The Burnaby fashion scene is getting some new high-profile additions in local malls.
The latest news is that global fashion giant Hugo Boss is setting up shop at the city’s biggest mall, Metropolis at Metrotown.
Many local stores, such as the Bay, carry Hugo Boss products, but this is the city’s first brick-and-mortar store for the giant.
Hugo Boss, which was created way back in 1924 in Germany, is known for its men’s fashions, but it also sells womenswear and fragrances. High-profile stars like Chris Hemsworth model for the brand.
Adding a big brand like Hugo Boss is good news for Metropolis after COVID-19 financial impacts resulted in the permanent closures of several fashion stores in the mall, including Frank & Oak, Pink and more.
Hugo Boss had a bad 2020 like most retail businesses, but is banking on an economic recovery as the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out.
And things do appear to be improving in B.C.
Statistics Canada data shows the jobless rate in British Columbia dipped more than one percentage point in February and Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon says the B.C. economy is growing.
New data shows the number of people looking for work in the province fell to 6.9 per cent in February from eight per cent the month earlier.
A statement from the Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ministry says employment has been created in B.C. in each of the last 10 months and the province has one of the strongest economies in Canada.
As B.C. marks the first anniversary of the pandemic, Kahlon says 26,600 jobs were created across the province in February, boosting employment to 99.4 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Statistics Canada reports the national unemployment rate fell in February to 8.2 per cent from 9.4 per cent in January, mainly due to the return of almost 260,000 jobs, the bulk of them in Ontario and Quebec.
The nearly 27,000 new positions created in B.C. were primarily filled by women and specific regions are also doing well, Kahlon says.
“In fact, employment in some parts of the province is above pre-pandemic levels. For example, Prince George is at 106.7 per cent and Kamloops is at 103.3 per cent," says the ministry statement.
- With files from the Canadian Press
