We’re just going to go for it today and give you a complete list of local Vancouver brands to watch out for, so buckle up. This will be our first installment of our ‘Buy Local’ guide, as we show you the best Vancouver based brands to buy, from clothing to liquor and everything in between.
Unisex Brands
MEC
The best place to buy your camping basic and outdoor gear. Plus, their in-house line is reasonably priced and extremely functional. What are you saying, you’re not a member of MEC? Get it together, buddy.
Arc’teryx
The best name in the Gore-Tex game, hands down. Buy one coat from them and never worry again about being caught in the rain. Bonus points if you dish out that little extra for a Veilance piece, or, even better, their LEAF (Law Enforcement and Armed Forces) line.
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Lululemon
The OG Vancouver brand, and one that has stood the test of time, even with a fluctuating image. We recommend going to their Lab in Gastown for the coolest stuff.
Kit + Ace
The younger, more cultured brother of Lululemon. After realizing how insane their original business and growth model was, they brought prices down considerably. In fact, we actually prefer Kit + Ace to Lululemon for cycling pants and workout gear.
Oak + Fort
Contemporary and modern, Oak + Fort makes great basic for everyday life. You can dress their collection up or down, and you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank to do it.
Reigning Champ
A frontrunner in the athleisure scene, Reigning Champ makes great basics for men and women. Buy some sweatpants or a hoodie and wonder why you don’t already own like 8 pieces from them.
VanCity Original
Bold, graphic-oriented fashion with some really fun takes on what’s important in Vancouver. The perfect gift for your friend who visited the city last year and loved every second of it.
Not Dead Yet
An up and coming designer based out of Vancouver. He won an episode of Stitched! Canada, and has been working away on this line for a couple of years. Get in early and ride the wave.
Shoes
Native Shoes
Great choice for summer shoes that you can just beat up without feeling guilty. They’ve also got some fun models that are water repellent for those days where sneakers won’t cut it but you’re not feeling rubber boots.
John Fluevog
Eclectic and eccentric, John Fluevog is great for your ‘cool’ aunt or uncle that want something a little different for their next dinner party. We can’t see ourselves shopping here anytime soon, but we respect the hustle.
Six Hundred Four
A boutique shop that taps artists and creates 604 pairs based off of their work. Similar style as Common Projects, but with a little flair and at half the price.
Men’s Clothing
Indochino
A great place to get a bespoke suit for an insanely low price. There’s a sale going on right now where you can get a made to measure merino wool suit for $400. Like, what?
Wings + Horns
The older brother of Reigning Champ, Wings + Horns has kind of fallen into the shadows a little bit while they figure out their next steps. These days, you can buy a more refined version of what you’ll find at Reigning Champ for a little more money, but we think it’s worth it.
James Coward
A pretty esoteric line (yes, you can use the word esoteric to describe a clothing brand), James Coward looks to everything but fashion as their inspiration. Is it wordy and a little pompous? Yes, but they make up for it with their product.
Neighbour
The in house line from a Vancouver fashion mainstay, Neighbour taps into the local creative talent for the graphics on their pieces. Worth picking up when it’s around.
HAVEN
Similar deal as Neighbour, but with more emphasis on basics and ‘staff’ clothing. Keep a lookout for any collaborations they do, as they have access to some of the craziest brands in the world.
PURPLE
From the former co-owner of Roden Gray comes this denim line. Comfortable, stylish and reasonably priced, PURPLE has been seen on rap superstars like Young Thug and Swae Lee.
Women
Aritzia
Of course, we had to include a brand that’s taking over the world. The Super Puff jacket from last season was unreal, so hopefully, they continue to make similar pieces in the future.
Erin Templeton
Using recycled leather for a variety of bags and accessories (it’s their main focus, and is amazing), Erin Templeton also has a small selection of womenswear on their site that will be perfect for summer.
Priory
A collaborative project that focuses on minimal and timeless womenswear. Pieces are not cheap, but they are worth every penny. When Totokaelo is down with it, you should be as well. Although women focused, Priory can easily be a unisex line too.
Evan Clayton
A veteran of contemporary womenswear, Evan Clayton has over 10 collections and has been presenting at Vancouver Fashion Week for years. It’s pretty progressive, so maybe save a piece for that upcoming house concert you want to go to.
Bags and Accessories
Herschel
Oh yeah, Herschel has become a standard in the backpack game. Although the owners are from Saskatchewan (Herschel refers to a small frontier town out there), they founded the company in Vancouver.
TAIKAN
A newcomer in the backpack/bag game, TAIKAN does really nice stuff and a great price point. Perfect for someone who wants a simple bag but doesn’t want what everyone else has and isn’t willing to drop $300 to get some North Face Purple Label imported from Japan.
Sonya Lee
High-quality leather goods at a very reasonable price. Try out something smaller as a seasonal item, or boss up and grab a duffle bag that’ll last you a decade at least.
Explorer’s Press
The guys will probably be in the jewelry guide with their pins, but the fact that they do patches and socks means they’re going in here too. Super fun brand, and worth supporting based on their humour alone.
That’s our list Vancouver! Did we miss a favourite of yours? Whoops, get in touch with us so we can add them.
