Fluevog
Shoe designer John Fluevog is something of a local legend in Vancouver, having had his flagship store (part retail, part art exhibit) in Gastown for roughly 50 years. The craftsmanship of his shoes and boots is instantly recognizable: hourglass heels, embossed leather and mixed materials are some of his signatures, which can be seen in the Frugality Calculated lace-up boot ($999), for example.
Vessi
The Pacific Northwest’s climate is ripe for soggy shoes and wet feet, and, back in the mid-’10s, friends Mikaella Go, Andy Wang and Tony Yu were sick of it. Together, they patented a waterproof footwear technology and founded Vessi to make footwear that looks and functions just like a regular sneaker. Its major shops are at Burnaby’s Metrotown and CF Richmond Centre in B.C., but they’ve expanded across Canada and the U.S., too. The Weekend Classic sneaker ($135) remains one of their bestsellers.
Olen
With a focus on veering away from fast fashion, Vancouverite Ana Chi founded Olen to bring understated leather sneakers to Canadian wardrobes. The Italian-made shoes are crafted with premium calfskin leather that comes from sustainability-certified tanneries for durability, and the simple Città sneaker ($375) comes in five neutral colour palettes.
Jamie Gentry Designs
Kwakwaka’wakw Nation designer Jamie Gentry doesn’t do bulk shoe orders, and that’s part of the message of her thoughtfully and artfully designed moccasins made-to-order from Sooke. Whether made from hides, fabric or beads, each piece of her moccasins is done by hand. If you’re quick, you may be able to find a one-of-a-kind pair in her online shop, like the Floral Mocha bison hide fringe moccasins (US$450).
Native Shoes
What started as a lightweight, laceless and water-friendly casual shoe developed by Vancouverites in 2009 has become a global footwear brand that’s touting positive environmental impact with each purchase. Their signature Jefferson shoe ($72) can now be made with Bloom algae-based foam, an eco-friendly material made from repurposed algae from freshwater lakes.
Hettas
CEO Lindsay Housman earned a spot in our 2025 Women of the Year cohort for her innovative approach to women’s shoes, which bucked the idea of “shrinking and pinking” women’s wear and instead looked at research-backed solutions. The result when it came to her footwear brand for women was shoes that support high arches, low ankles and narrow heels, like the Alma Cruise ($238), a daily trainer that comes in black, chambray blue and blanc de blanc—and not pink.
