Adieu

After a wild ride, many struggles, successes, and spectacular moments, Planet Claire will be closing June 15th.

I need to thank my customers for their support and for really “getting” what I’ve been doing – you are a huge part of why I’ve kept going! And thank you to the passionate and talented designers that I’ve been lucky enough to work with;  Eco-fashion has come along way even in just the last few years, thanks to skilled designers, and people like Eco-Stylist Myriam LaRoche and Vancouver Eco Fashion Week.  There are great blogs and organizations across North America that are promoting sustainable design in all areas of life.  I will continue to feature them through my own blog, to keep the lines of communication open and share resources. The most important folk are the consumers though, and the movement needs people to embrace the local economy, support our own artists, and independent businesses.  Gastown alone has lost over 14 businesses in the last year, and part of a city’s draw is made up of it’s unique culture, and the people driven to making it a creative community.

Owning this store has been the best thing I’ve done in my life, and I hope to re-open; whether that will be in one year or five I don’t know.  The current economy is too precarious, and while there is a lot of support for what I’m doing with sustainable and local fashion, it is still a huge struggle for small businesses to compete  with “fast fashion“ and to keep our heads above water in the tough times. There will be a party on Thursday, June 9th from 6-10pm, with prizes, music, food, drinks, and celebration. It’ll be the Planet Claire wake! And I hope you come.

Usually I choose a designer to feature each month, but as this is the last month for the store I am featuring all of the designers behind the lines I have carried. They are all incredible people, and have consistently  inspired me.  I will continue to have an online store presence, and keep this blog going until I re-open. And whether that will be updates on what I am doing in fashion or in the community (I was a social worker previously and may return to that), I would love it if you would check up on me from time to time. Thank you again, there are no words for the experiences that starting this business placed me in, and I am grateful for all of them at the end of the day.

Much Love,

Claire Lindsay Burke

The Designers:

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FiftySeven-ThirtyThree from Oakland, CA produce screen-printed and hand-stenciled/painted shirts and appliquéd hoodies that are printed and sprayed with only solvent-free, water based paints and inks. Their style draws from an urban aesthetic where multi-culturalism and pop culture merge with inner city decay, graffiti and a lo-tech DIY sensibility. Planet Claire is the only canadian retailer to carry their line (and will be on clearance until June 15, and after that you can find them online here.

Adhesif Clothing

Adhesif is a Vancouver based clothing company that produces memorable “one of a kind” creations using new and vintage materials. Every design is a well thought out process combining quirky detailing with broad color palettes. The end result is a line of eclectic “Eco Chic” designs that make you feel good and look great! Adhesif stock will be on clearance until June 15th, but they recently opened their first retail store (in fact, had their one-year anniversary a few days ago!) and you can visit them at 2202 Main Street.

Adam Lupton

Also an incredible visual artist, Lupton’s clothing line deals significantly with hand drawn typographic and illustrative elements, as he tries to separate from the clean systematic format of computer design.

Anastasia Lomonova

Designed and manufactured in Montreal; but born to Russian parents in Odessa (Ukraine), Anastasia spent many years living on the island of Cyprus. Sharing her time between the Mediterranean coast and historical streets of Europe resulted in a vast source of inspiration, applied to all her designs. “Anastasia Lomonova” is the ideal balance of sexy and elegant. While maintaining simplicity in all its lines and shapes, the collection is effortlessly luxurious – complimented by impeccable quality.

Bahmbu

Bahmbu makes simple tees and lounge pants that you will want to live in.  Casual, comfortable and visually appealing; the lack of dyes means all the clothing is a very “pure” natural colour, and the bamboo makes for a very soft fabric. Bahmbu is the only line planet Claire carries that is made in China, and there are a few reason why I decided to carry them. First, most bamboo comes from China, and Bahmbu takes serious measures to ensure their products are grown, harvested and handled in a safe and environmentally conscious manner. The bamboo is third-party certified organic, and they own the factory in China where the clothing is made; the workers are paid double what is considered a “fair wage”.  Their company is truly taking all the measures necessary for me to consider them an ethical and socially responsible company.

BonBon Plus

Rockabilly cuteness! Fun, unique, body conscious, plus sized clothing for women in sizes 12 – 22. Each quality garment is handmade by the designer herself, from adorable leopard print dresses to hand-appliqued western blouses. All you skinny minis will be JEALOUS! Unfortunately Jane has decided to stop making clothing for the foreseeable future, which we are all very sad about. But I have a few of her designs left that you can scoop up for a deal in the next two weeks!

Brooklyn Royalty

Created by a professional menswear designer with experience at Triple Five Soul, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Banana Republic, the line combines timeless design principles, premium materials and hand-printed graphics for garments that are meant to wear better over time.

Brooklyn Royalty is American-made and printed locally in Brooklyn, NY.

Bridget Bergman Designs

Dramatic collars and distinctive sillouettes make these coats a true must for every woman’s closet.  Evocative of Old Hollywood, these beauties are made from Canadian wool right here in Vancouver, are warm and lined in luxe black satin.  There are also her waterproof and wind resistant raincoats, made from technical sports fabric (& partially recycled materials), but in flattering feminine and funky cuts!

Carny Love

Carny Love has gained a reputation for being Vancouver’s trend-setting, zany street wear labels. Born from the book, Geek Love written by Katherine Dunn, tell a tale of a traveling carniva run by “Al” Binewski and his wife, “Crystal” Lil. When Al’s business begins to fail, the couple devise an idea to breed their own freak show.  Carny Love is about Christie’s charming perspective on Crystal Lil and the costumes she makes for her beloved children; by use of whimsical icons, custom prints and fun figure flattering design details. Steadily growing every season Carny Love is sure to turn many more heads with it’s delightful Lolita style mixed with artsy graphics and edgy street chic.

CreamPuffs by Gigi

CREAMPUFF GIRLIE BOXER SHORTS; a hybrid of sport shorts & sexy pretty lingerie to wear everyday! Vintage pinup-girl style Creampuffs are one of the cutest & most comfortable things you’ll ever wear!

So many ways to wear ’em! Creampuffs are seamless and smooth under clothes or darling on their own! In hot weather they keep you cool – wicking-away moisture from your skin to prevent chafing or ‘thigh-rub’. In cool weather creampuffs keep you cozy – they’re fab over tights, leggings, stockings. Flirty & fun! Wear your creampuffs instead of a slip, as shorts, a sweet accessory, a bathingsuit cover, around the house or as pretty lingerie!

Dahlia Drive

Dahlia Drive gathers discarded women’s slips, dresses and men’s shirts and reworks them with colour, images and textures to create one of a kind fashion for the unique individual.

Each found piece is considered on its own merit: type of fabric, pre-existing stains or tears, how it responds to dye. Depending on these qualities, the piece may be buried in the garden with rusty things to over-stain previous stains or patched with pieces of fabric to strengthen a tear. Then each piece is dyed and screen printed with an image of bones, plants, animals, grid textures and/or lace patterns to produce another layer of history to the garment.

Ultimately, Dahlia Drive creates a sculptural piece which is only fully realized on the body of its new owner.

De La Rue Shoes

Amazing sandals that are ethical, environmental AND exquisite! The soles are made from recycled tires and the straps are from a belt factory in Paris. Great for dressing up or down, I especially love the silver, which is silver in certain light and gold in others – so it’s easy to match!  Perfect for summer, and now at clearance prices until June 15th.

Dianne Kennedy

Diane Kennedy is synonymous with sustainable, organic and eco-friendly clothing. Plus sizes 0X-3X, fashion, quality and fit are never compromised.

As demand grows for the health and wellness of the planet, using eco-friendly fabrics has become a movement, not just a trend. Diane’s super soft viscose knit is made from Certified Organic bamboo fibres and is much better for the environment than conventional cotton, as it is grown without chemicals or extra water and is completely sustainable.

All of Diane Kennedy’s premium quality garments are consciously created and ethically produced in Canada, in beautiful British Columbia.

Die Constant

Die Constant  is art/graphics embellished clothes. The main line is dye sublimated tees for men and women with new art from international artists each season.

Die Constant also creates “Loosies” which are one off pieces starting off as vintage or new and then getting a multitude of harassment from sewing, dying, screen printing, stencils, patches, embroidery and whatever else can be conjured up.

Duchess Von Dudik

Every piece of clothing is one-of-a-kind, designed, patterned, and handmade by Gina Dudik, owner of Gina’s Gallery & Boutique in Little Italy, Cleveland, Ohio.

Planet Claire is the only store in Canada to carry these whimsical and feminine designs, and unfortunately Gina closed her shop in the last year.  The last few pieces available are on sale until June 15th!

Erinyes Designs

Handmade in Vancouver, BC, Erinyes designs focuses on creating sophisticated knitwear designed for the urban lifestyle. The current focus is on hand knit accessories that are both functional and beautiful.

Ethically sourced materials, and hand produced, each garment is made with care for where the materials come from and where they go to.

ElaDesign

Handmade fashions by Ela Nave, a fashion designer, yoga instructor and artist. Born in Venezuela, raised and currently living in Israel, her clothing is all made from fabrics sourced locally.

Planet Claire is the only Canadian retailer to carry this made in Israel line. Ela’s belief is that the clothes we wear should expand our borders rather then restrict them, and therefore looks to the shape, focusing on complimenting the body and creating an interesting dialogue with the garment. Each design she makes is filled with love and inspiration, and wishes it to be worn with the same intention.

Ella Peru

Ella Peru is a chic Canadian lifestyle brand created for the urban female.  The contemporary designs and edgy selection of colors and fabrics put a focus on the chic and unconventional for today’s ambitious, creative and urban female. Each garment is carefully constructed to be wearable yet stylish for a busy and social lifestyle. From the office to late night cocktails, travel to rest, the label proves to be versatile and appropriate for all occasions.  Click here for a list of where to find the Ella Peru line.

Elroy Apparel

Elroy chooses to create ethical fashion – the design, sourcing, materials and manufacturing of the clothing is environmentally conscious and socially responsible. It is Elroy’s goal to lead the way in delivering great quality, sustainable, fairly traded and beautiful clothing. They hope to educate and empower their clients to become more aware of their buying power and environmental footprint, and to encourage more conscious decision making.

Choosing clothing made of sustainable materials should not mean a complete change of lifestyle. Elroy Apparel works to ensure that they include pieces that are better versions of what you may already own, along with unexpected wonders that become your new favourites.  All Elroy Apparel will be on for clearance sale prices until June 15th!

Elysium

Elysium clothing is made by Freya Giles. Elysium was born in 2005 from a tiny room in Nelson BC, and now has grown into a full time endeavour.    All garments are drafted, cut, silkscreened and sewn by Freya herself. There is no mass manufacturing of Elysium clothing, everything is made from the ground up at her East Vancouver studio.

Since 2008 Elysium has had a strong focus on screenprinting and vintage fabrics. Collections are made in small runs keeping the originality of Elysium fashion for customers. Elysium has strong handmade ethics and prefers to source only local fabrics, recycle as much as possible as well to promote Canadian manufacturing.  You can buy her designs through her etsy shop.

Fait Avec

Vancouver maker of whimsical things, such as spats, corsets, and wee hats! Everything is made by the lovely Sandra Stuart by hand, and she is also available for custom work.  Fait Avec is sold exclusively at Planet Claire, but can be found online at her etsy shop.

Flora & Fauna

flora&fauna is a Candian eco-fashion label founded in 2008 by Pauline Siu.  Spring-Summer 2009 was flora&fauna’s first collection, with seven unique pieces inspired by of west coast wildlife and lifestyle. Featured on internationally acclaimed eco-news online magazine, TreeHugger.com as one of “20 Green Fashion Designers You’ve Never Heard Of (But Oh You Will)”, the eco-fashion label quickly established a following.

flora&fauna produces clothing in a slow and sustainable manner, offering well  crafted pieces, that easily fits into a modern women’s wardrobe and lifestyle. Their commitment to the earth and all its creatures is shown through  the use of organic and sustainable fabrics, as well as rescued fabrics. All  the pieces are ethically made in Canada. The last of Planet Claire’s flora&fauna’s stock will be available on super sale until June 15th, and you can shop with them online after that!

Hawks Ave.

Hawks Ave. is an eco conscious, rock n’ roll inspired, street wear line. Based and Manufactured in Vancouver Canada. With fashion foremost in mind, and sustainability running a close second, each finely crafted piece is made-in-house to lower its environmental impact. Look amazing while doing your part.

While you might be concerned about the planet, you still want to make a statement. Hawks Ave. is for the rocker in you. This clothing line is not for the faint of heart. Jersey separates, made from bamboo and organic cotton with unique artwork tastefully placed. Organic denim jeans hand finished to complete the line. All pieces are limited edition, so get them while you can. This guarantees you a unique and one of a kind look.

HD Art & Apparel

HD Art & Apparel is Heidi Denessen, painter and mixed media artist. Being a busy momma of two little boys she wanted to create unique, sexy, eco-friendly clothing that is casual, versatile and modern.  Her specialty is minimalist bamboo tunics with a pop of colour – she screen-prints her art onto some part of the fabric for a unique look that is still very wearable.

Jesica Milton

Planet Claire is the first Canadian retailer to carry this sleek and sustainable line. Jesica Milton is modern and minimalist with a feminine touch. Each piece is thoughtfully designed and crafted in Seattle, Washington. Creating a beautiful, high quality product is the core of sustainable design. Jesica Milton clothing is designed to be trendless & versatile, allowing her garments to last you through the seasons.

Kdon by Kim Cathers

Kim Cathers first shot to fame as a finalist on Project Runway Canada, and the the Vancouver-based designer is now one of the more recognizable personas in Canadian fashion. Kim Cathers’ line, kdon, is sustainable fashion at it’s most artful; 100% recycled and reclaimed fabrics are beautifully shaped and drape over the body in the most flattering ways. Because of the unique materials used, her line is always limited to a handful of each style, so your kdon piece will always be a statement and a true find.  All Kim Cathers pieces will be on clearance sal until June 15th, and after that you can find her in her beautiful Gastown Studio at 207 W Hastings St, Suite 410.

Lav & Kush

Meet the FLIRT of sustainable fashion. Every item in the collection is a little piece of luxury. Lav & Kush strives to use eco-friendly fabrics in beautiful textures, designed with the urban woman in mind–the result is feminine and flirty styles that not only make her look and feel beautiful, but allows her to know she is doing the EARTH a little bit of good! Plus, Lav & Kush is locally manufactured and a percentage of revenue is directed towards non-profits.  you can shop for Lav & Kush online here.

Lilikoi

Planet Claire has carried Lilikoi since opening in 2008, and has since become  a well-loved staple.  The designs are always beautifully draped in luxuriously soft eco-fabrics, in styles flattering for real women size 2-22!

The Lilikoi line has a strong emphasis on hand printed cloth. Each print is an original drawing transferred to a silk screen for the purpose of production. The individual prints are used for a limited production run thus ensuring the beauty and uniqueness of each piece. The fabric is then hand printed in the Lilikoi studio. Each Lilikoi garment design has been hand drafted and hand graded in the studio by actual human hands! All cutting, printing, sewing, and design work is done by local employees who are well paid for their skill.

All Lilikoi clothing and accessories are made from 100% natural fabrics, most often hemp, organic cotton, bamboo and soy blends.

LilyBrush

All the garments on this shop are 100% designed and handmade by Lily Brushtein in Tel Aviv, Israel.  She is an innovator and reinventor, so she treats every piece as art which has a unique element in it.  The clothes are characterized by a subtle finesse, and a timeless retro chic. Designs often include a surprising element that decorates the garment and lends it a sense of direction.  Planet Claire is the only Canadian retailer for this line, but you can shop online in her etsy store.

Meadow Designs

Meadow lives part time in the concrete jungle….and part time in the real jungle. Her shop and studio are in Pavones, Costa Rica where she lives on a sustainable farm and rides her horse to work.  The other part of the year she lives in Miami, enjoying all the inspiration that comes from a high fashion city.

All of Meadow’s designs are proudly sewn in Miami. The focus is on local prodution and sourcing with the ultimate outcome of the globe benefiting. They work with sustainable materials such as bamboo, soy, organic cotton and upcycled fabrics.  Last year the company planted 2000 native hardwood trees in Costa Rica. This year they are working with treemendous miami, a non profit that plants trees in the Miami Dade community.
Planet Claire is the only Canadian retailer to carry this line, after June 15th, you can find her online.

Miss Brache

Handmade vintage-inspired creations by Diane-Marie Brache. All pieces are made in Seattle, WA and Planet Claire is the only Canadian retailer.  Her CUTE bathing suits & bikinis are all on clearance sale!!

NATE Organics

NATE was formed in 2004 as the natural evolution of founder Adam Katz’s commitment to high quality conscious clothing.  Katz recognized the potential of organic fabrics and sought out partners with whom he could source fabrics, design, and construct a line of clothing committed to environmental and social awareness and sustainability.The main line is organic cotton t-shirts and tanks, and all over-stock or extra fabric is made into one-of-a-kind dresses.

Noon Solar Bags

All of the collections at Noon Solar are inspired by the need to rethink the way things are made, and what they are made with. Each material used is specially chosen for its longevity and ability to biodegrade. The other materials, such as the hardware and the solar panels can be reclaimed and reused for many generations of bags.

On the outside of each bag, there is a paper thin, flexible solar panel. This solar panel charges a battery pack located inside the bag to supply power for your cell phone or iPod, day or night. Simply place the solar panel in the bag towards the sun to collect usable energy. Put it in your window at work, home, car, or on the train; face it towards the sun at a café; or walk/bike around town with the panel exposed. Even on cloudy or rainy days, energy is collected through the UV light of the sun. On a bright, sunny day the battery should be fully charged in 6-8 hours. On a cloudy day the battery will require a bit more time. The battery pack will hold the sun’s energy for several days.

Nicole Bridger

Nicole Bridger is a line of socially conscious clothing that’s effortless, luxurious and makes people feel sexy and special in their every day. Nicole has just opened her first retail store at 2151 W 4th Ave in Kitsilano!

Peridot Kiss

Peridot Kiss is a hemp-focused line made in Vancouver by designer Margarita Angelatos (also designer of the line Red Jade).  The fabric is a high quality, luxurious “vegan cashmere” – incredibly soft and durable.  The designs are classic and wearable (you’ll want to live in the leggings), the fabric is milled in the US and made here in Vancouver.

Platupuses

Curvy hoes ♥ killer clothes.  Made by hand in Seattle WA, Planet Claire is the only place to scoop up these cute, one-of-a-kind goodies until the 15th of June.  She also has an etsy shop!

Pondhopper studio

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different” – Coco Chanel.
Make a statement with a one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly clothing and accessories from pondhopper studio and show everyone just how irreplaceable you are…made mainly from recycled materials, each piece is impossible to re-make.

Pondhopper studio is located in Edmonton AB, and Planet Claire is the only shop carrying this line in BC.  Shop online here.

Process Clothing

Process Clothing is a underground clothing company that specializes in unique hand guided embroidery, artistic styles and imagery.  Born from the mind of accomplished artist Adrian Fuerth; Process Clothing makes unique, stylish clothing that gets recognized!

The graphic is stitched into the shirt using a sewing machine to draw. All done by the artist, by hand, no guides or mechanical/digital rendering. No two shirts are identical. These shirts are just as (if not more) durable then any screen print; after 4 years of making these the designer has never had or heard of any stitches coming out.

Many of the shirts are made from a sustainable material, such as hemp, organic cotton, bamboo or upcycled vintage clothing.  To get a proper understanding of how these intricate shirts are made, check out Adrian’s video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHzv9Crifz8

Red Jade

Red Jade is sophisticated and ultra-feminine clothing that embodies the spirit of a confident women. The line inspired by European design is created with eco-luxurious fabrics such as hemp, organic cotton, merino wool, silk and linen.  Red Jade is designed by Margarita Angelatos, also the designer and owner of Peridot Kiss.  Both lines are manufactured in Vancouver, BC.

Re-Surface

 Based in  Brooklyn NY, RE-SURFACE is a boutique factory and design studio established by Donna Brady. RE-SURFACE produces a range of hand-crafted lighting and interior décor objects with art at heart, and design in mind. You can find them online at their etsy shop.

The “Brooklyn Light Siding” Collection, inspired by the city’s dilapidated building facades and the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, transforms the multi-layered surfaces of urban decay into beautiful and unique interior designs.

Ric Yuenn

Ric Yuenn has been leading the scene in Vancouver for 19 years and has dressed some of the most fabulous women here. He uses a ton of vintage fabrics so not only is your handmade dress one of a kind, but also sustainable!

He makes a dress a day all by hand and all by himself. He designs for everyone – you may know his signature cocktail dresses and bridal collections, but Planet Claire carries his more contemporary designs, from sassy strapless  numbers made in colourful vintage fabrics (with pockets!) to office-appropriate tweed dresses with asymmetrical collars.  His latest creations for Spring have him using vintage scarves – the end product would make any woman stand out.  Ric Yuenn’s studio and boutique is located at 315 W Cordova in Gastown, and can be found at Planet Claire until June 15th.

Robbie Vergara

Robbie Vergara Silk-Screening started in 2010 as a creative outlet for Vancouver based artist-film-maker Robbie Vergara. Robbie personally designs the surreal images on his prints based on a combination of 18th and 19th century biology drawings. Every product is individually hand-pulled and distinctly unique, allowing the printed materials to be a one-of-a kind artifact.

Schaart Clothing Co.

Brand new spring dresses from Schaart Clothing. Vancouver designer Cheryl Densky sews all the clothing herself and creates flattering, funky, and affordable dresses for curvaceous beauties! After June 15th you can find her designs here.

Simone’s Rose

Simone’s Rose is a womenswear label with contemporary styling and a bit of an edge. The label was born out of designer Michelle Maynard’s passion for her own brand of fashion and style with a conscience.

The mandate of Simone’s Rose is to affect change by supporting and implementing sustainable and ecologically conscious business practices and projects internally, locally and across the globe. The combined use of organic and vintage textiles lends itself to a modern yet retro vibe. The designer’s aesthetic for clean and somewhat minimalist design, along with great attention to construction and detail is evident in the label’s collections.

Soi Disant

Soi Disant is manufactured in a factory in Bethlehem in the West Bank. This factory promotes commerce and employment in an area where political conflict and war have destroyed its industry and trade and left many people unemployed. This factory employs skilled workers, pays fair wages, and never uses child labor.

All of Soi Disant’s embroidery and crocheting is done by hand by a group of women who live in small villages and Refugee camps in the West Bank. Rawan, the designer, and the team behind Soi Disant are working with these talented women to embrace Palestinian cross stitching and to open the western eyes to the eastern culture.

Unfortunately the economy has taken it’s toll on this company, and they stopped all production of clothing in 2010.

Street Cat Designs

Using hair fine sterling silver and 14K gold filled wire, designer Pam Jackson weaves and coils little pieces of magic for her Street Cat Designs brand. Following her muse, Pam creates pieces that transcend time and trend and will take you from day to evening wear; from blue jeans, to the most elegant of evening gowns. Her newest line, Caught and Torn are a melange of beautiful gemstones entrapped in a crocheted mesh. After June 15th you can find her line at these stockists.

Sweet Soul

Burlesque and pin-up inspired clothing made in Vancouver, BC, Sweet Soul makes exceptionally flattering and well-tailored pieces, for the starlette in all of us.  Can be found at Scout Boutique on Main St.

Theresa Chen

Theresa Chen designs for the fashion-forward man and women. She’s even dabbled in freelance pet-wear designs and kidswear! She has been a finalist and produced runway looks for the Telio Competion and Environment Foundation of Montreal. She has now relocated to Vancouver, and we expect exciting things from this emerging designer!

Volcano Girl Creations

Hand-painted ties and clothing by Kat Morris. Besides being a talented artist, she is also the founder (with her husband Arron Morris) of MorrisMore Models, Vancouver’s only Alternative Modeling Agency, and she is the Creative Director and MUA at Nightshade Beauty.  She’s also the sweetest gal around!

~ by Planet Claire on May 31, 2011.