SMALL BUSINESS SHOUTOUT: THE LOOP

📣 SMALL BUSINESS SHOUTOUT 📣: THE LOOP

The Loop has been Halifax's downtown destination for fibre craft supplies since 2005 and is the perfect place to stock up on supplies for your favourite fibre-related hobbies. This week we caught up with owner Mimi Fautley to chat about it. 

​Q: WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND WHY YOU STARTED YOUR BUSINESS?

I’ve always been a maker, with a particular interest in textiles. In the late 90s and early 2000s, I was really into knitting. I wasn’t just making things, I was accumulating a lot of technical knowledge as well. My brain was just hungry for it. When the job I had at the time ended, I started thinking about putting that knowledge to work in a way that would be useful to other people. When I met some other people who were interested in opening a knitting store too, we pooled our resources and opened The Loop in 2005. They moved on to other things, but I’ve been the sole owner since 2014.

Q: WHAT CAN CUSTOMERS EXPECT?

We carry a range of yarns and tools for knitting and crochet, with an emphasis on natural fibres and materials. We also carry needle felting supplies and kits for embroidery and rug hooking. 

Our goal has always been to make a space that is inviting, useful and accessible to everyone. Being right downtown means our customers include people of every gender, age and background—a lively mix with lots of different perspectives and interests. We do our best to make sure they have what they need to make what they want. Our technical knowledge is really deep, so we’re good at keeping beginners on track, but can also go deep on techniques and materials when that’s what a customer wants.

Q: CAN YOU SHARE AN INSIDER TIP ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD? 

Since the store opened, we’ve seen downtown Halifax transition from a business and financial district into a cohesive neighbourhood. It’s a huge shift. These days, so many people live downtown that the area from the Citadel to the waterfront now has a nice cross-section of retail shops, groceries and cafés, as well as bars and restaurants. In some ways, it has a European feel, with places tucked here and there, rather than all lined up along one commercial street. If you take time to explore, you’ll discover all sorts of hidden gems.

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES PEOPLE SHOULD CHECK OUT IF THEY’RE IN THE AREA?

We've got some unbeatable neighbours, of course: Argyle Fine Art and Fireworks Gallery. Crafters of all kinds would love YuYo Craft Supply and Tea House, which is tucked away between the Brewery Market and the Marriott Courtyard.

Q: ARE YOU WORKING ON ANY NEW PROJECTS?

Before Covid, we offered classes in knitting, crochet and needle felting. We want to get back to offering those this year.