In January 2025, Angelina Jolie stopped by Artisan Avenue, our handmade gift store on South Granville in Vancouver. It was a surprise for our team, and it turned into a good reminder of why we do this: handmade work from independent Canadian artisans deserves to be seen.
A Quiet Evening, and a Surprise
“It was a regular evening at Artisan Avenue, and I was in the middle of cleaning our store window and setting up our Valentine’s decorations when something incredible happened. Angelina Jolie walked in!” said Maryam, co-founder of Artisan Avenue.
She spent time browsing the work of our local artisans and talking with us about what they make. What stayed with us was how warm and down-to-earth she was. She didn’t make a fuss, she simply took an interest.
Why It Mattered to Our Artisans
We’re keeping what she chose to ourselves, out of respect for her privacy. The visit was meaningful to us because of the attention it brought to the makers whose work fills our shelves: potters, jewellers, candle makers, skincare creators, painters, and more, all independent Canadian small businesses.
Daily Hive Vancouver also noticed the moment. Read their coverage here.
What Supporting Local Actually Does
Moments like this fade quickly, but the idea behind them doesn’t. When you buy from a small business, your money goes to a real person: it helps a maker keep creating, supports a family, and keeps money in the local economy.
How You Can Support Local Artisans
- Choose local shops for your next gift, whether that’s skincare, jewellery, a candle, or a piece of art
- Share your favourite local shops on social media
- Tag your posts with #SupportLocalCanadian and #ShopSmall
- Encourage friends and family to shop handmade
Visit Us or Shop Online
You can find our artisans at our shop on South Granville in Vancouver, or browse handmade gifts from artisans across Canada on our online marketplace.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by, and to every customer who chooses to shop small.