Three smiling faces greet you as you turn off Union Street and into the Department of W.OW.: Jake the dog first, and then the two Wowsers behind the counter Zoe Welch, textile transformer extraordinaire and Taryn OGorman, self-professed CEO of shiny objects.
Theyre fun, playful women who, prior to opening a department store together, were successful Vancouver artists. Missing from this equation is third owner Laura Wallace, the W in the WOW acronym and the woman behind the repurposed closet doors framing the room that bear whimsical stencils of chairs and sea coral. Its a small shop, so she had the day off.
As could be expected, conversation veers quickly away from their own work, and towards the concept of community building which is what allows these small independent shops to survive the battering of big box Americana.
We feel embraced by the community. A woman over on Georgia who runs a homeware shop asked me one day, Why are all you white people moving into Chinatown? And I said, Anna, its because we love it here, its rich in culture and its vibrant and changing, recalls OGorman. Were excited about the change with the night market, for example. We feel honoured to be here and be a part of whats happening.
Only three months old, the store is already looking around the booming neighbourhood for ways to reach out and collaborate:
Weve talked about trying to create a community of makers here and holding workshops or lectures with other makers and artists. And theres a lot of groups, East of Main being one of them, where the business becomes a bigger vehicle for something on a more profound change level, she continues, giving a shout out to the philanthropic restaurant around the corner.
Welch then jumps in excitedly with a school she just discovered, called Trade School Vancouver which offers classes on a barter system. Skilled educators, such as artist Britta Fluevog, come up with a course outline and submit it to a board of directors for approval. Students then sign up for the class, offering their instructor everything from a basket of organic vegetables to knitting lessons as payment.
Theres a really beautiful commerce that is starting to happen here that is skills-based and talent-based.
And despite the boundless distractions for women with so much energy, they havent been slacking off on their own designs.
Having their own store has Welch jumping out of bed each morning to sew because the impact, she says, is immediate. She can walk down to the store and put her new creations directly into a glass case, and then see the reactions of the customers as they come in. That kind of instant feedback is invaluable for any businessperson.
They share all the costs equally, but their profits are theirs alone a rare business model in Vancouver.
In essence this is us supporting each other in our business and our creations. {But] its essentially kiosks.
For spring, the store is now carrying OGormans Art Nouveau cuffs with Rhodalite stones and Ray Gun cufflinks, Welchs crinkle scarves and Ghery bags, and new pieces from Wallaces ever-compelling exploration of reclaimed wood.
True to form, they have also expanded to showcase guest appearances by other artists. Stop by for:
the incredible artisan millinery of Elaine Garrett of Cappellino Hats
Lincoln Heller putting the handsome in hand bags with old-world leather techniques
Josh Doherty of Hawthorne Company helping hirsute men fight the battle with badger-bristle shaving brushes
an original Audra Rickets oil painting, putting a modern twist on a Paul Klee or Gustav Klimt
and evocative photographic cards by Dani Kreeft.
And then there is the comic corner, for kids and men who want to sit and read for a while. Theres even a dog to aimlessly pat while doing so.
110-243 Union Street | DepartmentOfWOW.ca
