Made in Vancouver

Made in Vancouver

Vancouver doesn't just produce overpriced lattes and undersized condos; the creative vibe of the place has produced worldwide products from biotech to yoga wear. Here are just a few names making news:

Lululemon Athletica: The stylized "A" insignia is as recognizable to yoga enthusiasts as the Nike "swoosh" is to sports fans.

John Fluevog: Yep, those outrageous shoes took their first step in Vancouver.

Canadarm: Although first developed in Ontario in the 1970s, the famous space arm is now produced by MDA, a company in Richmond, a suburb of Vancouver.

Happy Planet Juices: In its continuing efforts to "turn the planet on to 100% organic juices," organic yogurt beverages have now joined the lineup.

Holey Soles: These brightly colored, holey, clog-like, rubber-compound shoes are ubiquitous across North America and gaining a foothold overseas, too.

Neurostep: Created by a kinesiologist at Simon Fraser University, this device is like a pacemaker for paralyzed limbs.

Nuytco: A pioneer in commercial diving equipment, and the world leader in the development of deep-water submersibles for research, exploration, and industry.

Option Snowboards: These hand-crafted snowboards are the tool of choice for hard-core riders all over the world.

St. Moritz: High-end European watchmakers are eyeing this competitor because the quality is proving so good that scuba divers swear by them.

Rocky Mountain Bicycles: B.C. invented the "free-riding" or "north shore" (from the North Shore Mountains) style of riding that's taken over the sport, and Rocky Mountain makes the steeds on which the style was pioneered.

The Vancouver Model: The "point tower" design—skinny towers on townhouse bases that soar above Yaletown and along False Creek—is an urban-density planning model that Vancouver exports to cities like San Diego and Dubai.

WhiteWater West: This Richmond-based company designs and produces more water parks and slides than anyone else in the world!