Street Smart
Weather April showers with
B.C. rain gear that looks
urbane without sacricing
performance
by Felicity Stone
INVENTORY
(
quality time
)
DRY DENIM A
In 2013, Vancouver jeans maker
Gary Lenett partnered with perfor-
mance fabric expert Abid Hafeez to
form Pimlico Performance Apparel,
producing denim clothing that combines
fashion with function. The company's
new Duer Weatherproof Denim
jeans incorporate a wind- and water-
proof membrane along with stretch,
temperature-regulation and odour-
neutralization features, plus a reflective
cuff for cyclists. At the Gastown store
and online, $199
UNDERCOVER S
Halfmoon Bay residents Tanya and Todd Listwin purchased
women's clothing brand Mia Melon in 2011 and added weather-
proof fashion jackets. By 2014, those represented more than half
of their sales, and Sweet Clothing Distribution had found its
niche: coats, jackets and hoodies made from fabrics like cotton,
rayon and wool with a weatherproof coating. Some also have
a waterproof, windproof thermal membrane. A men's line, One
Man Outerwear, was introduced in 2015, and the Mia Melon
flagship store opened in Vancouver's Gastown last August. At
retailers throughout North America and online, $169-$299
URBAN INTELLIGENCE A
Baro Drywear was founded by a couple of
long-time friends, Tyler Quarles and Mike
Cerka, originally from North Vancouver's Deep
Cove. When their lifestyle became more urban,
they created Baro to offer coats and jackets for
men and women that use performance-wear
technology and vegan, sustainable materials
but look at home in the city. New this spring is
the men's Lowry lightweight jacket. Online and
at retailers in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland and
Japan; $118-$398
F PUDDLE JUMPERS
Vancouver's Vessi Footwear, founded by Mikaella Go, Andy
Wang and Tony Yu, is making a splash–literally. Its lightweight
shoes, which look like sneakers, are completely waterproof, thanks
to Flash Knit fabric that lets air in but keeps moisture out. A Dual
Climate Dyma-tex layer provides micro-air pockets for cosy feet in
cold weather and cool ones when it's hot. Vessi Footwear for men
and women is available in three styles and various colours. Online,
$135-$150
APRIL 2019 BCBUSINESS 59
GIMME SHELTER A
Born and bred in Vancouver, pals
Duncan Gillespie and Bryan
Pudney know rain, so in 2014
they launched Westerly Goods
to produce umbrellas that are
both stylish and durable: the
latest feature classic stripes
inspired by the beach brollies of
Italy's Amalfi coast. Westerly
umbrellas are lightweight, and
the fibreglass-reinforced frames
flex to absorb wind or impact.
Online and in shops in Canada,
the U.S., Tokyo, Hong Kong and
Singapore; $45-$99
