Vancouver’s Asian fusion fashion invasion, where Lululemon meets Louis Vuitton and mom-and-pop stores miss out
Even as downtown stores go ultra high-end, largely to serve the wealthy Chinese elite, Vancouver’s laid-back hipster look is asserting itself, creating a hybrid style much as city’s fusion food scene takes from East and West
The story of Vancouver’s fashion scene can be partially told through the Sears building at Granville and Robson in the heart of the city’s downtown core.
Opened in 1973, the large, white, Lego-block-like structure first housed Canadian retailer Eaton’s, then American department store giant Sears from 1999 until 2012. Inside you could buy everything from washing machines to exercise equipment in what was a decidedly uninspiring layout with a serious lack of windows.
By the time Sears closed down, the store was a wasteland; seven floors and 650,000 square feet (60,000 square metres) of dust, leftover mannequins and discarded “closing sale” posters. The building sat empty for close to four years as it underwent a dramatic facelift.
A multimillion-dollar renovation has since revitalised the block, and the area now houses two massive upscale retail giants in Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew. When Nordstrom opened in 2015, thousands of shoppers waited for hours outside for the chance to be one of the first inside.
The clientele found in the area has also changed; while Sears was known for attracting baby-boomer families looking to get new household appliances, the building’s new anchor tenants are out to sell one thing, and one thing only: high-end luxury fashion.
Brand-name stores such as Calvin Klein, Gucci and Prada attract the city’s elite, next to upscale restaurants only the wealthiest can afford.
