“Sustainability is treating ourselves and our environment as if we are to live on this earth forever.” – Aaron Wood.
In Gastown, we love the planet we occupy. And if we had the option to live on this Earth forever, this is the place that we would like to be.
From organic, fair trade food and beverages, to consigned, vintage, small batch, and slow fashion, plant shops, hyper-local shops, and b-corp businesses, here is how you can join us in making planet Earth number one this Earth Day (and every day). Besides, this planet is pretty damn fantastic.
The fast fashion industry generates 100 billion garments each year and is one of the most polluting industries in the world. While some retailers are making the effort to lower their carbon footprint, one of the best ways to shop sustainably is to shop second hand. Gastown has you covered with vintage shops carefully curated to suit any style.
Here’s where you should be vintaging:
Shop Vintage & Mindfully Made
Community Thrift & Vintage
Founded in 2011, Community Thrift & Vintage is a social enterprise, that sells a tightly edited collection of recycled fashion. They support at-risk people through their compassionate and supportive work training program, and all of their profits are donated to the PHS Community Services Society.
Address: 311 Carrall St
Evorden Vintage Jewelry
A curated collection of vintage + antique fine jewelry by @evordenjewellery. Open by appointment only Wed-Sat. Evorden cultivates modern collections for the ethically-minded, offering quality, locally-crafted jewellery and exceptional service at a sensible cost. Each vintage piece is choosen for its history, romance, and beauty— boasting a unique combination of traits which make them exactly one-of-a-kind.
Address: 601-318 Homer St
F As In Frank
Bringing some of the best vintage clothing straight to you like Vintage Tommy Hilfiger, hockey jersey, Polo Ralph Lauren and Vintage bucket hat at affordable prices.
Address: 302 W Cordova St
Hey Jude
Hey Jude (a Gastown neighbour) is a design-inspired vintage clothing shop that specializes in contemporary-style pieces that have been hand-picked and edited into seasonal collections. With a high emphasis on natural fibres, clean cuts and shapes and cohesiveness, each collection is curated by founders, Lauren Clark and Lyndsey Chow.
Address: 315 Abbott St
Kamuy Vintage
Nestled in the basement of the Le Magasin shopping arcade, lies one of Vancouver’s best vintage clothing stores. This Underground treasure trove has unique items for the whole family. Thrifters will be delighted with the vast collection.
Address: 321 W Cordova St
Uniques Antiques
A treasure trove located right on West Cordova Street, Uniques is just as its names suggests! Find valued antique items that will breathe new life into any space.
Address: 145-332 Water St
Nettles Tale
Another West Cordova must stop! While Nettles Tale mostly focuses on well crafted, slow fashion items (to-die-for bathing suits), they also have a couple racks of vintage pieces to fit any trend cycle. A place that truly values local and ethical manufacturing, inclusive sizing, quality, and thoughtful design.
Address: 306 W Cordova St
Play Your Part
We can all play our part when it comes to living more sustainably. We are always eager to hear suggestions from our community on how we can make Gastown more green. Have a suggestion? Check out our Urban Design Study: Gastown Tomorrow, and have your voices heard. Besides, the Gastown of tomorrow matters.
Want to learn more? We recommend exploring the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as outlined by the United Nations (UN SDGs).
Happy Earth Day. Every day.
