:local love - the woolen mill:

pittsburgh has been our home for over a decade, which officially means that when cj and i are asked where we’re from, we default to the steel city. but our hometown is actually further north in meadville, pa. 

your instincts are correct, meadville is a small town. but not the smallest. at one time, meadville was quite a buzzing little metropolis. it is the home of the zipper, thanks to a manufacturer called talon that once employed hundreds of people in meadville (including my grandfather!). channellock tools, with their signature blue handles, has been headquartered (and done most of its manufacturing) in meadville since 1904. and at one time, meadville was considered the tool and die capital of the world. it is the county seat. and despite what you might be picturing, cj and i graduated high school with about 365 other students. so meadville is small. but when i was growing up, it didn’t feel small. 

unfortunately, meadville’s story is all too familiar to anyone who has lived in a town built on manufacturing. the 90s were not kind to meadville’s residents and businesses. and the repercussions of a mass exodus of good-paying jobs and an aging population has made things tough for our hometown. 

but meadville is full of grit and people who believe in the town’s potential. during a recent visit to meadville, my mom took me downtown to check out a new clothing store called the woolen mill. i wasn’t sure what to expect but when i got in there, all i could think is i need to spend my money here. i need this store to feel my support. for lots of reasons but mostly because it’s quite simply a beautiful shop in the middle of downtown meadville. something our hometown really needs.

i’ve been on the hunt for a lightweight summer sweater. the woolen mill had several to choose from but it was this linen number that i couldn’t resist. i have worn it approximately 15 of the last 20 days, which is only sort of a joke. it’s really great quality, drapes beautifully without looking sloppy, and is reasonably priced. so i scored a piece that i’ve been seeking and i got to support a great local business. if you’re near meadville, pa, please pay the woolen mill a visit! let them know terra sent you. 

Sweater The Woolen Mill // Shorts No. 14 Boutique (a Pittsburgh shop!) // Boots Hunter // Bag Tory Burch // Watch JORD (be sure to enter the giveaway!) // Ring Elizabeth & James (purchased from Lula Boutique in Pittsburgh!) // Travel Mug Yeti (you need one of these in your life!)

photos // lauren