With June just around the corner, our city’s biggest event and our favourite time of year is getting so close, we can almost smell the Midway popcorn. When Stampede takes over YYC, it’s hard not to get swept up in the excitement – and really, why try to resist?
One of the most fun aspects of Stampede week is Stampede style, and there are some fantastic local companies who can get you suited up with the western flair that’s expected during the festivities, in the most stylish of possible ways. Going beyond your personal fashionable appearances, apparel and product from these local favourites also make for fantastic corporate gifts that your clients and staff will actually want to hang on to and use. Read more about two of our favourite local style leaders who can help you up your game this Stampede:
THE SOURCE: LETHRBAR
THE SCOOP: Unique and stylish small leather goods that pack a big punch
FOR BUSINESS: Personalized or branded keepsakes, and LETHRBAR LIVE event activations
FOR PLEASURE: Modern, fresh, and brilliantly coloured leather accessories and embellishments
About LETHRBAR
Think you know what to expect from leather? Time to look twice. Designer Kat Marks and her team at LETHRBAR handcraft fresh and modern items like bracelets, wallets, belts, and even bowties from beautiful leather in the most vivid colours for an entirely new take on a western standby. Everything from the dying of the leather to the actual construction of each piece is done right in their YYC studio; it really does not get more local than this. Old-school handicraft meets new-school technology for a throw-the-book away end result.
Whoa Rodeo – Trick out your Stampede style with bold and colourful leather accents
Whether it’s a head-turning hat band, a playful bolo tie, or their best-selling candy-coloured bracelets, details that pop will take your Stampede look from obligatory to celebratory. This year, LETHRBAR’s Whoa Rodeo aesthetic is inspired by a Miley-meets-Dolly approach with retro accents, fun shapes, and big, bold, colour. Challenge accepted!
Corporate gifting that won’t be regifted
LETHBAR’s bespoke gifting service produces gorgeous and unique pieces that are crafted to your exact specifications. We can speak from personal experience when we say that these are not the type of corporate gifts that will end up in the back of a drawer. Luxurious and beautiful leather goods like journals, mug or beer cozies, key tags, and much, much more can be tastefully branded or monogrammed, making them more keepsake than corporate gift.
Real-time leather stamping; next-level event engagement
LETHBAR LIVE is an event entertainment opportunity where guests can monogram or otherwise personalize a leather momento right at an event. Not only is the experience engaging (expect all of your guests to crowd around this activation!), but the momento itself will be used and cherished long after the event has wrapped.
THE SOURCE: Local Laundry
THE SCOOP: Local-love apparel that gives back
FOR BUSINESS: Collaborate on custom apparel that does more
FOR PLEASURE: Hometown-pride you can wear
About Local Laundry
Meet a clothing company on a mission: Local Laundry aims to raise one million dollars for local charities across Canada by donating 10% of their profits each month to a local cause that their customers help choose. Sounds pretty great, right? Well hang onto your cowboy hat, because that’s not all they’re up to. They’re also working hard to transition their apparel to be completely made-in-Canada, thereby supporting Canadian manufacturers and the Canadian economy. Lastly, they’re building community by offering customers a way to wear their hometown pride on their shirts, and by collaborating with other community builders.
Wear your pride, from head to toe
If boots and cowboy hats aren’t so much your thing, dive into Canadian style instead by embracing our colours, our signature buffalo check, and some country or city labeled gear. After all, hundreds of thousands of visitors stream into our city during Stampede, so there’s no better time to dress like the proud Calgarian you are. Local Laundry can get you into a YYC tee, tank, or snapback cap, or opt for one of their many CAN styles.
Get in on the mission with custom collaborative gear
If reading about Local Laundry’s lofty goals has left you feeling inspired, you can get in on the action and make a difference by collaborating on some custom gear – a great way to do corporate gifting or branded apparel for your event during Stampede that will support the local community along with your business. The possibilities are pretty endless, so the best thing to do is to get in touch with the team at Local Laundry to find out where your ideas can take you, together.
Whatever your plans for Stampede 2018, have a little fun, get into the spirit, and go for it! Business or pleasure, we highly recommend checking out LETHRBAR and Local Laundry, and can tell you from experience that you’ll love working (or shopping) with them as much as we do. And stay tuned over the next several weeks as we bring you a few more of our favourite local collaborators for all things Stampede.
Photo Credits:
LETHRBAR
Local Laundry
Phil Crozier
LeBlond Studio
Deanna Antony
@katmarks
instagram.com/locallaundry
instagram.com/mintphoto.ca
instagram.com/rvlph.g
instagram.com/the_floyd_g
instagram.com/haileyromano
instagram.com/hannadarlenee
instagram.com/merakissupplyco
instagram.com/joseph.roams
instagram.com/abermaddy
instagram.com/lm_little
