Hi, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Leon Drzewiecki, owner of NYLA Fresh Thread.
The years before opening NYLA, I saw a lack of men’s fashion options in Nanaimo. The closure of Rickwood’s Menswear in 2009 meant the menswear options in Nanaimo were limited to the big box stores, shops with a primarily youth or young adult demographic, and places that were much too formal for everyday shopping. As a father of three, born and raised in Nanaimo, the laid-back local shopping experience I was seeking simply did not exist for middle-aged men's clothing anymore.
In 2014 when the old site of Ken Thompson's Menswear became available, I made the decision to bring a local menswear shop back to downtown Nanaimo. As a carpenter by trade, I was definitely out of my comfort zone running a men's fashion retailer. Thankfully, the local community was behind us supporting NYLA Fresh Thread through the good times, and the bad, to eventually helping us become the store we are today.
I’d like to personally invite you to our store at 206 Commercial Street, downtown Nanaimo. Thank-you for your continued support!
Fresh, Classic & Casual Menswear
NYLA Fresh Thread is an upstart men’s fashion retailer. We’re located at 206 Commercial Street, right in the heart of downtown Nanaimo. We expect to lead our local market in all areas of business, casual and contemporary menswear, with a price range to fit any budget.
Thanks to your support and commitment, we’ve built a strong following since opening in the Fall of 2014.
Continuing the Tradition
We chose our Commercial Street location to continue with well over 50 years of formal gentleman’s haberdasher.
NYLA Fresh Thread is located in the same building as Ken Thompson Menswear (open from 1957–1999) and Rickwood’s Menswear (open for over 10 years). We are proud to share in this tradition of family-owned and operated menswear stores in downtown Nanaimo.
Made in Nanaimo
In addition to stocking quality brand-name menswear, NYLA Fresh Thread also produces limited-run clothing in partnership with other Nanaimo-based businesses.
We work with the Nanaimo Archives, Nanaimo Museum, and BC Vancouver Archives to create our own Heritage Nanaimo t-shirts. These t-shirts are meant to pique interest, inspire, and share Nanaimo’s distinctive history through archival images. Each Heritage Nanaimo t-shirt is locally screen-printed by hand - making them the perfect souvenir or gift!
Shop In Style
Using a combination of reclaimed timber and materials, We have created a cool, collected environment that gives our customers a comfortable place to relax and shop in style.
Come by and check out our displays of historic Nanaimo artifacts, or browse through our collection of locally crafted watches and bowties and get a taste of the Harbour City.
STYLES & SIZES FOR EVERYONE
We carry a wide selection of business, casual, and contemporary clothing for men with all different styles. Our sizes range from XS to XXXL, with a variety of fits including long, tall, slim and relaxed.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a unique dress shirt, a comfortable and fashion-forward tee, or a cozy and simple sweater, we’ve got it all. This includes jeans and other pants, as well as jackets and accessories like ties and bowties, belts, suspenders, wallets, watches cufflinks and more!
Quality First
NYLA Fresh Thread represents exceptional quality and trusted brands that exceed expectations with both comfort and style.
We buy small size runs of everything in our store. This helps keep our customers shopping for a more unique quality product and helps us turn our inventory quickly to keep our inventory fresh. Our clothing is sourced from far and wide to make sure we have unique products that you just won’t find anywhere else. And since we love to support local businesses, we choose Canadian brands and Canadian-made clothing as much as possible when we’re stocking our shelves.