Local and Canadian Fashion at Life of Riley, Main Steet
While Vancouver’s famous Robson Street is great for shoppers looking for big name brands, it isn’t the best place to find fashion from a fresh, unique perspective. To get that, you need to look for fashion that’s part of Vancouver’s up-and-coming fashion scene, that’s made or designed here, or that’s from independent Canadian designers. So where to start on a hunt for Vancouver’s best local and independent fashion? Start just south of downtown on Main Street.
Known as “Mid Main,” Main Street between 20th and 23rd Avenue is home to some of the best fashion in the city, period. It’s also the place to shop for local and independent Canadian designers, and—one of the best parts!—the fashion here is extremely reasonably priced.
First-time visitors to Mid Main should start at my absolute favourite shop: Twigg&Hottie.
Inside Twigg&Hottie on Main Street
Owned by Vancouverites and designers Glencora Twigg, Christine “Hottie” Hotton and Jessica Vaira, Twigg&Hottie has four in-house lines—We3, Twigg&Hottie, Michael, and Clementine—and, brilliantly, stocks the very best in up-and-coming Canadian and eco-friendly fashion. I bought a fantastic dress there earlier this summer for $70 that managed to be perfect for a wedding rehearsal dinner, two baby showers, and a sunny Vancouver day (when paired with flip flops), and that garnered compliments everywhere I went!
Other not-to-be-missed boutiques include Life of Riley and Eugene Choo (both of which include menswear), Two of Hearts—which carries only locally-designed wares—and Bodacious, one of the few independent clothiers in Vancouver to offer plus sizes (they specialize in sizes 10 – 24).
Whether you want a new take on classic lines or a completely new, young, fashion-forward silhouette, Mid Main is an absolute must for fashionistas.
Love local fashion as much as I do? Or know of other great places to shop? Please share below!
Also in this series:
Vancouver’s Local & Independent Fashion, Part II: Gastown
Vancouver’s Local & Independent Fashion, Part III: Portobello West
2:00 pm
Hey Dana, don’t tell people about my favourite part of Main Street! ;)
Unfortunately, Narcissist is no longer there. They are closing shop this month and moving to their studio in Gastown. I haven’t seen what’s replacing the store yet, though.
3:29 pm
Lori,
You’re right! (Wow, I feel like I was just there….) I see that Narcissist closed it’s Main Street boutique early this month (sob!), so I’ve removed them from the post.
I’ll include them in Part II: Gastown….
Thanks for correcting me!
(And, yeah, it’s hard to share Main Street shopping with the world–I’d like to keep it to myself, too. But these designers certainly deserve all the success they can get!)
4:34 pm
I’m so glad you’re putting Narcissist in the Gastown post. Isn’t it such a great store? Don’t worry, I always recommend Main Street, too, no matter how selfish I want to be in keeping it to myself!
2:42 pm
Recently bought a few dresses from Kali Boutique, which just moved in next door to Front.
Beautiful, reasonably priced clothes with designs from Spain, Italy and Thailand.
3:28 pm
Ooh, great pick Natalie! Thanks.
I do think the prices are so reasonable on Main; you get a lot for your money!
3:40 pm
Great Article! We’ll check it out!
6:34 pm
Any good place for man fashion in reasonable price? Zara used to be good, but not now. Boy’s Co stuffs are overpriced, so does Banana. I cannot afford Holt Renfrew.
9:34 pm
There’s also a sweet consignment spot around Main and 10th called “Annabella”- such nice stuff!
1:46 pm
By far the best shop on soma: body politic.
Eco clothing with a conscious and designers you wont find anywhere else in the city
2:12 pm
Kristin,
Thanks for this! I’ve never been to body politic, so I’m excited to have a new place to check out….
5:20 pm
Two of Hearts, Vincent Park, Hum and Lut Boutique are also worth checking out on Main …:)