By the time this goes up, HAVEN won’t be a singular, Edmonton-only entity as an all new Vancouver location will join the fold. A Vancouver location will probably highlight HAVEN as a retailer much quicker than its earlier days as a lone Alberta-run operation, due to the fact Vancouver is a larger market and the impending Olympics on the way. But on a relatively quiet back street in an oil-centric town, HAVEN’s roots in Edmonton has already mad great strides in bringing attention and airplay to the cold arctic (ok it’s not THAT cold). So eloquently dubbed “The City of Champions”, I grew up in Edmonton and its surrounding areas which brought forth this interesting dynamic. If you’re currently living there, you’ll have something to gripe and groan about, but the minute you set foot outside, there’s a fierce pride. But that’s what small towns do to you I guess. I’ve been out of Edmonton and living in Hong Kong for the last 3.5 years or so, but I’ve always looked back and embraced my first 22 years spent in Edmonton. You should never forget your roots, especially given the fact that it often has such a profound effect on the molding of your personality and philosophies to life. I come home each time to be greeted by true warmth and care, a highly over-looked trait in Hong Kong in which nobody’s life is seemingly more important than your own. Every moment spent at home, things relax and slow down and I appreciate it. But alas, Hong Kong’s a land of opportunity which you simply can’t overlook for the time being, but with my immediate family still kicking it back there, it gives me ample reason for semi-frequent trips home.

HAVEN’s expansion on the backs of the work of Daniel and Arthur Chmielewski have been nothing short of inspiring. As I look at it, Edmonton was so easily classified as a prototypical hick town, but with the introduction of HAVEN, the store has become something of envy throughout the world I imagine, carrying such a well-curated roster of brands that is un-surpassed by few retailers. In 3 years, they’ve so how managed to figure out things in a hurry. Everything in their experience is just simply executed. Their ease of use online and superior presentation all contribute to their ability to connect the buyer as close as possible to that piece of clothing that they’d otherwise have no chance to see… all the dots are connected.

I wanted to take this opportunity to really try to understand the process behind HAVEN. As mentioned, as we both have shared this similar background and it was almost like a background-check, to see how their success came about and whether there was something inherent about Edmonton itself. Probably putting too much weight in my early surroundings, but hey, that’s what Edmontonians do ha.

With my good friend Justin Der making huge waves with his latest venture The Common, the music and culture scene looks to be on the cusp of expanding and making some serious noise. I guess for a city known for little more than a few dynasty years twenty some years ago in a sport nobody really cares about involving Wayne Gretzky… there are good things on the horizon.

-Eugene

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