In With The New Imports's Blog

In With the New Imports is proud to be part of Cumberland’s 2011 Winter Fair!
Come join the fun,music and arts and crafts on the third of December, at the CRI!

Thank-you, Royston and Cumberland Village Works!  The Comox Valley celebrates yet another great festival weekend! In With the New Imports, along with Sew Sisters from Cumberland BC, had a successful festival!
Thank-you! For coming out and supporting the Big Time Out and other local businesses.

The Village of Cumberland is gearing up for yet another Big Time Out Festival! This year the venue is moved down the street and into Royston! Come and join the fun!
In With the New Imports will be displayed at the Sew Sisters booth this weekend, as well as on Dunsmuir any day of the week!
Thanks to Baa Kwest, in Coombs BC, for purchasing another instalment from In With the New Imports! Please check Beverie out near the goats on the roof, if you’re on your way the West coast of Vancouver Island!

Thanks for the support in the Interior of beautiful British Columbia!
After a great tour In With the New Imports is back in the Comox Valley!
Glad to be home and ready to set up weekly shows at the Sew Sisters on Dunsmuir Avenue in Cumberland BC.
Be sure to email or phone Erin with any questions, 250-218-1905

Thanks to those who showed up at the Waverley last weekend for a great night of music and a surprise chance to check out In With the New’s merchandise!
Shown directly beside local artists work, featured at Sew Sisters in Cumberland BC.
Thanks for the great music and Sew Sisters who set up the event!

In With the New Imports, is on their way to the interior of beautiful British Columbia!

  Erin will be displaying In With the New’s summer line in and around the Kootenays for the months of May and June, before she returns to Vancouver Island! 

  Be sure to check us out for exact locations!

Springing into summer!

           With constant thoughts towards Morocco in the last days I have now heard from friends that the protests that took place today in Marrakech were that of a clashing kind.

            One cannot help but fear an outcome similar to that in Libya.   CBC reports today that African Militia has been brought into Libya and is opening fire on crowds.  My knowledge of Gadhafi, the leader of Libya, is little. However, I remember parts of a long-winded UN speech that would have happened since Obama’s taken office and in turn shot down his administration. 

            Mohamed VI, King of Morocco is said  to be working on a free trade agreement with Harper, Prime minister of Canada, who was in Morocco during the Egyptian revolution.  Aljazeera and BBC among others report the King is not the direct target of the protests presently taking place in the streets of our African families. More so, his power throughout the government.

              Morocco’s theoretical free-trade agreement with Canada would allow for the growth of not only Morocco; but many other countries across Maghreb (North Africa, including Mauritania), and West Africa.   This in turn would help develop the infrastructure around West Africa, said to have some of the highest costs for moving goods across frontiers. Cross border transporting of goods in West Africa is supposedly one of the highest for cost due to a number of reasons; one being the lack of transportation competition, high taxes, poor infrastructure and the corruption itself along the frontiers.  This growth I hope to be part of in the coming years.   

            Suffice to say there is much at stake with this potential instability.

            In the last month I’ve watched a close animal friend slowly move into a quite still. At the same time I’ve watched Maghreb and the Middle East move ever so quickly into a standing roar.            

            Today my friends closed their shops and headed into the Nouvelle Ville, of Marrakech.  It is here they witnessed clashes between the police and protesters.  Yesterday, there were riots in Rabat over utility costs: a day before the scheduled protests for change.

            Reuters.com reports that Morocco was initially thought to be the ‘least likely to succumb to the violent unrest sweeping the region” in an article titled, ‘Moroccan protesters demand limit on royal powers.’ Let this be true. 

             And let it be that these primary clashes of violence do not increase as rapidly as the movement that has so quickly swept across Maghreb.

            Inshallah.

      Having just read a fellow bloggers thoughts on Marrakech, and her beauty, I’m lost in feelings of what’s to come for the Western most doorway to Africa.  To be a doorway to the great continent of Africa, I can’t imagine the responsibilities.

       Though my responsibilities are few in comparison to that of Morocco; I too am feeling responsible for her soil, and those I know who walk upon it.   Having just spoken to friends in Morocco, who are now among my family in this world; I’m wishing I was by their sides.

       Beside them as pamphlets are passing hand to hand and the noise grows louder in the winding streets.  The streets that for more than two years have kept me captive in their palms.  The streets where words pass quickly; mouth to mouth, changing ever so slightly with the blowing wind.

       Those streets are what bring me back time and time again. Hip-checking donkeys and motorbikes, two-stepping men hauling loads on their backs and the filthy cats who own those streets in the darkness of the night.  Those streets that belong to everyone, and invoke regular and irregular moments.

       These streets from what my friends have told me today, the 16th of February, 2011. Will soon be marched and charged through with rights and freedoms in mind; possibly as soon as Sunday.  Similar to the those streets charged through by the people who made them in Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Bahrain, Iran and quite possibly others.

            A little more than a week ago, I did not think this change would come to the streets of Morocco, as it has across North Africa and the Middle East.  Mohamed V1 has been a progressive king. Making movements towards women’s rights, insuring monies sent to a district are put to use as opposed to being pocketed along the way.  Amongst these and other progressive movements, the king has still failed his people; he and his predecessors before him.  Inshallah, Mohamed V1 will avoid violent clashes between his regime and the people of his country.  Inshallah, revolution will prevail.

   Today I stand tall in this development, knowing that many of my Moroccan family members will soon charge forward with their fists on their hearts and heads to the sky.

      There’s a full moon upon us, and change is in the wind.  Stay strong my ever-loving corner of Africa.  I will listen with bated breath as our world changes before our very eyes.

      In With the New imports is proud to announce a new outlet for our West African treasures!

    You can now find our products at THE COTTAGE GARDENER, in the Comox Valley!   Susan Tordon, owner and operator of the The Cottage Gardener has chosen a selection of unique bracelets, necklaces, and earrings alike to present in her store! 

Check out her diverse shop at 204-1797 Comox Avenue.