Vancouver’s Vessi is expanding to the U.S.—with a new sneaker in tow

It’s a phenomenon most Vancourites are familiar with—soaked shoes, soggy socks and the city’s ruthless rain sneakily creeping in through the edges of our footwear. Founded in 2018, Vancouver-based Vessi was created to make city-dwellers’ on-foot lives easier and “inspire happiness in the rain,” as co-founder and CEO Andy Wang says. The D2C footwear brand creates shoes that are 100 percent waterproof. 

Now, Vessi is tracking new paths by expanding into the U.S.—opening its first international retail store on December 31, 2025, at Bellevue Square in The Bellevue Collection, just outside Seattle. 

 

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“As we grow, we’re doubling down on the things that made us different in the first place—listening to customers, building for the long term and making sure every product and store experience delivers real value,” Wang said in a press release. 

The expansion accompanies the launch of their new sneaker, Motu—a style-forward hybrid of urban and outdoor footwear. Motu was released to the public on December 10 and its features include a thicker midsole for comfort, a wide base for stability and a rugged outsole. And—of course—like all Vessi designs, it’s 100 percent waterproof.

Additionally, Vessi has glammed up its Metrotown location ahead of the holiday season to update the in-store experience for customers. It’s now “more open and easier to shop, which makes it simpler for customers to compare styles and find the right fit,” Wang told Vancouver Magazine. The updated store also features interactive “water zones,” allowing customers to test out the waterproof technologies in real time.  

Currently, Vessi’s products are sold across the country from B.C. to the Maritime provinces. The retailer also ships across North America from its website.