Think of HAVEN as an underground purveyor of premium menswear designed by the up-and-coming. Owners Arthur & Daniel Chmielewski travel across the globe to find functional designs constructed with high craftsmanship and an urban aesthetic. Haven’s Japanese-brand driven selection and retail concept has turned the heads of forecasters on HYPEBEAST. Browse through their brick-lined digs and get acquainted with emerging labels.
Stussy has become synonymous with street culture, garnering a tribe of fans across the globe. The brand frequently aligns with trailblazers in the underground art scene to develop limited edition designs, sold exclusively in Stussy Chapter Stores. The Gastown Chapter Store is the only Stussy store in Western Canada – therefore the best place to get your hands on exclusive gear. Drop by and check out the brand’s collaboration with Pay Jay Productions, which pays tribute to hip hop legend, J Dilla.
Sneaker aficionados have been flocking to Livestock for the latest kicks by Jordan, Alife, Timberland and beyond. Heavily involved in skateboard, sneaker and hip-hop culture, Livestock Gastown host creative events and feature art installation by influential and renowned artists. Last year, they teamed up with Nike to host an in-store takeover that showcased Nike Tech Pack gear and rare memorabilia. Keep tabs on their latest happenings. When a limited edition collection drops in stores, there’s always a lineup around the block.
Experimental streetwear has found a home inside Playheads‘ basement-level shop. Like the name implies, the shop offers high-end styles to play around in. Fashion-forwards can mix & match with oversized KTZ tattoo print tees, leather mesh snapbacks, and coveted logo apparel by STAMPD.
For cool kicks, clothes and skateboard decks, Menu has got you covered. The store is owned by Syd Clark, former pro skateboarder and OG Red Dragon, so everything inside has proper cred from an expert. Shop around to find cool gear like limited edition Star Wars & Santa Cruz decks, Hershel headwear & backpacks, and threads by Diamond Supply Co. And for ladies, there’s more to come. Syd tells us that the women’s selection is expanding with new lines, so drop by soon to see new arrivals roll out.
Streetwear fashion for women is hard to come by in the city. Enter Queen’s Boutique, a concept nail salon & fashion boutique offering daring styles for your talons and personal closet. Their current selection pays homage to 1990’s fashion with vintage Calvin Klein jackets, Tommy Hilfiger undergarments, and jerseys. For headgear, choose from a wall of sports team snapbacks, or rep the ‘Crown the Queens’ toque from their in-house collection.
Ladies seeking edgy, playful fashion should peruse the collection at Ego Closet. Although the selection is not entirely focused on urbanwear, you can find a few street-inspired sport luxe jerseys, sweatshirts and tees by Dream Monstar, an emerging label from Australia.
