GASTOWN After a four years of real estate wrangling and renovations and the not-so-small matter of four million dollars a dilapidated 1886 heritage building has been transformed from abandoned Chinese restaurant/discoth猫que to the 4,500 square-foot West Coast flagship for Montreal-based custom sofa makers Montauk (). Even if youre not in the market for a high-end sectional, the showroom itself is worth a look-see, if only for the awesome sightlines from the T-shaped second-floor loft and an original 17th-century Italian library chair on display. 228 Abbott.
MOUNT PLEASANT From Nov. 2-27, the monthly revolving pop-up shop in the space slated for the 23-storey Rize tower will become the Festive Collective, a holiday gift-giving mecca featuring the work of local designers and labels like Ole Originals (retro-logo Vancity Tee pictured), Mimosa, Astosatchel, Daub & Design, Even Design, Filou Designs, Irit Sorokin Designs and Ole Designs. 196 Kingsway.
DOWNTOWN Why did Greek fashion jewellery and accessories company Folli Follie () open their first-ever Canadian storefront inside Vancouvers Holt Renfrew? It might have something to do with the brands iconic status in Asia. Look for the Classy Gaile handbag (in a tempting Herm猫s orange) and the giant-faced Compass Watch thats being snapped up by fashion-lovers of both genders. 737 Dunsmuir.
SOUTH GRANVILLE American designer Eileen Fisher () is known for her signature fusion of simple, Japanese-inspired silhouettes and luxurious fabrics (think alpaca silk and cashmere). The casual, zen-like elegance of the store will certainly appeal to the areas ladies-who-lunch crowd as well as the younger, artsy types who love her chunky knits. 2721 Granville.
CHINATOWN Co-owners Eunice Quan and David Lin (pictured) envisioned their deconstructed storefront, The Board of Trade Co. (), as a dual-purpose boutique and showroom for local and international fashion labels previously unavailable in the 麻豆传媒映画market. Look for handmade, Bangkok-by-way-of-Paris pieces from Painkiller, classic menswear (yes, menswear!!!) by Shake Appeal and shoes by Qubisch. 227 Union.
