In the heart of Vancouver’s historic Gastown, Neighbour’s understated sign on Water Street beckons towards one of the city’s best-kept secrets. At the end of a tranquil passageway, this menswear shop across from Shirakawa Japanese Restaurant offers not only one-of-a-kind clothing but also art objects, watches, wallets, candles and other charming wares from independent makers and creators around the globe.
Basked in natural sunlight (three of Neighbour’s four walls are floor-to-ceiling windows), wood tables and industrial-style racks display more than 40 different menswear and unisex brands. “It’s a worldly collection,” says manager Justin Lintag, who receives shipments from designers in Scandinavia, Japan, northern Europe, the UK and the US each season.
Such ever-evolving product makes for a thrilling, exclusive experience. Encountering the perfect pair of black jeans or crisp white t-shirt at Neighbour is “like discovering a musician you’ve never heard before,” says Justin. “Our brands are often uncharted,” he continues, “which allows us to create our own particular niche for men’s clothing in Vancouver.”
