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Vancouver Fashion Week

Vancouver Fashion Week

Geoff Sharpe
March 30, 2026

Good morning,

Even with overscheduling myself, I managed to get out to Lynn Canyon this weekend for a trail run. Everyone has something in their life that brings them peace and mental clarity - running through trees is mine. If you have any North Shore run routes that you don’t mind sharing, send them my way!

It looks like the weather is finally about to turn, with temperatures rising up to the double digits consistently this weekend and into next week. Time to start psyching ourselves up for that first beach day, which can’t be too far away.

Today’s story is one of the reasons I like having freelancers contribute. It’s about an event I’ve seen every few years while doing this newsletter, but, like most events, it usually goes in the event section, not as a main story. Turns out it’s got quite a history.

Let’s dive in.

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout founder and managing editor

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

WEATHER

Monday: 7 🌡️ 2 | 🌤️

Tuesday: 10 🌡️ 4 | ☁️

Wednesday: 7 🌡️ 4 | 🌧️

ART

At Vancouver Fashion Week, Ay Lelum marks 10 years as the runway embraces global and Indigenous design

Helena Lines

By Julie Chadwick. Read the story.

What started out as boutique shows put as part of Vancouver’s underground music scene in the 1990s, Vancouver Fashion Week has now become an international showcase for global and local fashion designers.

As organizers prepare for the launch of its fall/winter season show on April 8, the event continues to focus on global diversity, said founder Jamal Abdourahman.

“I’ve spent most of my life here, and what I know is diversity. This is normal. This is Vancouver's example. This is what Vancouver offers,” he said. “Vancouver is a city that really celebrates other cultures, promotes other cultures and promotes all of us.”

Running since 2001, this season’s week-long Vancouver Fashion Week event features more than 40 designers from 10 countries.

Heading the lineup is Japan’s aim/aimme from Sankei Studio, which combines “contemporary elegance rooted in Japanese craftsmanship,” and Korea’s Blue Tamburin, which “blends heritage techniques with modern design,” according to a statement released by the organizers.

Design by Ay Lelum. Photo provided

There will also be a showcase from Vancouver Community College’s fashion programs and from local designers Alex S. Yu, Eduardo Ramos, and Maria Augusta. Abdourahman said they also make an effort to spotlight emerging talent, which is represented this season by Vancouver-based designer Bahar Kianpour and Chinese designer Zhang Peng from Jumper Zhang.

When looking at what work to showcase each season, Abdourahman said he looks for designers who are doing something “different and futuristic” and generally have good taste.

“Also, it doesn't have to be something that I'm into,” he said. “As long as I can tell there is so much effort in the presentation, creating the product, everyone deserves that attention and that time. So that's what I look at. But they are all artists.”

From the beginning, Abdourahman has also made it a priority to hold space for Indigenous designers to showcase their work. This season’s show features a 10-year retrospective of standout pieces from Coast Salish design house Ay Lelum, who first showed at Vancouver Fashion Week in 2018.

“They came in as one family — mom and dad and sisters,” said Abdourahman. “They've always been a blessing to work with.”

A family-run fashion house, Ay Lelum was founded in 2016 by sisters Aunalee Boyd-Good and Sophia Good, who then debuted their first couture collection at Vancouver Fashion Week two years later.

Grandfather Dress, details from Joel’s great-grandfather Herbert Moorhouse and Joel’s artwork, with craftwork by his mother and sisters. Photo provided

Featuring artwork from their father and brother, the late Dr. William Good ts’usqinuxun and the late W. Joel Good ts’usqinuxun, the collection — then, and in all the years since — was also informed by the design and mentorship of their mother, Sandra Moorhouse-Good thul te lada.

While putting this first collection together for Vancouver Fashion Week, they were asked to use original music for the show, said Aunalee.

“We went and sat down with Joel, and we were like, ‘What are we going to do?’ We need some beats,” she recalled. “And he was just like, ‘Well, go see Rob the Viking. He's back in town.’”

A Nanaimo-based producer, Rob the Viking is best known as one-third of the Canadian hip hop group Swollen Members. This collaboration with the family started them on a journey of reconnection with their Snuneymuxw songs and language that has now spanned a decade.

“That started our entire music trajectory,” said Aunalee. The family recorded original music for every show since, and their 10 year retrospective will feature a compilation of their greatest hits along with their most iconic looks.

“We have this massive couture closet with so many pieces that have been on the runway between Vancouver to New York and Paris,” she told Vancity Lookout, from her retail storefront space in Nanaimo where she was selecting pieces for the show.

Aunalee said she was surprised at how well different pieces from separate collections were coming together in new combinations.

“It all just blends and works together. I think that what it comes down to is that the family are all from the same line of training, from the great grandfathers,” she said. “Everything just lines up and works together. Like, we have a cape from one collection and it actually looks fabulous on a dress from another collection.”

Going through all the pieces and looks from the last ten years has been an emotional experience, says Aunalee, as the family is still deep in the grief of losing William to cancer last July and Joel suddenly in 2024.

“Joel was here at our very first showcase which was this runway right here, Vancouver Fashion Week 2018,” she said in a runway tribute to Joel at an Ay Lelum show in 2024. “He was our feature artist and he was also in our music track, the one and only time. He painted our earrings, because my sister and I tried to do it and he came along and laughed at us and redid them all. And the last showcase we did was here, at Vancouver Fashion Week, and he walked the runway with me.”

Abdourahman, who was close with William, has been supportive of the family from the very beginning, said Aunalee.

“They've respected all of our requests for anything cultural we've wanted to do, and for having our own models,” she said. “They're very strong supporters of the arts and community, and I don't think they really get that much acknowledgement for the work that they do.”

Vancouver Fashion Week runs from April 8 to 12 at the David Lam Hall, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver.

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THE VANCOUVER NUMBER

1.5%

That’s the decline in TransLink ridership in 2025 compared to 2024. It also remains below pre-COVID levels of ridership. The main reason? A population decline throughout the region. While ridership bus and SkyTrain lines were down 2.5 and 2.6 per cent respectively, SeaBus ridership was up 3.8 per cent and the Canada Line rose 1.1 per cent. The other good news is that overcrowding South of Fraser East declined to six per cent compared to 11 per cent of all trips. Read more. [Vancouver Sun]

THE AGENDA

♻️ There’s been a noticeable increase in recycling bins overflowing in some Vancouver buildings due to operational issues from transitioning to a new contractor that is servicing the region. Those most affected are in downtown Vancouver, False Creek and Mount Pleasant. The provider says they’ve had trouble accessing buildings and getting new vehicles. Read more. [CBC]

🏠 A motion at city council by Sean Orr would shift around who pays city taxes. His motion would raise property taxes overall, but then give rebates to most local home owners, with no increase for businesses. Those who have homes under $3 million, have their main residence in the city and own only one home would see no cost increase. The plan would see those with higher-value homes and who live out of province pay more. The average single-family home in Vancouver was worth $2.092 million in July 2026. Read more. [Urbanized]

❓Questions are being raised by Lapu Lapu attack victims about how the money raised by the event organizers is being spent. Read more. [CTV]

💰 City council will review a motion next week on setting aside dedicated funding for major events. It comes as many have had to shut down due to rising costs and reduced revenue. Read more. [Urbanized]

📈 How about those gas prices… Gas prices are around $2.16 a litre. Sadly, it’s not just gas prices, as consumer prices are also rising, especially around the cost of shipping in the trucking industry. Read more. [CityNews]

🚗 Traffic was backed up on the Lions Gate Bridge for hours on Saturday, not due to an accident, but a burnt-out arrow light as drivers headed to the North Shore. Read more. [CityNews]

🪧 Hundreds of people took to the streets in Vancouver on Saturday to join in the “No Kings” marches that took place across the U.S. over the weekend, rallying against President Donald Trump and I.C.E. (though in our case, the rally was called “No Tyrants”). Read more. [CTV]

🏒The Canucks lost 7-3 against the Flames on Saturday. But in some good news, the Goldeneyes beat the Toronto Sceptre 3-2 on Sunday.

EVENT GUIDE

Capture Photography Festival | Various locations around town | Apr. 1-30 | Free photography festival with gallery exhibitions, photo walks and lots more | Free

Food Truck Fest and Market at UBC | UBC Commons | Apr. 1, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | 20 food trucks with artisan market and vendors | Free entry

Kitsilano Comedy Classic | Hollywood Theatre | Apr. 2, 8 p.m. | Fresh lineup of pro comedians | Tickets $40+

Big Easter Run | Jericho Beach Park | Apr. 4, 12 p.m. | Yearly run with fun for the entire family, with proceeds going to KidSport | Tickets $26+

Bizarre Bazar | Heritage Hall | Apr. 5, 11 a.m.-4 a.m. | Come grab some vintage clothing | Tickets $10

Tea Creek | Red Gate | Apr. 7, 6-9 p.m. | A film about Indigenous food sovereignty | Free

Mellow Film Tour | Rio Theatre | Apr. 8, 6:15-8:30 p.m. | Four climbing films in one evening | Tickets $30

Jugal’s Supper Club - Kolkata After Dark | Apr. 10, 6-8:45 p.m. | Bengali supper club dinner exploring good from the region | Tickets $101

Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade | Ross Street Temple | Apr. 11, beginning at 11 a.m. | Family-fun parade with as many as 300,000 people expected to watch | Free

Rat Taxidermy Workshop | Pretty Dead Taxidermy, 2333 Ontario St. | Apr. 12, 12-4 p.m. | Learn the basics of rat taxidermy, whether you’re a beginner or more advanced | Tickets $225

Teen Angst Night | Fox Cabaret | Apr. 17 and May 8 | Comedic reading series about cringy moments from people’s teenage notebooks | Tickets $22

Portobello West Spring Market | Roundhouse Community Centre | Apr. 18-19 | Buy unique goods from curated local B.C. makers | Tickets $5

Earth Day Dinner at Lila with Food Stash Foundation | Lila Restaurant | Apr. 22, 5:30-9 p.m. | A dinner with food rescued from the food charity Food Stash | Tickets $86

Celebrate Earth Day at Trout Lake Community Centre | Trout Lake Community Centre | Apr. 26, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Have fun and learn how to be better stewards of our environment | Free

Want to see your event here? Submit them to our event calendar.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Here’s a fun video on the floating gas station in the middle of Coal Harbour

NEW VANCOUVER JOBS

Discover your new dream job in Vancouver:

Program director at Trulio
Communications and community engagement specialist at Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation
Director of operations and factory lead at The Little Cacao Co.
Account manager at UBC
Senior director, global function development at Arc'teryx Equipment

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

Meet the teddy bear doctor who restores stuffed toys. [CBC]
This Japanese Izakaya restaurant in Gastown is as close as you can to Japan, without actually going
These parking signs really are the most complicated in Vancouver…
Ever wondered how the famous artist Douglas Copeland shaped Vancouver? Then check out this interview. [Vancouver is Awesome]
If you’re a space fan, then you’ll want to attend this Artemis II watch party. [Vancouver is Awesome]
Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.