Why We Launch Small | The Heart Behind Our Pre-Orders and Limited Batches

At Mossy Coast, we live by the rhythm of the tides and the calm of the forest—slow, intentional, and deeply connected to the natural world. That’s why we choose slow fashion: crafting each piece with care and using premium, Canadian-made materials that last. We’re not about rushing trends or mass production. Instead, we focus on quality, sustainability, and creating clothing that feels like home—rooted in community, respect for nature, and a sense of timeless style.

The Honest Truth About Size Runs at Mossy Coast | West Coast Clothing and Gifts

Managing inventory can be tough—especially when it comes to maintaining full size runs of hand-stamped, Canadian-made apparel. Even a modest order of 12 to 20 pieces per style requires a significant investment, particularly when we’re committed to creating sustainable, high-quality clothing. It’s not just about cost; it’s about intention and care.

At Mossy Coast, we don’t just print on garments—we craft West Coast clothing and gifts hand-stamped by the real and raw natural beauty around us. Each and every hand-stamped garment is made from premium, pre-shrunk fabrics and hand-pressed using real elements from nature like fish, logs, and ferns—making every item a unique artisan piece.

Our commitment to sustainable and ethical fashion means we carefully select materials not only for their comfort and durability but also for their low environmental impact. Creating full size runs of every design upfront would mean risking waste—something that contradicts our mission.

Why Pre-Orders Help Everyone

The truth is—pre-orders aren’t just a strategy for us, they’re a necessity.

Creating a unique tree line design by hand stamping silversword ferns onto fabric.

As a small West Coast business that began at farmers markets and Christmas markets on Vancouver Island, we’ve grown slowly and intentionally, reinvesting every dollar back into Mossy Coast. We don’t pay ourselves yet. Everything goes toward keeping the brand moving forward—refining designs, upgrading materials, and building inventory piece by piece.

All of our garments—from tees to sweaters—are made with the same premium care: Canadian-made, pre-shrunk, ethically sourced, and hand-stamped with real natural elements. But heavier items like hoodies, zip-ups, and sweaters come at a much higher cost to produce. And as we expand into our storefront, maintaining full size runs for every new design simply isn’t something we can manage without support.

That’s why we’ve leaned into a pre-order model—it’s a way for us to introduce fresh, nature-inspired designs and West Coast gifts without the waste or financial strain that comes with producing full size runs upfront. Pre-orders allow us to be responsive, intentional, and sustainable. When you place one, you’re not just reserving a piece—you’re helping bring it into existence.

To show our appreciation for your early support, we offer a special discount on pre-orders when launching new designs of our premium, Canadian-made apparel. This helps us cover the upfront costs of ordering quality blanks from trusted Canadian wholesalers. Whenever possible, we also order a limited number of extras to keep in-store, though pre-orders always take priority.

Rochelle and Michaela look forward to hand-stamping each order using the raw natural elements sourced from Vancouver Island. Every piece of our sustainable, nature-inspired West Coast clothing is crafted with care and attention to detail. Your order will arrive thoughtfully packaged—with a handwritten note, nature-inspired stickers, and wrapped in plastic-free, eco-friendly packaging.

Rochelle and Michaela carefully apply paint to a cherry tree log round, preparing it for a unique hand-pressed tee design.

We also keep a display sample of each pre-order piece in-store. That way, if you visit the shop, you can still see and feel the garment in person—even if it’s not yet available to take home. We know delayed gratification isn’t the norm in retail, but it’s part of what makes small-batch production feel more connected and intentional.

For certain seasonal or signature pieces, like those inspired by the bear claw or axe talisman, we may keep pre-orders open longer, giving us the flexibility to bring those items back when the time is right. It’s not fast fashion—it’s thoughtful, artisan design shaped by real community demand and crafted with care, one order at a time.

What to Expect as a Customer

If you’re new to pre-orders, here’s how it works at Mossy Coast. Pre-ordering lets you reserve your favorite size and style ahead of time—ensuring you don’t miss out on our limited releases or small-batch collections. Once the pre-order window closes, we begin carefully crafting each piece with the same attention to quality and detail that defines our premium, Canadian-made apparel.

You can typically expect your order to ship within 2–3 weeks. During this time, Rochelle and Michaela hand-stamp each item using natural elements found on Vancouver Island, making every garment truly unique and connected to the land. We also package your order thoughtfully, with a handwritten note, nature-inspired stickers, and eco-friendly, plastic-free materials.

We welcome any special requests or size notes at the time of pre-order and strive to accommodate them whenever possible. If your plans change, please review our refund and cancellation policy, which we’ve designed to be fair and transparent.

By choosing to pre-order, you’re not only securing a beautiful, sustainable piece of West Coast clothing—you’re directly supporting a small business committed to ethical production and slow fashion.

The extra time it takes to create your order allows us to focus on quality over quantity, making each item a meaningful part of the Mossy Coast story.

In essence, you’re not just buying clothing—you’re investing in wearable art, hand-stamped using natural elements and crafted with care.

Premium Canadian-made fabric swatch showcasing quality

A Heartfelt Thank You and an Invitation

As we move forward, we wish to express our gratitude. Thank you for being an essential part of the Mossy Coast community. Your support enables us to uphold our commitment to quality, sustainability, and a more thoughtful fashion landscape.

We invite you to engage with us in the creative process! Your feedback is invaluable, and we love hearing your suggestions about colors or designs you'd like to see next. When you pre-order, you become a vital part of our limited drops, helping us create pieces that truly match your style.

Our friend showcases "The Rugged Coast" unisex hoodie with a unique stamped rock mountain design in a natural wilderness setting.

At Mossy Coast, we know that your fashion choices reflect your values. By launching small, we are pioneering a change in the industry—one that prioritizes quality, sustainability, and community connections. We invite you to join us in this journey of creativity and intention, where every piece tells a story that is uniquely yours.

Whether it is our popular relaunch of The Rugged Coast | Unisex Hoodie or our redesign of The Bear Claw | Unisex Pullover Sweater, know that every item is hand-crafted with love and attention to detail. We cannot wait to see how you incorporate our designs into your wardrobe and contribute to a more sustainable future in fashion. Together, we can make a significant impact.

Michaela is showing off The Mossy Coast's redesigned their famous The Bear Claw | Unisex Sweater, blending a cool wilderness vibe with style and comfort.

We appreciate your interest in our pre-order and limited batch model. Your participation is invaluable, and we are excited to embark on this clothing journey with you. Every item we provide embodies our values, and together, we can reshape responsible shopping in the modern fashion world.

Stay Campfire Cozy,

Rochelle + Michaela