They may be thousands of miles apart, but if there's one thing Vancouverites and Montrealers have in common, it's a passion for unique clothing—and by unique, we mean true, one-of-a-kind, not-going-to-find-it-anywhere-near-a-mall fashion.

That's one of the big reasons why this year's Circle Craft Christmas Market, on Wednesday to next Sunday (November 11 to 15) at the Vancouver Convention Centre, is worth checking out. Amid the 265 artisans showing everything from hand-knit hats to sculpted silver pendants at the 36th annual event, for the first time there is a small but strong contingent of four artists representing Montreal's thriving indie-fashion scene.

Their wares are a perfect cross section of the diverse and edgy style hub. Laurie Lemieux will be showing her Cokluch line, streetwear and accessories made from recycled leather; think cute open-backed black vests, wide belts, handbags, and snap-studded anklet-leggings, many imbued with subtle floral or feather graphics. Hot up-and-coming designer Eve Gravel brings out her array of tailored yet waifish clothing—muted jackets, blouses, and flowy dresses that are slightly vintage, coolly understated, and beautifully crafted. And Lilou and SUF puts a contemporary spin on hand-felted and -knit wool scarves, purses, rugs, pillows, and blankets.

Joining them will be their friends Amélie Gingras-Rioux and Annie Chagnon, whose Annie 50 women's clothes have a fun American Graffiti, Vargas Girl vibe—but you can wear them to your day job.

“My partner and I, we like the '50s a lot—the design of the cars, the music, the clothes. We have a big affection for the '50s, but we don't reproduce the '50s,” explains Gingras-Rioux in a phone interview from Montreal. “We keep the femininity [of the era] but with comfort. The '50s, they're not known for comfort, with the corsets and the high skirts.”

The result is a funky, vintage-inspired line that's highly wearable; in other words, you don't have to be heading out to a Reverend Horton Heat concert or driving your turquoise '57 Chevy to the Show & Shine to wear these babies. The key is the cuts, which are fitted and cute, and the fabrics—stretch cotton that's way more comfortable than what June Cleaver had to put up with. Think black off-the-shoulder sweaters with a funky plaid button-tab at the neckline; big-buttoned jackets with tattoolike screen prints on the back; and a looser, contemporary spin on an Audrey Hepburn jacket that's red with black piping and has full-length sleeves instead of the classic three-quarter ones.

The Annie 50 duo, who met through Montreal indie boutique Aime Com Moi and set up their line four years ago, put a lot of effort into hunting down the right fabrics. This season, they've gone mad for retro plaid—on the sexy cross-back, bold-buttoned Bérénice vest and peeks out from the double ruffle on the grey, black, teal, or red Geraldine skirt. “Next spring we use printed cotton, and they have cute polka dots and papillons—butterflies—and that's fun for us,” Gingras-Rioux says, adding that some of those warm-weather pieces will be on hand at the Circle Craft show, as well as fall and winter looks. (Prices run around $75 to $200; look for select pieces at Forsya Boutique and Gallery [2206 Main Street].)

She has little doubt that the Montreal-created items at the show will appeal to Vancouverites. “We all wanted to try Vancouver. I think Montreal and Vancouver are the places [in Canada] where you can find something original.” Think of their visit to the convention centre as putting a little Plateau Mont-Royal onto Burrard Inlet.