In a city that prefers Blundstones to heels, it can often seem like Vancouver’s fashion scene is “sleepier” than it really is. While it’s true that many top Vancouver-born brands like MEC and Lululemon are outdoor-focused, there are plenty of local streetwear brands, sustainable fashion, and high-end boutiques that cater to a wide range of tastes if you’re down to comb the racks. And if you’re looking to branch out and discover some new global brands while still supporting a Canadian business, let us put you onto Siista Boutique!
Boutique owner and curator Alejandra Rivera says that while Vancouver is known for being laid-back, deep down, the city “loves fashion, but sometimes people are scared to dress up.” Known for curating a selection of eye-catching brands (many of them women-owned) from across the globe, Rivera just opened the doors to SIISTA’s new storefront in Gastown.
“A huge thank you to this incredible community—your love and support make all of this possible, and I am endlessly grateful for you,” Rivera shares in a recent post.
“Cool girls” shop at the Dominion Building
Formerly in the Dominion Building, SIISTA rapidly became a part of a tight-knit community of fellow small businesses, including Collective Will, Once Twice, Vintique, The Find, and the very missed MUZI.
“For the first six months of SIISTA, I was doing pop-ups around the city,” Rivera explains. “But it’s hard to get people to come in when no one knows about you, so I looked for a studio to set up as a showroom for people to come try the clothing on, and that’s when I came across the Dominion Building.”
From second-hand to luxury, the community of small businesses and the array of apparel brands they all carried led to the Dominion Building becoming “its own shopping destination,” now widely known across the city for its “hidden shops,” according to Rivera.
Starting SIISTA
Before the boutique, Rivera tells me she always wanted to do something in fashion, yet never felt ready to take the plunge.
“After being laid off from my job during the pandemic, I realized life is too short not to give my dreams a chance, as cheesy as it sounds.” Thus, the concept of SIISTA was born: A place to bring together all of Rivera’s favourite brands.
“Before my office jobs, I always worked in retail and loved it so much. There were so many brands I loved that were hard to find in the city, so I took it upon myself to make them available in Vancouver.”
Brands you’ll find at the boutique
In terms of her favourite part about owning a small business, Rivera shares that buying for the store is like “shopping for all of [her] personalities,” giving her the chance to travel and source new brands.
“Nothing beats seeing the clothes in person rather than Zoom.”
Some of SIISTA’s most consistent brands include L.A.-made The Line by K, Another Girl from the U.K., Vancouver-based Brunette the Label, and Danish jewelry brand Pilgrim, just to name a few. Rivera says she mostly discovers them through Instagram and customer suggestions, so if there’s a brand you want to see at the boutique, it’s certainly worth shooting your shot.
“I’ve known about the new space since August, so when I was doing my spring buy, I did source new brands. Some of them are Damson Madder, Frankies Bikinis, NIA the label and more.”
From showroom to storefront
The journey from showroom to storefront was not an easy one, and according to Rivera, it really took being at the right place at the right time.
“I had no luck for the longest time. Either they were too expensive or just not the right fit. I stumbled upon an ad for a space and when I got in touch with the person in charge, of course, it was gone. This time, someone gave last-minute notice, so I got to see it before it even hit the market. I had such a good feeling about the space.”
Now open at 315 Cambie St., the boutique is run by Rivera and her first-ever employee, who was hired after three and a half years of Rivera running SIISTA solo with the occasional help of friends.
“I’m so excited to see how SIISTA can grow now that there will be more than one person running it!”
New operating hours
Ready to pop in for a fun afternoon of perusing? SIISTA is now open six days a week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Head on over to Cambie if you want to mix up your current wardrobe or pick out a memorable gift for a loved one.
Don’t be afraid to dress up, Vancouver!
SIISTA Boutique
Where: 315 Cambie St.
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