Printed clothing that carries British Columbia's coast

Fish and ferns, hand-printed on upcycled clothing. That was Jasmine Rodman's first collection.

It came out of homesickness. She had moved away from home and the Pacific ocean. "I missed home and the ocean in the marrow of my bones, and I was losing my mind without a creative outlet," Jasmine says. "So I did what I always do: I made art."

“I make art because it keeps me grounded and connected to the land and place, and I want my art to be able to share this feeling with others.”

Jasmine Rodman

"I painted, and drew, and printed, and experimented, and created a brand that felt like home to me."

The clothing was a way to carry "the places and plants I was longing for" on the body. Jasmine now makes printed clothing and paper products, colourful pieces that celebrate British Columbia's coasts. "Every part of the process, from design to printing to shipping, is done within Canada and at the highest standard of sustainability possible," she says. The products are "in a few shops across the nation."

There is another side to the business. Jasmine says the art also helps the coasts that inspire it. "I've seen the incredible conversation-sparking power that art can have, and I harness that power into creating change for our oceans."

That happens through selling art, running workshops and speaking engagements. She has also contributed art to local marine conservation fundraisers consistently for the past seven years, and works with them to raise funds for what they do.

The conservation work has been recognised. She has been named a National Geographic Explorer, has worked with organizations like World Ocean Day, and was named one of Canada's Top 25 Environmentalists under 25.

Jasmine studies at Dalhousie University and splits the year evenly between Victoria and Halifax. Graduation is next spring. Over the course of the degree, she says, it became clear that making art full-time as a business owner "is my dream in life."