Vancouver Nightlife: Before the Boom
- Canadian photographer Greg Girard experienced a surprise in September 2024 during Milan Fashion Week.
- Girard's early work, compiled in his 2017 book, "Under Vancouver: 1972-1982," features nostalgic, neon-lit nocturnal scenes.
- Girard recalls his early photographic explorations with fondness.
Before the buzz, Greg Girard’s photos of vintage Vancouver nightlife have inspired jil Sander’s spring/summer 2025 collection, showcasing a retro aesthetic from the 1970s and early 1980s.The fashion house’s designers selected Girard’s evocative images to pay homage to the “dark,retro aesthetic” that has profoundly impacted contemporary Canadian culture. Girard’s work, compiled in his book “Under Vancouver: 1972-1982,” offers a nostalgic journey through neon-lit streets, capturing the city’s bars, hotels, and urban landscapes. These candid shots reveal a forgotten era through street scenes and the essence of a bygone era. News Directory 3 provides insights into the art world and it’s inspirations. Discover what fashion statements the photos will inspire next.
Vancouver Nights: Greg Girard Photos Spark Jil Sander Fashion Line
Updated June 07, 2025
Canadian photographer Greg Girard experienced a surprise in September 2024 during Milan Fashion Week. The celebrated artist, approaching his 70th birthday, watched as images from his early career appeared as prints in Jil Sander’s spring/summer 2025 collection. Designers Lucie and Luke Meier, a Swiss-Canadian duo, chose Girard’s work to celebrate the “dark, retro aesthetic” of his Vancouver photography from the 1970s and early 1980s. Thay believe this aesthetic continues to influence Canadian contemporary culture.
Girard’s early work, compiled in his 2017 book, “Under Vancouver: 1972-1982,” features nostalgic, neon-lit nocturnal scenes. These include snow-covered cafes, deserted parking lots, motel rooms, and jewelry store windows. the images offer a glimpse into a bygone era of Vancouver’s urban landscape, capturing the essence of the city’s nightlife and street scenes.
Girard recalls his early photographic explorations with fondness. “I was 17 or 18, living in the suburbs, and I simply wanted to discover the city center through chance encounters in the streets, bars, hotels, and docks,” Girard said. He emphasizes that, like many photographers, this experience allowed him to explore a world outside his own through his camera lens. “There was something exciting about wandering streets where I probably would never have ventured otherwise. It wasn’t about documenting Vancouver for posterity, but simply capturing scenes for my personal pleasure.” his work provides a unique viewpoint on Vancouver’s history and culture.