Ayah Victoria McKhail –
Lauren Walker-Lee has worn many hats: fashion stylist, consultant and writer. When she became a mother in December 2023 (on her own birthday), daughter Lourdes became the catalyst for her latest venture: The Love Club, merging her passion for clothing, community and collaboration.
“I knew my entrepreneurial spirit was going to lead me somewhere, but I wouldn’t have guessed it would be in this charitable initiative.”
While Walker-Lee had been motivated to make a difference in the world for as long as she can remember, giving birth to Lourdes has inspired her to support other mothers who might be struggling to obtain basic necessities for their babies. She instantly felt a sense of unity with other mothers.
“I thought I had gained entrance into a secret club dubbed The Love Club, which captures the intense love you feel that only moms know.”
Just four days after giving birth, she responded to a mother’s Facebook post seeking formula and diapers for her newborn, and quickly fulfilled her request. “The experience stuck with me days later and even now, it’s the reason for starting The Love Club.”
Established in January 2024, The Love Club provides new baby clothing that washes well and is manufactured in Canada, sending it to registered charities in the Greater Toronto Area such as Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter, Jessie’s and the Jean Tweed Centre.
“Our line of baby clothing is called Club Kid; it looks like something hanging in a children’s boutique. It’s completely created and donated on a pro-bono basis to help those who need it most. It’s high-end fabric donated by KenDor Textiles, who believed in my vision from a first phone call.”
Leveraging her contacts in the fashion industry, it didn’t take long before the community rallied behind her vision to clothe every baby with love and dignity. “George Brown College fashion students, faculty and their manufacturing arm, the Fashion Exchange (FX) in Regent Park, played an integral role in the launch of The Love Club. Without the skills of the sewers and the expertise of those involved with production, it wouldn’t have been possible. Fashion students volunteered their time to prototype and sew garments to help prove our concept, troubleshoot at the beginning stages, and created baby wear that was gifted onwards.”
With The Love Club now one year old, Walker-Lee beams with pride at the positive impact of Club Kid. “We turned beautiful baby-safe fabric that that was going unused or to a landfill into tangible tokens of love to be gifted onwards. I’m proud of the relationships we’ve formed with our registered charity partners and shelters, who are doing hard work to support mothers and children.”
Expansion is on the horizon. “Moving forward, my goal is to go province- and then country- wide, and scale the manufacturing and delivery with the dead stock or surplus fabric. Fundraising, corporate sponsorship and collaborations are all in the cards for 2025. We’ll continue to seek product donations for both mothers and babies and funnel them to the organizations where needed.”
Encapsulating The Love Club’s spirit, she added, “We’re better together and we’re certainly better when we pool our talent, time and resources.”
