One of the things I love most about living in this beautiful city is the incredible community of makers and creators. What I also love about the city is the support that’s there for everyone who makes things and the community-over-competition vibes you can feel as you walk throughout the city.

A brilliant example of this is Migration Boutique - a shop in the downtown Bay Centre that supports the makers and creators both here in the city and from around the world.

With the largest collection of local designers and artisans in Victoria, Migration carries over 60 Canadian based creators as well as a number of other designers and products from around the globe. The products are all acquired through direct fair trade and every product carried in the shop has been ethically created in small batches to make sure you’re getting a product you can really feel good about.

Migration’s support of local designers means that people who love to make things have a platform open to them that allows them to get their product out there and share it with the world. The convenient mall location also ensures that the pieces are exposed to as many people as possible, from locals in need of gifts to tourists just passing through.

Migration’s support of local designers means that people who love to make things have a platform open to them that allows them to get their product out there and share it with the world. The convenient mall location also ensures that the pieces are exposed to as many people as possible, from locals in need of gifts to tourists just passing through.

The name Migration came as a result of the store moving locations and as an homage to the goods coming in, or migrating, from their original location into the shop. Before becoming what it is now, the store was a pop up shop that moved and migrated as necessary. All of these wonderfully unique things make the name Migration that much more fitting.

While it’s completely and utterly fabulous that Migration is so supportive of the local community of makers, what sets it apart from the other shops of its kind is the direct trade done with other makers from around the world. Sara, the owner of the shop, travels the world each year to find new, ethically made products from self employed designers and works with them to bring their products into the shop. The trade is done directly and fairly, which these days, can be hard to find.

With rotating artists and designers, the stock in Migration is always changing. While you’ll always be able to find clothing, art, skin care, jewelry, as well as a wide range of other things, you won’t always find the exact same pieces made by the exact same people. You’ll always be able to find a t-shirt but what’s on the t-shirt will depend on which designers are currently being featured.

Another thing that I really love about Migration is the high end market vibe it has to it. When you walk into Migration it’s like hitting the jackpot of all markets - it’s covered, it’s warm, the people are friendly and the products are top notch.

So next time you’re in the city be sure to stop in at Migration to pick up a little something for yourself a find a few gifts for, well, everyone you know!

Migration Boutique
Bay Center Mall, 207A - 1150 Douglas St,
Victoria, BC V8W 3M9

Mon - Wed: 10am - 6p
Thurs - Fri: 10am - 9pm
Saturday: 10am - 6p
Sunday: 11am - 6pm