Vancouver athleisure – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Natural fibres, Vancouver-made style and a whole lot of comfort.

What a pleasant surprise to discover this clothing studio the other day! Located on West 4th Avenue at the corner of Bayswater, Downtown Betty first caught my eye because of the cute bicycle in the window. But step inside and you’ll find an inviting space filled with natural light, an appealing selection of clothing and plenty of temptation to try something on.

Think casual cool, ultra-comfortable styles and natural fabrics. Even better, this isn’t just a retail shop – it’s where the clothing is actually made. You can browse the finished pieces hanging in the studio and perhaps discover something you didn’t know you needed.

Downtown Betty is a Vancouver-based, woman-owned fashion company founded by designer Katie Quinn. Katie showed me around and told me about another passion of hers: helping animals in Bali by supporting the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats. It’s a lovely reminder that there’s often much more to a small business owner than the products they create.

Katie wearing one of her creations. I tried on these pants – I love the loose wide-leg fit, pockets and cuffs.

Downtown Betty has been doing things naturally since 2009, designing and making clothing in Vancouver with a focus on comfort, natural fibres and sustainability.

The athleisure collection is designed to move effortlessly from the yoga mat to the street. Goddess dresses, Temple skirts, Dakini tops and more offer relaxed, versatile styles for women who don’t want to choose between comfort and looking good.

And the fabric is a big part of the story.

According to the company, its signature fabric is made from 95% cotton and 5% Lycra, combining breathability with a little stretch. The majority of its fabrics are tested to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, while selected colours and heathered fabrics are made from organic cotton.

As Downtown Betty explains on its website, cotton is breathable, softens with wear and feels wonderfully light against the skin. It’s a simple approach to clothing, and one the company says it has stayed true to for sixteen years.

In a world of fast fashion and ever-changing trends, there’s something appealing about a local studio committed to comfortable, thoughtfully made clothing – pieces you can wear to yoga, to the coffee shop, while running errands or wherever the day takes you.