North Vancouver Holiday Bazaar, Nov. 18-19 and Dec. 2-3 at Carson Graham Secondary, 2145 Jones Ave., North Vancouver. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; admission $3 (kids 12 and under free). nvholidaybazaar.com
As a competitive runner, North Vancouver resident Beverli Barnes has amassed a healthy collection of race jerseys, most of them polyester with a less-than-flattering fit.
Seeking something more functional and stylish to wear while training and racing, the professional fashion designer decided to make her own gear. At first, she made race jerseys for a few friends and fellow athletes. In 2011, that side project grew into an apparel line.
Barnes and her partner, Deborah Nielsen, an interior designer and avid athlete herself, are behind CA5 Athletics, a line of men’s and women’s activewear and accessories made from bamboo jersey and terry. The appeal of bamboo, Barnes explains, is that it’s soft, sustainable and it doesn’t trap body odour so wearers can work up a sweat without all the stink. Effective moisture-wicking was her first priority when creating the line, but she also wanted to use bright, clean colours, free of the sponsor logos that clutter event jerseys.
“As a runner, I like really bright-coloured clothing. It’s good to be seen, especially because it rains all the time,” she adds.
Unlike the paper-bag fit of race jerseys, her designs focus on slim silhouettes that flatter the figure.
“I wanted it to be sexy and attractive because a lot of the running jerseys look like sacks,” she says. “What we’ve done with the line is we’ve made it very attractive and very slim cut and very shaped to your body, for men and women.”
People often ask Barnes about the brand name CA5, and she’s happy to share the backstory. All Canadian consumer textile articles have a five-digit CA identification number on the label. When Barnes returned to the Lower Mainland after completing her studies in fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York, she established her fashion company and was assigned the CA number 12345. “It was a total coincidence, so that’s where the name comes from,” she says.
CA5 apparel is sold online (ca12345.ca) and when Barnes opens up her North Vancouver studio for public events. Interested shoppers can get their hands on a sampling of products at the North Vancouver Holiday Bazaar where Barnes will have a booth set up Dec. 2. She will be selling an assortment of CA5 items including Arm-A-Get-In arm warmers, Bambeeni beanie caps, Thum-B-Lean-A gloves, and the always-popular Beetle Bag backpacks.
“It’s a really functional, really small bag that fits on your back right between your shoulder blades” perfect for toting around a cellphone, dog treats or a set of keys, Barnes says.
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The North Vancouver Holiday Bazaar returns for its fourth year at Carson Graham Secondary this weekend and Dec. 2-3. Organizers Chris Kennedy and Caterina Reid took over from the retiring Delbrook Christmas Craft Fair, which was a North Shore tradition for 20 years.
This year’s bazaar will feature more than 100 crafters and makers. Some are participating on all four days, others just one or two, meaning it’s a different market every day. Shoppers can browse an array of bath and body products, candles, jewelry, baked goods, canned foods, fashion and accessories, glassworks, health and wellness items, home and holiday décor, knitting/crochet, spirits and wine, paper crafts, pottery, textiles, visual arts and woodworks.
Kennedy says shopping at the bazaar is a pleasant alternative to the busy mall and it’s a good way to support independent artisans.
“You’re supporting a colleague, you’re supporting a neighbour, maybe even a friend or a family member,” he says. “These are people that have put their blood, sweat and tears into their creations. They’re creative individuals. And it’s all one of a kind. You really are buying that unique gift for somebody.”
In addition to vendors, there will also be food trucks, face painting, and visits from Santa. As in previous years, partial proceeds from admission, together with poinsettia sales and photos with Santa, will go to charity. This year, organizers selected Backpack Buddies as the beneficiary. The Metro Vancouver program provides backpacks of food on Fridays to children who rely on school meal programs weekdays.
The first 100 shoppers get in free every day, and if people want to skip the admission, Kennedy suggests arriving early. “Last year that took 10 minutes for that first 100 to get through and that was in super cold weather.”
