Swing a stick around any city in Canada, and you’re likely to hit a big box store, where the look, layout, and merchandise are all the same. Open up to Raw Athletics in downtown Kelowna and the difference is eye-popping.

The store is mellow and bohemian, filled with lots of distressed wood, and previously-loved chairs and dressers. On display are beautiful clothing and accessories for active women who don’t want to look like the average Jane Doe.

The store, set up by Michelle Welch in 2011, stocks over ten different holistic lifestyle brands, including Tonic and Manduka. She choosees unique pieces made from natural fibers and colored using custom dyes. The loose designs offer movement, and the softness of the fabrics (including American pima cotton, bamboo, and oh-so-soft eucalyptus) make them perfect for yogis and dancers.

The best part? Michelle makes sure the brands they carry have absolutely no outsourcing - which means they’ll never support a company that uses sweatshops.

Michelle and her team are active in the community, supporting events like the Kelowna Yoga Rave and Run for the Cure. They also celebrate local fitness gurus, offering personal trainers and yoga teacher’s exclusive 15% discounts.

The John Does will turn their heads.