When it comes to fashion brands setting up hubs in Canada, Toronto used to be the go-to place. 10 years ago there wasn’t even a big discussion. But recently there has been a shift and we’ve seen more and more businesses choose to open in Vancouver first. Such is the case of American sustainable athletic footwear and apparel brand Allbirds.
Their 2,000 square foot space at West 4th and Vine in Kitsilano will open its doors to the public on Thursday, June 23.
Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Allbirds Joey Zwillinger says of the decision, “The Allbirds brand and products align so well with the Vancouver lifestyle: casual, outdoor-oriented, and an epicenter of health and wellness.” He adds that “the The Kitsilano neighborhood is the best example of this in the region,” making it the perfect complement to the store’s ethos of sustainability and easy movement.
Allbirds started in 2016 with shoes, specifically those made for everyday use with low impact but extremely comfortable. Over the years the collection has slowly expanded to include other high performance running and hiking shoes, with the new Tree Flyer shoes just launching. They also introduced a capsule of men’s and women’s workout clothes and a small range of loungewear.
Because the brand is focused on sustainability, Allbirds have kept their product range to a minimum, choosing to focus on materials which they then improve and re-launch products based on feedback.
The fibers come from either natural and responsible sources such as sugar cane and bark, which are harvested in a closed loop, or from materials made from recycled bottles and cardboard. Allbirds also has several Merino wool shoes that are incredibly comfortable.
“The Canadian consumer has a very good understanding of natural materials, especially when it comes to merino wool in colder climates, and also appreciates products without compromise, while at the same time having as little impact on the planet as possible,” says Zwillinger. This is one of the reasons why they have decided to expand to Canada now after the success of online business originating from Vancouver.
A Toronto store will also open in Yorkdale later this year… but we were here in Vancouver first.
@vancouverisawesome @Allbirds is opening its first store in Canada and @editorialallie has to check it out. #vancouverisstyling #allbirdsshoes #sustainablefashion ♬ Aesthetic Girl – Yusei
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