The Changing Fashion Retail Scene in Calgary

I remember a time in Calgary when girls/women went crazy about heading to West Edmonton Mall to visit the Forever XXI, when Abercrombie was a foreign retailer, and Coach was Holt Renfrew only. Well all that is changing now as more retailers are setting up shop in a city where big names were once scarce.

A lot of big US retailers are now popping up in Calgary's newly reno'd malls such as Southcentre, Chinook, and Market Mall. This of couse is in response to the opportunity offered by Calgary's young, dynamic population, and the level of disposable income the city's oil industry affords.

But with all the big names popping up in the usual destionations I'd like to bring a bit more attention to an awesome new locale that young fashionistas who don't come into the core often may be overlooking. I walk by Fashion Central every day and have been watching it progress into a very chic, very cool destination that should soon be an anchor in the Calgary fashion scene with a more unique and indepedent style than any of the traditional destinations have to offer. With seven street-front shops including Murale and Betsey Johnsony, and eighteen interior units fronting on an internal sky-lit atrium, its looking very promising. The project will include both recognized designer brand stores not typically found in shopping centres, and local and Canadian fashion designer boutiques.

Located on the corner of Stephen Avenue and First Street SW, Fashion Central replaces what used to be a corner with nothing but a dodgy Subway and a hole in the wall (literally) Bratwurst kiosk. It takes more than a little bit of vision and savvy to turn that into what it is today and you can now visit a Deville for a rich cafe just a few feet down from where the Subway used to be. That vision is to the credit of Encorp Inc, the company also responsible for another great concept, Art Central just a couple blocks away.

I've got to say, as a Calgarian I love developments like this because I really believe it inspires culture in the city and brings people into the core for reasons besides earning a paycheck from the man. Its great for the city and it creates a more vibrant community, especially as more people migrate to downtown living. I encourage everyone to check it out as more stores open over the next few months.