Vancouver = Home Of Canada's BEST Eco-Friendly Clothing Boutiques

by Carmen Cruz

This month's issue of Flare Magazine, features an article listing Canada's 10 best eco-friendly clothing boutiques. Five of the shops/designers listed are from right here in Vancouver. How awesome is that?!?!  These stores/designers prove that you can dress in an environmentally friendly manner, without looking like a hippy (not that there's anything wrong with that....).
Here's a list of our 5 eco-chic shops:


Body Politic Clothing + Accessories
They're all about promoting eco-friendly clothing without sacrificing style. "Independent designers from Vancouver to New York are showcased at body politic. You'll find exceptional designs with an urban aesthetic, produced in North America, and created from the best natural and sustainable fabrics."
208 E 12th Ave  Vancouver, BC



Twigg & Hottie
This store features over 50 independent Canadian designers as well as their own in-house labels. You'll find many one of a kind items, that include vintage and reworked pieces. 
3671 Main Street @ 21st Avenue Vancouver, BC



Nicole Bridger
One of Vancouver's go-to designers for cliché-busting, eco-conscious clothes. She's well known for using ethical materials to create her unique statement pieces.
Cool fact: 95 percent of her collections are produced locally.
2151 West 4th Avenue Vancouver, BC

Obakki 
Obakki's clothing is made exclusively in Canada with 100% of the net profits going to the Obakki Foundation (a charity involved in several humanitarian projects). Obakki founder and fashion designer Treana Peake is definitely doing her part to make this world a better place. Find out more here. 
Suite 201-135 7th Ave W  Vancouver, BC
*Mostly Available Online*

 
Standing Armed
Vancouver fashion designer Lindsay Walsh is a Vancouver Eco Fashion Week favourite. Her latest collection features an incredible blend of silks and cottons. You can visit her Vancouver studio (by appointment only!), shop online, or you can find her latest collection at the trendy fashion retailer Simons. 
9 E Hastings  Vancouver BC


Enjoy.

Besos, 

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Vancouver Poutine Festival

by Carmen Cruz

Last years very first Vancouver Poutine Festival was such a huge success that La Belle Patate and Francouver.ca have once again joined forces to bring back the celebration of artery clogging goodness for yet another year.

The two day festival (Saturday March 9th and Sunday March 10th) showcases poutine (I'm talking the REAL stuff here -  squeaky cheese and all), poutine tastings, events for the kiddies (during the day), live music (in the evenings) and a celebration of all things Francophone.
It's all happening at the Heritage Hall (3102 Main Street), and sadly, the $10 pre-sale tickets are completely sold out... but no worries! There will be rush tickets available at the door at 1:30pm for the afternoon event, and 7:30pm for the evening event. Space is limited, so make sure you show up early.
Want more info? Go here.

Yum.

Enjoy!

Besos,

CC.
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Shopping Event On Main Street ~ 'Converge'

by Carmen Cruz

There are so many amazing little shops on Main street. So many, in fact, that sometimes we tend to walk past a little gem, waiting to be discovered, without even realizing it.

For one night only, the peeps on Main street have decided to hold a shopping extravaganza. This is your chance to:
a) Discover new and amazing little shops that you might have never noticed before.
b) Save some cash on that thing you've been eyeing for the past month. You know... that thing... in that store....
c) **National Geographic Narrator Voice** See the Hipster in it's natural environment. Grazing on an ironic salad, drinking ironic coffee and celebrating all things ironic - all of this done with an 'I don't give a shit' demeanor. Sweet.

The event is called Converge and it's happening THIS Thursday from 6pm-9pm, with various stores offering anywhere from 10% to 40% off their wares.  Here's a list/map for ya:

 
Have fun shopping you crazy kids! Oh, and buy something pretty for me, will ya? I'll be in Edmonton on Thursday, so I'll be missing out on all the fun.
Fail.

Enjoy!

Besos,

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p.s:I found this site explaining step-by-step (ooohh baby!) how to be a 'fashionable and self aware hipster'. No joke.

A Brilliant Idea ~ Main Street Edition

by Carmen Cruz

I came across this shop purely by accident and I must say, I was BEYOND impressed.
It's this little store called The Soap Dispensary.
If you're thinking that this is some sort of super girly and frilly kind of place, you're wrong.
Here's the deal:

"The Soap Dispensary is a refill store specializing in premium household soaps, cleaners and personal care products. Customers can reuse containers to be refilled at our store, keeping single-use plastic packaging out of landfills, watersheds and wasteful recycling systems."

And nope, it's not the cheapy stuff either. It's high quality, environmentally friendly and allergy-friendly products, most of them being Canadian. CooooOOOooool!!!

I know what you're thinking and the answer is no, I'm not getting paid to say this. I just genuinely think this is a brilliant idea that's not only environmentally friendly, but also local.
Me Likey.

Check it out.


The Soap Dispensary - Soap Refill Store from Grant  Baldwin Videography on Vimeo.



The Soap Dispensary ~ 3623 Main St. Vancouver
Phone # 604-568-3141

Besos,

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