A new department store called Simons (La Maison Simons) opened up today in Vancouver. The company was founded by the Simons family in Quebec City, Canada with over 170 years of retail experience. I had the pleasure of attending their Pre-Opening Event yesterday, Oct 14, 2015, and had the chance to briefly meet Peter and Richard Simons. They are the 5th generation Simons brothers that have taken over the business. With the recent opening of the Park Royal South location in Vancouver, this would be the 10th store throughout Canada. The store offers a variety of fashion for men and women as well as items for home decor. They also have an online store available to shop from.
I’ve only been to the Eastern part of Canada once and didn’t get a chance to check out the Simons store while I was there, so I didn’t know what to expect. The night was simple and not overly crowded with hors d’oeuvres, wine and other beverage served to attendees. The store was bright, open, and not overwhelming like most department stores. Each section had a different feel because of the beautiful architecture and varying art designs and color schemes which all still blended well together. We had a chance to walk around the store and check out the products and brands available.
Simons’ Universe:
Twik – clothing for the Young and Eclectic
Icone – for the Urban Chic gone Glam
Contemporaine – for women’s Career and Casual Wear
i.Fiv – performance sports fashion for men and women
miiyu – lingerie and loungewear for women
Le31 – urban and active wear for men
DJAB – alternative streetwear for men
Brands are not limited to the above as they also carry a selection of clothing, accessories and shoes from many International Designers. You can find items at any price range so it’s neither low end or high end. I liked the fact that there were many different styles of clothing you can choose from, unlike most retail stores you walk into these days where most items are targeted to a specific age group and style options are limited and almost all look too similar.
From casual, trendy, sporty to contemporary styles, there is something to fit your mood. There were definitely many pieces that caught my eye that I’ll be returning for to purchase. Living in the suburbs, it may take me an hour and a half with traffic to get there, but this place is worth checking out. I just found a new place to shop for my new outfits and they came just in time for Christmas. I’m hoping they open more locations closer to me. The pics above were taken with my phone camera so I apologize for the poor quality.
