News & Events

Hey there, Party People!

Get ready for another legendary party as only Coriander can throw. 

It's that time of year again when we blow out the candles and celebrate another amazing orbit around the sun. That's right, Coriander Life & Style is turning 24, and we're throwing a weekend-long extravaganza for our guests! Get ready for some serious birthday fun that'll leave you smiling from ear to ear.

Kicking off the festivities in style, we're thrilled to invite you to our highly anticipated Stores-wide Sale on Friday, June 23rd! It is the time to grab those trendy pieces you've had your eye on, all at incredible birthday discounts. With amazing deals on fashion, home décor, gifts, and everything in between, you'll be spoiled for choice. (Oh, is that mean of us?) We think your wardrobe and living spaces will thank you…profusely. 

Pro Tip: this is the event you've been waiting for, our biggest sale of the year, so restock that gift pantry and treat yourself well. Very well. 

Can't make it to our bricks and mortar stores this Friday? Relax, we've got you covered! Our online store will be featuring the same amazing sale, so you can indulge in some birthday shopping from the comfort of your home, cottage, or wherever you happen to be.

But wait… there's more! We believe that a birthday celebration be more than just a one day affair, so we're keeping the party going all weekend long. On Saturday and Sunday, prepare yourself for the ultimate dose of excitement with our Spin-the-Wheel prizes and treats. Spin the wheel and let fate decide what fantastic surprise awaits you! Could it be a special discount, a freebie, or even a coveted gift card? Only the Wheel knows… and we can't wait for your destiny to be revealed, nosey parkers that we are.

Now, let's talk about the vibe: a lively, upbeat ambiance filled with laughter, good energy, and lots of smiles. That's what we're offering throughout the weekend! Our friendly, knowledgeable team will be there, ready to assist you with any questions or style dilemmas you may have. We want you to feel like a VIP at our birthday bash because none of this would be possible without you. Indeed, it’s really your party.

Mark your calendars and gather your friends because Coriander Life & Coriander Style's 24th birthday bash is going to be one for the books! 

Party on,

Sarah Harrison & the Coriander Team

Meet Lisa, our newest team member. 

We have a new face at Coriander Life! She joined our team as our full-time store leader this spring. If you haven’t met her yet, this is Lisa.

What's your favourite Coriander Life product? 

I love the beautiful greeting cards we sell! I don't have a favourite brand. I think there is something special about giving and receiving cards for special occasions or just because. I have fun helping people find the right one.

What made you want to join the Coriander Team?

I applied to Coriander because as my job-searching goal, I wanted to work in a cute store downtown and I think I chose the cutest one! I love the fun products that we sell, and I really enjoy picking out gifts for people. I have a lot of fun being a stylist in our fresh, fun gift store.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I have lived in Collingwood for 12 years this coming July. I am originally from Cobalt, Ontario. When I lived there, we had less than 1000 people living in the town. I grew up hiking, biking, fishing, and playing outside. I love Collingwood because I get to do all of those activities while having the city at arm's reach when I'm feeling like I need something new.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Collingwood? 

When I am not working, you may find me skateboarding around town or fishing and wading the local rivers. If I can't be found outside, I'll be watching reruns of The Office at home with my cat while I journal and attempt to create art. I like to smear oil pastels over canvases - I make flowers and trees and deserts mostly. I also have way too many notebooks and planners and fancy pens for journaling and memory-keeping.

Do pop in to say hi and introduce yourself to Lisa on your next visit to the downtown core. She is a talented, bright, and energetic addition to our Coriander family and we are proud to have her on the team. Welcome, Lisa!

At Coriander, we are constantly on the search for cool, fun products that are eco-friendly and offer you something fundamentally useful for your lifestyle. A prime example of this planet-friendly mandate is our very popular Moss Creek Dryer Balls.

What are dryer balls and why do I need them you may ask? Aside from being soft and fuzzy, these woolly balls offer some fantastic benefits come laundry time. Plus, they make great dog or cat or orangutan toys (Moss Creek makes them for The Toronto Zoo), and you can indoor bowl or even learn to juggle with them!

Everyday product 

This phenomenal Canadian product has been a best-seller at Coriander for many years now. But what are dryer balls and how do they help your household?  

Moss Creek Dryer Balls have been improving laundry’s impact on the planet by lessening dryer time and removing the fabric softener step. In their own words, “We're on a mission to encourage eco-friendly drying and eliminate toxic dryer sheets.” Yay!

Made from 100% solid sustainable wool, the balls lift and separate clothes, increasing airflow and thus reducing drying time. They reduce static by absorbing water to create a more humid drying environment. This saves you money on both your electricity bill and your laundry supplies bill. Nice. 

Never dyed, the wool colours are a result of different breeds of source sheep, so there is no chance of colour transfer to your clothes while they are drying. Choose from cream, grey, or brown wools…or opt for a mix of the three.

Moss Creek Wool Dryer balls will last you 1000+ loads. But there is a very good chance that they will go missing before they have a chance to wear out: abduction by pets, hide ‘n seek in a sleeve or pant leg,  or attempted hibernation in your duvet cover corner are the most common solutions to this groovy mystery. 

Wool dryer balls are sold in sets of 3 because they need to work together in the dryer to lift your clothes effectively. Large dryers and heavier loads require 6 or more to create better airflow throughout the dryer’s contents.

A quality ball

Both local (Waterloo County) and international wool sources are tapped as most sheep in Canada are raised for meat and therefore do not have the desirable fine merino wool fibres necessary to manufacture a soft end product. Moss Creek states clearly that they do not use the wool of meat market animals. 

The finer the wools, the softer and tighter the wool balls. Moss Creek uses wool that has at most a 25 micron (thickness) rating: the lower the micron rating, the tighter the fibres bind together during felting. This super snug togetherness prevents the wool balls from falling apart after repeated rounds of abuse in your dryer.

The wool’s lanolin is removed during its milling and felting. First, the fresh fleece is subjected to a scouring process to remove dirt and oils. Next comes the hot water wash with a natural detergent (Forever New Fabric Wash) which removes any traces of lanolin. 

Personalize your balls 

Moss Creek Dryer Balls allow you to customize your laundry scent.

“In addition to faster drying, wool balls are a natural alternative to toxic dryer sheets and fabric softener for those who like to add scent to their laundry.

Simply add a few drops of your favourite essential oil or perfume on the dryer balls. If you are worried about the oil staining your clothes, rub the wool balls together to absorb the oils before tossing in the dryer.

The scent evaporates over 2-3 loads (depending on the temperature), leaving lightly scented fresh laundry.”

Kind to the planet; kind to the animals

Produced by Moss Creek Wool Works, the balls are the direct result of a desire for a more sustainable life and handmade products. It all began at Farmers Markets and Craft shows and the original “production team" was a group of stay-at-home parents who felted while their kids were at school.

Regardless of the source flocks, Moss Creek has ethical standards around the treatment of the sheep: only gentle shearing is allowed to prevent mulesing (removal of bits of the sheep hide), the animals are given adequate free-range time outside, no harmful chemicals are used during the wool roving process, and the sheep are never exposed to chemicals, including sheep dips. 

Moss Creek shares: “We find the best way to ensure the humane treatment of the sheep is to ask questions. By educating ourselves we can ensure the wool that we use comes from farms practices that we support while also showing the livestock industry that there is demand for sustainable and ethically raised wool.”

Caring for your balls

When your dryer balls get pilled, pick up threads, or look worn and scuffed, they are working correctly. Coarser fabrics in the dryer will cause this to happen sooner…but all is well.  Simply trim loose threads and pills to keep them looking fuzzy and new.

You can wash dirty balls in the machine and reshape them by hand while still damp. Hot water washing can cause them to felt even tighter, making them more resistant to pilling.

When it is time to say goodbye, you can bury these biodegradable balls in a garden or a flower pot. Decomposing wool adds nutrients to the soil and helps retain soil moisture. Or hang them in a tree for the birds to collect the wool for nest construction.

To help you prep for the day of hearts and sweet things, we have conjured up

Coriander’s Love + SAXX contest. Great timing, right?!  And it's as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Get ready for some very SAXXy times. 

B

You’re cordially invited to our very merry Friends & Family Holiday Open House Weekend!

Yes, it’s time to kick off your seasonal gift hunt with the help of your favourite elves! And aren't they just so helpful?

This weekend both Coriander Style and Coriander Life are offering you some sugar plummy, Santa-approved notions to help you get your gift list sorted in record time. Yes, even something that will put a smile on Great Uncle Hester's grumpy mug. 

Block off Friday the 18th, Saturday the 19th, and Sunday the 20th ‘cause the Coriander Elves will be fully cranked up on candy canes and eggnog, ready to help you find just the perfect present for anyone your nice list.

As well as serving up some sweet treats and holiday tea, we have a couple of gifts just for YOU when you shop at our holiday open house this weekend.

Gift #1

Every purchase over $50 will receive* a bag of our magical reindeer food. Online Shoppers, this applies to you too
(we will just tuck it in the box when you place an online order with us this weekend).

Of course, these bags of reindeer munchies are also available for purchase should you want more.

*Limited to one per customer, while supplies last.

Gift #2:

Our Library Box Club members will receive DOUBLE points on full price purchases. Woohoo! Time to get yourself on this naughty but nice list if you are not already. ;) 

And if you are in town on Saturday the 19th at 5pm, you will get to see the big man himself at the Collingwood Santa Claus parade! He is always happy to see kids of all ages. So are we. 



Ho, ho, ho!

Find Your Style

Tuesday, October 4 @ 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

This full-day, multilayered experience will revolve around our new arrival fall and winter accessories: “How to Accessorize to Find Your Style”. 

Back by popular demand, Claudia Tonna from V Fraas Scarves will be on hand from 11AM-2PM to demonstrate to our guests how to best accessorize for the season with scarves. 

From 2-5PM, Mariouche Gagné, the award-winning designer behind Montreal’s Canadian Hat Company will be on hand to tell her story, share the exciting new trends in millinery and to take special orders for their custom made hat collection.

Guests are invited to join us  throughout the day – no tickets are required. There will be door prizes and refreshments on offer and lots of expert styling.

Best of Europe Trunk Show

Wednesday, October 5th @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Join us for the inside scoop on one of our favourite lines designed in Copenhagen: Masai. These versatile clothes are for women who prefer a feminine look and a wardrobe that is of the highest quality. 

Kate Ainsworth from Masai, will be on hand to guide us through the best of autumn fashion.

Mauritius Leather understands the workmanship necessary to render an outstanding leather garment and has provided Coriander Style with a full range of exquisite try-on samples for both men and women for our event to better order yourself the perfect butter soft lambskin jacket. You’ll see.

Coriander Social Hour is back!

Tune in on September 21st at 7:00PM (like we had to tell you)

for the latest fall fashion arrivals and titillating spilt tea with hosts Sarah and Amy.

Catch all the fun live on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Collingwood Art Crawl is on again this year.

Mark your calendars for Saturday the 17th for this great

community event celebrating our local art scene with fun and flair.

Join us in the tent outside of Coriander Life from 4-8 where

we will be serving up Gourmet S’mores as a fundraiser for the

Georgian Triangle Humane Society. The fire chief has given us

the okay to light our fire pots (but he won’t share his Dalmatian)

to roast up the best S’mores combinations we can just for you.

All proceeds will help local pups and kittens find homes.

And then make sure to pop across the street to Coriander Style

where we will be hosting the artist Ron West along with his work

throughout the event.