If you’ve lived on the North Shore long enough, you know Parkgate Village. It’s where you grab a coffee before heading up Mount Seymour. Where errands somehow feel less hectic. Where longtime local businesses become part of the neighbourhood itself: familiar, dependable, and quietly woven into daily life.
Escape Travel Wear is one of those places.
Located in Parkgate Village in North Vancouver, this longtime women’s clothing boutique has spent nearly two decades helping customers find stylish, comfortable clothing for travel, everyday wear, special occasions, and the active North Shore lifestyle.
Rather than relying on fast-changing trends, Escape Travel Wear has built its reputation through personalized customer service, thoughtfully selected collections, and the kind of trust that only develops over time – one happy customer at a time.
In a retail environment where more shops seem to close than open, there’s something refreshing about a local North Vancouver boutique that has stayed consistent while continuing to evolve with changing times and customer needs.
A North Vancouver Boutique With a Story
Escape Travel Wear began about 18 years ago with a simple, unpretentious vision: a relaxed, travel-focused boutique built around Canadian brands and comfortable, well-made clothing.
The idea was straightforward: clothes should make life and travel easier, not more complicated.
When Karen joined the business full-time nine years ago, she helped shape the store into the welcoming boutique many North Shore locals know today. She refreshed the space, expanded the brand selection, and leaned even further into personalized customer care.
And that service is what customers remember and return for.
Regulars talk about the staff’s honesty, who will genuinely tell customers whether something works for them. They talk about the relaxed atmosphere, where you’ll often find a dog or two joining the team in-store. Customers can even take items home on approval to try with their existing wardrobe before committing.
Alterations are also available, adding another level of convenience that online shopping simply can’t offer.
It’s the kind of neighbourhood customer care that used to feel normal in retail – and now feels surprisingly rare.
Stylish and Comfortable Women’s Clothing for Travel and Everyday Life
The store’s name gives away its philosophy.
Escape Travel Wear specializes in clothing that moves easily through real life: pieces comfortable enough for long-haul flights, polished enough for special events, and versatile enough that you don’t need an entirely separate wardrobe for your vacation.
Whether you’re planning a Mediterranean getaway, visiting family across the country, road-tripping the coast, or simply making the most of summer in beautiful British Columbia, the focus is always on clothing that feels effortless to wear.
Importantly, the store never feels overwhelming. Every collection is intentionally chosen to be wearable, flattering, comfortable, and practical without sacrificing personality or style.
Personalized Shopping You Can’t Get Online
What keeps customers coming back isn’t just the clothing, but the experience.
It’s the feeling of walking into a store where people genuinely know their product and genuinely care that customers leave feeling good about their purchase.
Karen and her team understand fit, fabric, travel practicality, and how different brands work for different body types. Customers are encouraged to browse at their own pace, ask questions, try things on, and actually enjoy the process of shopping.
For many customers, that personal and relaxed atmosphere has become part of the store’s appeal.
Supporting Local Businesses on the North Shore
Independent businesses shape the character of a community in ways people often only notice once they’re gone.
The North Shore has seen many beloved local shops disappear over the years, squeezed by rising costs and changing shopping habits. Every closure changes the feel of a neighbourhood a little bit.
Escape Travel Wear represents the other side of that story: a family-rooted North Vancouver business that has navigated nearly two decades of retail change while holding onto the qualities that made customers love it in the first place.
When you shop here, you’re supporting people who live and work in the neighbourhood, those who know customers by name and take genuine pride in what they do.
That still matters. In fact, it may matter now more than ever.
Visit Escape Travel Wear in Parkgate Village
You don’t need a vacation booked to appreciate Escape Travel Wear.
The boutique’s collections work just as well for everyday lifestyle as they do for travel: easy layers for every season, comfortable weekend pieces, relaxed summer styles, and polished classics for special occasions.
But if you do have a trip coming up, there’s something reassuring about shopping at a store that has spent nearly two decades helping women travel comfortably and confidently.
Stop in. Ask questions. Have a browse. Try something on. Karen and her team will take it from there.
Escape Travel Wear is located in Parkgate Village at 116–1151 Mount Seymour Rd., North Vancouver.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
For more information, visit Escape Travel Wear on Facebook and Instagram, or call 604-988-6362.
