Circle Craft offers oneof-a-kind fashion finds

If a mad dash to the mall is the last thing you want to be doing on Christmas Eve, may we suggest pencilling Vancouver’s jampacked schedule of holiday markets onto your calendar? The fun kicks off with the Circle Craft Christmas Market, which will bring more than 300 artisans from across Canada to the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West building from Wednesday to Sunday (November 7 to 11). Below, we spotlight a few of our favourite fashioncentric vendors to look for. THIRTEENTH STUDIO Unable to deny the inscrutable lure of metalsmithing, Yeonji Anj Kim abandoned her plans to pursue a career in accounting after high school to major in jewellery and metal at the Alberta College of Art and Design. It turned out she had found her calling. “It’s not just something that adorns people—it becomes part of their history and part of themselves,” the Seoul-born and Calgary-raised artist explains, when asked what draws her to accessories.

Now based in Vancouver, the 32-year-old runs Thirteenth Studio, her label of handcrafted pared-down jewellery. Preferring to use only sterling silver and gold, Kim dreams up statement bling for the self-described minimalist: delicate chokers adorned with a single disc-shaped pendant; shimmering shoulder-duster earrings; and chunky rings that are shaped as though they’re partially liquefied. Many of the items feature textured surfaces, like they’ve been weathered from years of wear.

Other Thirteenth Studio creations are more whimsical: the Casa Azul hoops, for instance, are made of hollow brass tubes that hold the stems of flowers so that the petals remain visible when the earrings are worn. Find the budding designer’s full Thirteenth Studio range (from $50) at Circle Craft.

VOILÀ DESIGNS Sustainability is a theme that’s only recently come to light in the fashion world, but for Manitoba-based designer Andréanne Dandeneau, it’s always been part of her brand’s core identity.

Since its launch in 2005, Dandeneau’s Voilà Designs has been committed to environmentally minded practices. Ethically designed and manufactured in Winnipeg, the line of casual but work-appropriate womenswear—which includes items such as blazers, leggings, and wide-leg pants— uses natural, Canadian-made fibres. Each piece is designed with comfort and a woman’s curves in mind.

In addition to its quality, ecofriendly threads, Voilà is known for its integration of Indigenous handicraft techniques and patterns. Dandeneau is Métis and her artist father, David, produces the label’s heritage motifs: nature-inspired prints that borrow from Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork and Plains First Nations symbols, which are then silk-screened atop T-shirts and bumwarmers. “Sometimes, I describe it as definitely a Métis look and people are like, ‘Well, what is Métis?’ ” explains Dandeneau, who will have Voilà’s full range (from $14 for accessories; from $40 for clothing) at Circle Craft. “It’s Aboriginal and Europe run together—and that’s exactly my style. You have this touch of Indigenous culture with French flair.” BÉTON BRUT Saskatoon-based artist Amanda Nogier began experimenting with concrete bling during university, and four years later, she hasn’t looked back. The former graphic designer specializes in jewellery that uses the highly durable substance in places typically occupied by glittering beads or gemstones. Offered under her brand, Béton Brut—a French term meaning “raw concrete”—the modern, minimalist pieces take after everything from art deco to elementary geometry, though each is heavily influenced by brutalist architecture.

The 32-year-old blends vibrant pigments into her concrete moulds, resulting in marbled slabs that are marked with swirling shades of blue, violet, and peach. Brass flecks are also incorporated into the concrete mixes, which complement the 3-D– printed brass hardware that Nogier designs and casts herself. From dramatic drop earrings to double-finger rings, each piece of Béton Brut jewellery is decidedly simple in form and totally one-of-a-kind. “I use a lot of geometric shapes because they work really well with concrete,” she says.

At Circle Craft, Nogier will have her entire jewellery line on hand (from $35), including a handful of nonconcrete items, and small décor objects like concrete vessels and candles (from $40).