Shopping in Victoria

Started in 2001 as a small operation in founder Bryce Phillips’s Seattle apartment, evo has since grown into a full-fledged retail store voted Best Ski and Snowboard Shop three years in a row in CityVoter’s King5 Best of Western Washington poll. Inside, Bryce and his crew of more than 100 winter- and summer-sports enthusiasts help visitors gear up for adventure with equipment by makers such as Armada, K2 Burton, and Lib Tech and outerwear from The North Face and Patagonia. A team of technicians also keeps equipment in top condition with tune-ups and other services, sharpening skis and waxing snowboards to keep them from growing fur. At evo’s flagship Fremont/Wallingford store, the staff relays the company-wide values of style, a balanced lifestyle, and authenticity by hosting events such as movie screenings and art showcases and devoting extra time to serving nonprofits throughout the community.

The team of framers and curators at Framing & Art Centre task themselves with keeping their customer’s walls well-adorned – be it with framed family heirlooms or a piece of art from the store’s own collection. Armed with conservation framing techniques, the framing team builds customized frames and shadow boxes from high quality materials – such as acid-free 100% cotton mats, and UV-coated glass – to keep valuable artworks safe.

Spank it Sports supplies coaches, fans, and athletes with soccer, rugby, and volleyball equipment. On the soccer wall, more than 250 styles of shoes from Adidas, Nike, and Puma brighten up the place with hot pinks, neon blues, and fluorescent oranges. Fans can file through licensed international and club jerseys from teams such as the Vancouver Whitecaps or the 2012 Eurocup teams; goal-keeper gloves, balls, and more equip goalies with everything they need to show their dominance over insolent nets. Likewise, more than 40 styles of rugby boots, a variety of clothing, and official jerseys accessorize players and spectators while more than 50 types of volleyball shoes, knee pads, and ankle braces eagerly await a squeaky wood floor. To support local amateur and recreational rugby, soccer, and volleyball athletes, the crew at Spank it Sports can customize uniforms and personal jerseys with direct screening, embroidery, in-house graphic designs, and Cad-Cut names and numbers.

Fashion mastermind and entrepreneur Herschel Segal made a splash in Montreal's burgeoning shopping district in 1959 when he opened LE CHÂTEAU OUTLET's original storefront, where he intrigued passersby with London-inspired swaddlings unique to Canada's fashion landscape. LE CHÂTEAU OUTLET's avant-garde style of garb for men and women drew great success in the years to follow, earning one of its crowning achievements when the iconic John Lennon personally commissioned the shop to create the jumpsuit he wore during his "bed-in" at Queen Elizabeth Hotel in 1969. The fashion retailer has since grown to include more than 230 locations in its trendsetting empire, staking its claim throughout Canada, the United States, and the Middle East. LE CHÂTEAU OUTLET's well-dressed experts keep the shop's collection of formal and casual wear up to date on the latest styles and trends, which change more frequently than the Mona Lisa's facial expression when no one is looking.

Not content with the blasé options found in the kids section of big-box clothing stores, friends Theresa and Sabrina decided to take matters into their own hands and curate skate and surf gear for stylish young tots. Their venture, aptly named Rockbebe, fills shelves with a collection of local and brand-name clothes, including miniature replicas of the Etnies, Billabong T-shirts, and Roxy skirts that epitomize West Coast living. Local designers add their mom-created clothing collections to the mix, including handmade tutus, headbands, and other items that give kids a way to express their own unique style without wearing a dress made from copies of their fingerprints.

Escents Aromatherapy crafts more than 300 all-natural products to nurture the body and home, derived from 100% pure essential oils and scented with more than 120 fragrances. Handmade, geometrically calibrated bar soaps such as the lime and eucalyptus renewal bar ($4.95/5 oz.) prepare skin for a comforting embrace of calm hand and body lotion ($16.95/8 oz.), which blends pleasing sniffs of frankincense and orange with moisturizing avocado oil, shea butter, and aloe vera. An extensive selection 100% pure essential oils refill aromatherapy diffusers, ranging from Australian tea tree essential oil ($8.95/0.17 oz.) to signature blends such as wild gardenia($10.95/0.17 oz.) swirling ylang ylang and jasmine. For domiciles demanding refreshment, the osmanthus soy jar candle ($15.95/7 oz.) ushers in the outdoorsy scents of cedar leaf and lemon without the hassle of buying fresh lemons or planting a tree in the ottoman.