitely our forever place,” said Harris.
“Our daughter loves it here too. There is so much for her to do.”
Harris said that her daughter has inspired her fashion sense.
“Being a mom, it’s all about jeans and hoodies so that’s why we carry the Brunette the Label sweatshirt line and the Untitled Shop sweatshirt line because they are super cute women’s sweatshirts that feel good when you’re running around all day with your kids,” said Harris.
“Throw on a cute sweatshirt with a pair of skinny jeans and a great pair of boots or Chucks and that is a mom’s style.”
Harris and her husband didn’t completely leave Terrace behind.
Gerran brought with him his friend and chef from their restaurant in Terrace to join him at Brown’s Social House while Harris’ store manager is a friend from Terrace.
Harris and Birch Hill Studio store manager Kaitlyn Clarkson have developed an interesting way of finding items to put in the store.
“We find a majority of our vendors on Instagram,” said Harris, who also follows other boutiques on Instagram with a similar goal to support Canadian producers.