About May Globus
Vancouver City Editor May Globus is obsessed with the sartorial and all that surrounds it: art, design, culture, music and film. Oh, and she really likes writing about it, too. A left coast girl at heart, her Sweetspot finds just might show why the westside really is the best side.
Saying “Canada” brings a few things to mind (albeit stereotypically): beavers, Mounties, maple syrup and a friendly Canadian exclaiming, “Sorry aboot that, eh?”
Two of the most Canadiana icons of them all – fashion brand Roots and Generation X author-slash-multimedia artist Douglas Coupland – recently came together to produce an exclusive collection of clothing and accessories dubbed “Canada Goes Electric”, which I checked out at their temporary pop-up shop at 39 Powell Street in Gastown.
My sartorial and design senses went into overload at the Coupland artwork and clothing, from the test pattern t-shirt dress ($68) and handwarmers ($24), the motherboard leggings ($42), which comes in a mini version for little tots, and the crest messenger bag ($58). 
Then there was the artworks and the electric bonspiel table ($300) – cleverly honouring curling rings – that would look grand in my pop color palette apartment and the cute spiral ring notebooks for the obsessive scribe in me (from $3.99).
For those who have been Roots loyalists from before this collabo collection, there's also a shelf (and a canoe!) filled with signature leather bags and a few new ones, like the shoulder bag that -- with a simple strap pull here and there -- turns into a stylish backpack, an ingenious accessory for biking junkies (such as yours truly) who have almost had cycling accidents trying to shift a purse slung across the body while pedaling.
Coupland himself made an appearance later that evening, gamely posing with his wide-eyed fans and happily getting interviewed by folks like Bob Kronbauer from Vancouver Is Awesome. Here's a little gem of info for Vancouverites, too: Coupland also did all the artwork found in The Keefer residences in Chinatown. Oh, how I wish I'd remembered brought that copy of The Gum Thief sitting beside my bed for an autograph!
When I eventually left the shop, once thing was for sure: I had true, patriot love for it all.
