Bold, playful, and thoughtfully made, Poison Pear is a Halifax-area brand specializing in hand-printed, handmade clothing and accessories designed for comfort, style, and sustainability. With soft, breathable fabrics and nature-inspired prints, the brand creates feel-good pieces that resonate with curious, creative wearers and can often be found at the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market or produced in its Burnside, Dartmouth studio. We connected with Beth Ardron, Owner and Creative Director, to know more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Poison Pear, hand-printed and handmade clothing and accessories
What made you want to do this work?
It started out as a way to make money doing something creative.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
I wanted to make clothing that is comfortable, fun, and more sustainable
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Mostly women, 30-60 years old, a lot of teachers, scientists, and nature lovers drawn to my prints and soft, breathable fabrics.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
I do a mixture of direct to customer via events and e-commerce, and wholesale
Where in the city can we find your profession?
The best place to find me at the moment is at the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market, or at my studio in Burnside, Dartmouth.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
Q: “How does this make me feel?”
A (hopefully): “comfortable, unique, stylish, great!”
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is interacting with customers, seeing what they are instantly drawn to, especially when I see people out in the real world wearing clothing I made. The worst part is staying on top of general admin tasks.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
There must be a joke somewhere in the difference between a sewist and a sewer…
Where can we follow you?
@poisonpearhfx on Instagram and Threads, @PoisonPear on Facebook
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Rudi’s Hot Sauce – the best hot sauce in town.
