Style & Substance: Local designers, manufacturers and retailers help us pick out work essentials

Coast Clear

Here’s a water cooler conversation starter: the buttons on Anian’s Denman long sleeve are made from melted-down oyster farming trays. $135

Full Bloom

Summer is in full swing at Poplin & Co., the Vancouver brand splashing exciting prints on work-approved silhouettes. The print on the Wild Peonies shirt is hand-drawn by co-founder Shadi Ahmadisagheb. $89

Essential Items

Ditch the tote bag (what is this, a farmers market?) for a sleeker, more organized option: Monos’s Metro tote has devoted pockets for your laptop and water bottle, plus sleeves for your phone, keys and other easy-to-lose things. $280

Level Up

Ochre, tan, camel, whatever you want to call it—this Fleetwood Moleskin tobacco blazer from Indochino will stand out in a sea of dark jackets. $519

Perfect Match

Sophie Grace’s forest green ensemble is a statement outfit that’s serving functionality, too. (For one, it has pockets you can actually use.) Sorry, Kermit… the Josephine pant and Violet blazer prove it’s pretty easy being green. Pant $225, blazer $275

No Rain, No Flowers

Cloudy skies are just an excuse for levelling up your commuting look: Indigenous-owned Ay Lelum’s recycled Dintex Eye of Life jacket is a waterproof wonder. $450

Chocolate Chic

Brown is the new black—again—and Lululemon’s surprisingly office-friendly Utilitech relaxed mid-rise trousers are the comfiest work pants we’ve ever tried. $158

Any Wear

Victoria-based B-Corp Ecologyst’s lineup of durable, eco-conscious clothing is made to last—like the unisex light wool short-sleeve shirt. $175

Style Staple

Don’t yawn just yet—Duer’s Smart Stretch pant is not your average black trouser. It has a zippered pocket, silicone waist (so your shirts stay tucked) and the Vancouver-based brand’s signature gusset (read: a comfier crotch fit). $159

Walk the Walk

Picky shoe shoppers, this one’s for you: Vancouver’s Blair Shapera offers custom footwear, so you can  personalize the style, colour, material, sole and even embroidery on your kicks. Prices vary

Job Title

This versatile outfit from Aritzia looks like it was made for getting things done and looking good while doing it… which is probably why the local brand named it the Office jumpsuit. $198

Face to Face

The bold and beautiful Vancouver brand Oge Ajibe makes clothing in XS to 6XL, so eye-catching pieces like the Multicoloured Face day top are ready for maximalist bods of all sizes. $130

Deskside Essentials

Keep focused, hydrated and fresh with these B.C.-made products at your desk.

Hand Lotion from Sangre de Fruta

Moisturize those 65-word-per-minute hands with luxurious lotion from Vancouver’s Sangre de Fruta. (With alluring options like “Garden of Earthly Delights” and “Head of Roses,” you should maybe keep this one locked in a filing cabinet.) $120

Deodorant from Nala

This Vancouver-based brand is fighting natural deodorant slander one stick at a time: scents like peppermint and charcoal, lemon myrtle and geranium and sandalwood and bergamot put drug store options to shame. $32

Mugs from Fable

In soothing colours like midnight blue, dove grey and blush pink, Burnaby-based Fable’s dishwasher- safe stoneware mugs are the ideal vessel for your daily coffee(s). $85 for set of 4