Art as fashion, fashion as art. Two tastes that go great together and a combination as old as Cher, as popular as Lady Gaga and as confusing as Gaga’s meat dress.
The Fall had already shown themselves to be multi-talented as an art gallery and tattoo studio but they’ve not opened up a wearable art section which showcases the West Coast’s alternative arts community in all its glory. Works from Maha Devi, Ink Spoon and Radio Hawah stand out as highlights in an array of local artist print wear, jewelry, hats, leather works.
The cool thing about this is that many of the artists whose work is available at The Fall usually only make appearances either in festival stall or limited run presence via personal online outlets. This is really a big step for any fashionista and the artists themselves, no matter if you’re a burner, a b-boy or a lover of the unique.
The Funkshui Atelier also feels like another hub, albeit a hidden one. The usual expectation when you visit Granville Island is food, seagulls and tourists, so to find Jessica De Haas’s little hideaway was quite the treat. Using a multitude of cuts and fabrics, she’s whipped together a series of jackets, dresses and scarves that are not only beautiful they are unlike anything I’ve seen in the city.
I may not be able to wear it, but the naturally inspired works that De Haas has put together stroked a chord in a city up to its neck in Gortex and skinny jeans. We can be only so thankful for a Trojan horse in the heart of Granville Island, blowing unsuspecting minds and looking damn good while doing it.