Featured Designers of Show Off Event 2009

The adjective ultra has been with Bates for almost as long as he can remember: “if you ask my mom, she’ll tell you I used to run around the house as a kid and yell ULTRA ULTRA ULTRA” insists Bates. The word has always had a profound hold on him and for years he has adopted it as both a personal moniker and ethos for life.
It boils down to living in the now; for the moment and aggressively pursuing your passions in life. Common as an expressive term in Europe; along the lines of extra or super, the word has been mistreated in North America; winding up on household products, such as: ultra-whitening toothpaste or ultra-soft toilet paper. Nevertheless, when Bates determined to launch his clothing line he knew it had to be ULTRA. “It is my favourite word in the English language, or any language for that matter. It is a single word that completely epitomizes my energy for and feeling about life” maintains Bates. This energy is reflected in his avant-garde designs, resulting in pieces that are bold, modern and dynamic.

F as in Frank is a neo-nostalgic vintage and new clothing store, for girls and guys. The majority of our clothing, accessories and footwear are inspired by certain fashion trends of the 80's and 90's. This includes vintage hip-hop and rock tee's, jackets, dresses, sportswear, retro ski-wear, vintage leather boots and jackets plus loads more. A vintage junkies dream. We specialize in dead stock gear, "new/old" goods that were made in the 80's and have been hiding like treasure for 20 + years. Often, we have over 100 styles of 80's sunglasses. Last but not least, our home label- "SNAP". Drew and Jesse Heifetz own F as in Frank and design this collection: where they take recycled materials from vintage clothing and re-work them into various fashionable and more wearable styles.

Freshly emerging out of the heart of Vancouver, Mental Wealth uses its Design to promote more then a brand but rather a lifestyle and culture. A product of the west coast environment, Mental Wealth represents the diverse communities that inhabit its home town. Promoting a positive state of mind an a progressive way of life, Mental Wealth is for that individual who's thought it not restricted and inside the box.