Brandy Melville is an Italian women’s clothing brand that was started by father-son duo Silvio and Stephan Marson in the 1980s. It’s not a luxury brand like Gucci or Louis Vuitton, but rather a brand that specializes in producing high-quality relaxed everyday wear.
Crop-tops, sweatpants, hoodies, and super-comfortable t-shirts are some of the most popular items in Brandy Melville. The only difference is that Brandy Melville offers far higher quality than you’ll find from most retailers.
Unfortunately, some of the Brandy Melville collection in the US isn’t available to Canadian shoppers. Below, I’ll show you how to shop the US collection of Brandy Melville in Canada.
Can You Shop Brandy Melville Online In Canada?
Brandy Melville recently opened three physical retail store locations in the following Canadian cities:
- Vancouver, BC
- Toronto, ON
- Montreal, QC
That being said, Brandy Melville’s online store is currently only available to US-based shoppers. This means that Canadian shoppers are confined to whatever items they can find in the retail stores. It also means that the average Canadian (who doesn’t live near these cities) can’t shop the brand either.
With no online store available for Canadians, some shoppers are paying above-market value for Brandy Melville items online and second-hand.
Luckily, there’s a loophole that allows you to get Brandy Melville shipped to Canada from the retailer’s online store.
How To Shop The US Brandy Melville Collection In Canada
The same steps can be repeated with virtually any international or US-based business that doesn’t offer shipping to Canada (such as ASOS, for example).
It’s a simple process that just involves “tricking” the online website into thinking that you’re not a Canadian shopper (don’t worry, it’s 100% legal and ethical).
If you want to shop Brandy Melville in Canada, you just need to follow a few simple steps:
- Sign up for a package forwarding service
- Use a VPN to disguise your actual location
- Access Brandy Melville’s online store
- Shop as usual
- Ship your order to the package forwarding warehouse
- Ship the order from the warehouse to your home address in Canada
I’ll explain these steps in further detail below, so you can see how it’s done step-by-step.
Step 1: Sign Up For A Package Forwarding Service
I’m not sure exactly why Brandy Melville can’t provide online shipping to Canada at this time. It could be due to a limited supply or complex legal brand distribution agreements they have with other clothing manufacturers.
Whatever the case may be, Brandy Melville will not fulfill any order that’s being shipped to a Canadian address. This means that you’ll have to ship your Brandy Melville order to a US-based location, and is where you’ll need to use a package forwarding service.
These package forwarders operate as middleman services, providing a US-based address that orders can get shipped to before they’re forwarded to their final destination. Brandy Melville may not ship to Canada, but they will ship to a warehouse located in the US without a problem.
- Related Reading: The Best Package Forwarding Services In Canada
Step 2: Use A VPN To Disguise Your Network
Acquiring a US-based address from a package forwarding service is the first half of the work. Next, you’ll need to disguise your device to make it seem like you’re actually visiting the website from the US.
When you’re connected to the internet in Canada, your device will show a unique IP address that’s associated with your geographic location.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) disguises your IP address, making it appear as if you’re in another country. By using a cheap VPN like ExpressVPN, you can disguise your phone, laptop, or tablet to make it look like you’re actually in the United States.
This process will ensure that the Brandy Melville site doesn’t automatically deny your order due to your geolocation.
Step 3: Access Brandy Melville’s US-Based Online Store
The third step is the best step! Now that your device is disguised and you’ve got a US address at your fingertips, it’s time to do some online shopping. You should be able to connect directly to the US-based Brandy Melville online store, view the entire collection, and order all of the items that aren’t available to Canada yet.
This is your chance to get a head start on trends before they come across the border to Canada.
Step 4: Checkout & Deliver Your Order To The Package Forwarding Location
With your online shopping cart full, it’s time to checkout. For this process, make sure that you’re still connected to your VPN.
You’ll go through the checkout process as you normally would with a Canadian-based site. The only difference is that you shouldn’t put your real address.
Instead, use the US-based address given to you by your package forwarding service. You should be able to copy and paste the address directly from your online account with the package forwarder.
Step 5: Ship The Order From The Package Forwarding Warehouse To Your Home In Canada
Brandy Melville typically ships domestic US orders quickly. So, the package forwarding warehouse should receive your online order within a week at most.
Once the forwarder receives the order, you’ll be notified with a call, text, or email that your package has arrived. They may also provide you with photos of your order, so you can verify its condition.
From here, you’ll be able to select how you want it shipped across the border to Canada. Most forwarders offer both standard and express shipping options. The fastest options will usually have your package to you in two weeks, while the standard options may take up to a month to arrive.
How Does Package Forwarding Work?
Package forwarding is a common service that’s offered by countries all over the world. Thanks to the internet, there’s a lot more demand for international brands.
Unfortunately, many of these brands aren’t in a position to ship internationally due to expensive shipping fees, taxes, tariffs, and a limited supply.
Package forwarding services are the solution, as they provide customers with an address within the country the brand is located in.
Technically, this isn’t violating the brand’s terms (they’re shipping within their operating country). Once the forwarder receives your package, it will be shipped directly to you, no matter where you live.
Package forwarding is also used by frequent international travellers who need a safe place to ship items when they’re travelling from one place to the next. Many package forwarders offer free storage for up to a month on items in your mailbox.
Is Package Forwarding Worth It?
Package forwarding is a specialty service, and you’re going to pay the price for what you’re getting. Keep in mind that shipping items across the border are always going to incur extra expenses.
That being said, package forwarding your Brandy Melville to Canada is the best (and only) way to get the latest US collection in Canada. If you have the extra money to spend on forwarding and you’re a loyal follower of the brand, then it’s your best option.
How Long Does Brandy Melville Take To Ship To Canada?
Technically, Brandy Melville isn’t shipping to Canada. Rather, Brandy Melville is shipping to the US, using the package forwarding address you provided.
Depending on the shipping option you choose during your checkout process on Brandy Melville, your order could arrive at the warehouse anywhere from two days to a week after you place your order.
From there, things take a bit longer.
Your package forwarder should give you a few different shipping options to get your order shipped from the US warehouse to your home address in Canada.
The faster you want it, the more you’ll have to pay. Generally speaking, though, two weeks is a standard amount of time to expect for your order to arrive.
All-in-all, plan to wait at least three or four weeks for your Brandy Melville order to arrive in Canada.
Brandy Melville: New Locations In Canada
Brandy Melville recently opened three locations in some of the biggest cities in Canada, including Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. You can see the locations here:
Brandy Melville Vancouver
- Address: 872 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1K3, Canada
- Phone: +1 604-558-1833
Brandy Melville Toronto
- Address: 326 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A2, Canada
- Phone: +1 647-351-2611
Brandy Melville Montreal
- Address: 1188 Saint-Catherine St W, Montreal, Quebec H3B 1K1, Canada
- Phone: +1 514-394-1113
Alternative To Buy Brandy Melville In Canada: eBay
Another great alternative to going through the hassle of working with a package forwarding service is to shop for specific Brandy Melville items on eBay. eBay is a great place to find lightly used (often never used) clothing items sold at half-cost for some reason or another.
Many US-based eBay sellers offer low-cost shipping directly to Canada, which makes it a great choice to find your favourite styles at a deal.
Conclusion – How To Buy Brandy Melville In Canada
The easiest way to buy Brandy Melville in Canada is to visit one of the brand’s brick-and-mortar retail stores in Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal. However, you can also shop the brand’s online collection by using a VPN and a reliable package forwarding service.
Let’s be honest – we could all stand to put a little bit of extra cash in our pockets. Using a store credit card while you shop is a great way to earn cashback on your purchases.
Keep on reading to see my list of the best store credit cards in Canada next!
