Connected to the Community
DOW’S LADIES WEAR
Owner/Operator
Mirna Dow
Contact Information
145 Great George St, Charlottetown 902.566.3566 www.dowsfashions.com
“The brands I get have quality fabric, the manufacturing is superb, and if it looks good and fits good, it has the value I want to bring in.”
By Jordan Parker Photo Story Thorburn
C ommunity connection is the beating heart of Dow’s Ladies Wear, and has been since its inception. The upscale fashion shop in Charlottetown, PEI is a family affair, and Mirna Dow has used her work to make residents happy for 23 years. “I’ve absolutely always loved fashion, and my father-in-law sold men’s wear. He had it for years, but the space above it was always empty. In October 1998, he asked me to open the ladies wear component,” she said. For Dow, part of the appeal of the role is that each and every day is different. “We have different clients and I’m catering to all separate needs. I could never sit in a cubicle, and I get to talk to people here,” she said. “When we first opened, I was new in town, and I met so many people. I made so many friends I can now call by their first name.”
Her role has grown over the years as she’s become more comfortable and excelled in the business. “When I first arrived, I had worked with my husband in men’s wear, but I didn’t have much fashion experience. I wanted to do this, and working in the industry wasn’t in the cards until this opportunity through my father-in-law,” she said. “We hired a buyer at first, and they took me to Montreal and introduced me to agencies. But once I got started, with the valuable experience of the staff in 1998, I was able to do it on my own. Now I do the buying, work with people, do office work, and love it all.” It truly is a family business, and Dow is surrounded by family as she runs the space.
said. “My father-in-law is still the main owner, and he comes and goes as he pleases. But my husband and I run the shops full-time.” Known for carrying elite brands like Joseph Ribkoff, Micheal Kors and more, she has a simple motto when buying clothing. “I buy things that I can see people wearing. I buy things I would wear, in terms of quality. I think of others when it comes to height, colour styles and so much more. I believe in quality over quantity,” she said. “The brands I get have quality fabric, the manufacturing is superb, and if it looks good and fits good, it has the value I want to bring in.”
“My husband works downstairs and I run upstairs. We get along really well,” she
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