Umeboshi Footwear Inc, Vancouver, BC

Stepping through the doors at Umeboshi it is easy to be swept away as the full, rich scent of high quality leather fills the air, a perfectly picked bouquet of seasonal blooms from a neighbouring shop delight the eyes and the tranquility of 100 year old theatre chairs bring a gentle sense of grounding to visitors. Within mere moments we are taken to a time gone by, a time of engagement, when quality was valued over quantity. A time when taking a Saturday stroll meant stopping by the local baker, butcher, florist and shoe shop, greeting each merchant by name. The inspiration that sparked Umeboshi comes from a place that remembers this time. Living in Europe in her early 20’s, Umeboshi founder & director Stephanie Gorrell understood there was something very special and fundamentally profound about the simplicity of this lifestyle. She valued the honesty that came with each of her interactions, as she herself would stop by local shops along her way. In 2005 she brought these traditional values to Vancouver, Canada. She introduced Umeboshi: a small boutique with an immaculately curated selection of footwear for both men and women. Over the years it meticulously evolved from quaint local shop to international competitor by joining the growing online market. Now carrying nearly exclusively handcraft merchandise from enviable designers such as Coclico, Jas M., Rachel Comey, Chie Mihara, Martiniano, Reinhard Plank, Grenson, Oak Street Bootmakers and Wolverine 1000 Mile, Umeboshi maintains its roots and its neighbourhood feel. Old world service from friendly and knowledgeable staff, a welcoming place to wander through, and of course, delectable merchandise to entice the senses with the promise of excitement that comes only with a new pair of shoes.