Saturday Farmers’ Market Vendor Feature: Wild Child Co.

This week we are featuring Wild Child Co., a second-year vendor at our market! Wild Child Co. combines a bakery, play space, and gently used clothing boutique, for parents and kids alike to enjoy. We recently had the pleasure of chatting with owner and UBC alumni, Leah Passmore, to find out more.

How long has Wild Child Co. been around? How did you get started?

I started Wild Child Co. in 2019 with the goal of creating a unique space that combines a Bakery, Play Space, and Shop that sells preloved kids’ clothing, shoes, accessories, books & toys online.

What are the three most important things you think people should know about Wild Child Co.?

I strive to use local ingredients in all my baked goods.
My son has dairy and nut allergies so I accommodate that in all my baking.
With Covid-19 restrictions this is not currently possible, but I try to be zero-waste with my bakery by encouraging customers to bring their own containers.

Children’s clothing and bakery is cool and unique idea, how did you decide on this combination?

I always had those 3 components to Wild Child Co.- a bakery, play space & shop of preloved/used kids’ clothes. I think a space where a parent/adult can have a coffee & baked good that’s child-friendly (so with toys the kids can play with & feel welcome because there are things for them), combined with a retail shop was something that sounded good to me! I started collecting vintage OshKosh overalls for my kid when he was born from places I travelled to and just continued that “collecting”, I guess, with other kids’ clothing that parents need & want.

How do you source clothing? How does this connect to your zero-waste bakery?

I source the kids’ clothes, books & toys from thrift stores, kids’ consignment shops, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, garage sales. I love thrifting & hunting when I travel to new places. Parents have been wanting to have their kids’ outgrown clothes on consignment, so I will start receiving clothes through consignment soon as well.

The ethos of having a “zero waste” bakery, where customers are encouraged to bring their own containers & have reusable pie plates or jars that can be brought back fit with the “preloved” kids’ shop because both make us think of the waste we produce & how we can bring new life to old things rather than throwing them away.

Why did you choose to come to the UBC Saturday Market specifically?

I have really enjoyed attending the market with my family as a customer we really like the small community feeling and it’s nice to come back to the UBC community as alumni. It has also been a great, accessible market to get started at.

If you could only have one of your baked goods for the rest of your life which one would it be?

My bread!

Where else can customers find you?

You can order online at our website!