BC Business
Spring into action with travel wear from these companies.
Monos debuts roomy new nylon weekender bags for spring, and with a tough aluminum frame inside its stylish polycarbonate case, the Hybrid Trunk is worthy of a European tour. Street-savvy brand Taikan‘s cool crossbody Shoki bags are unisex and body-hugging, with security features like military-grade nylon strap webbing. For everything else from fanny packs to diaper bags to vanity kits, there’s Herschel.
Lululemon Lab turns out seasonal pieces in technical fabrics and neutral colours that can form a capsule travel wardrobe. Kit + Ace does it even better, in luxe, washable textiles like merino wool and cashmere. For women’s bleisure-trip pieces like skorts, cargo pants and tailored joggers, Toronto-founded Alder Apparel is worth seeking out, as it comes in includsive sizes (from XS to 6X) and trending colours.
An Arc’teryx technical fleece Covert hoodie for layering is B.C.’s answer to Silicon Valley’s Patagonia vest. Trendsetters need the chic, unisex waterproof blazer from Adhere to Studios, which designs low-impact apparel (in this case, featuring recycled zippers and polyester fabric).
Vessi isn’t just for wet B.C. days: its travel-smart fabric sneakers and boots are waterproof yet light, breathable and comfy. They offer a dry-sock guarantee—and the essential sock to test that with is Dr. Segal’s. Created more than 25 years ago by a B.C. surgeon, they replace ugly medical compression socks with cotton blend fabric, cushioning and colourful designs.
As a footnote to Alexa Suter’s 2020 30 Under 30 profile for founding Studio Media, we mentioned a little women’s underwear brand she had just launched. With perfect timing, “undercare” brand Huha has crested the craze for comfortable apparel. Breathable fabric and a liner enhanced with zinc oxide means the so-called “mineral undies” reduce bacteria, odour and moisture.
“The design and materials used in underwear are so commonplace and run-of-the-mill, it’s almost as though a lack of creativity has been put into making this everyday garment better,” says Suter. Customers shop for Huha discreetly online, and “once our customer finds us… they are highly likely to become a customer for life.”
With new items like a long, stretchy short, the brand is not quite unisex but “better for any sensitive region’… whether that’s men, women, trans- men, trans-women, non-binary,” says Suter.
In her own travels, Suter favours carry-on luggage to save airport waiting time (“Mine is on the larger side, I’ll admit!” she says), space-saving vacuum-seal bags plus a travel-size bottle of Huha’s Undie Wash to reduce packing. Train is her preferred travel mode: “You leave from the centre of a city, arrive to another centre of a city and usually have some beautiful views along the way.”