Vancouver designers and storeowners are showing a new face of South Asian fashion, which fuses historical traditions of vibrant colours and luxurious fabrics with an updated, global approach to marketing and style.

Fiona Garden photos

Technicolour dreamcoat Guys can finally apply Adhesif to their wardrobes. This fall, the locally made line presents its first male selection with the Jammer Jacket. It’s a patchwork of salvaged stretch-wool, in a kaleidoscope of cubist combinations that includes colours such as burgundy, chartreuse, and grey. A thoughtful touch is pockets roomy enough for carrying digital accessories. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and goes for $210.

Amy Stewart and Denise Wilson, two local wool designers, have crafted extra-chunky fuzziness for fall in scarves, shawls and wrist-warmers, made with giant knitting needles larger than your average turkey baster.

Situated just below street level at 157 Water Street, Lloyd’s of Gastown brings the newest menswear to Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood. International lines like Kenneth Cole, Matinique, and Ben Sherman join local labels such as fiveleft, Kairos Designs, and Jadefish in Lloyd’s well-crafted neo-industrial setting.

One of fall’s biggest accessories trends isn’t python bags or neon sunglasses, but pearl jewellery as your granny’s favourites get a style revamp, with a little help from Sex and the City.

Making its mark Ever score the perfect shirt, the one that’s really you, only to see it on someone else the next day? Mark-it apparel has the remedy, with hand-picked one-off Ts from Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan. (The chances of seeing someone else with the same look are nearly zero.) Mark-it also features select name brands, vintage clothing, and accessories at its Blade Runner–influenced 525 West Pender Street location.

Ready for takeoff On September 27, the Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts will be transformed into a hot airport scene for this year’s Sky 360–themed gala of fashion runway, live music, and art performance, benefiting Make Poverty History and the WorldLoveWorldLove Project. Local designer Jolie Chan has created ’60s- and ’70s-inspired airline uniforms for staff.

Kids go green From organic duds to “low-tech” toys, Pebble Baby & Children’s Store (2675 Arbutus Street), has almost everything environmentally conscious parents could want. Owner Jordan Proulx offers sustainable goodies for shorties without gouging parents. She’s also big on kids using their imaginations, not their joysticks.

Styling by Luisa Rino