About Us
Every story starts somewhere. Ours began with socks.
In 2025, ATO began as a small booth at the Shipyard Christmas Market in North Vancouver, BC. We started with one simple intention:
to bring well-made, high-quality socks from South Korea to my local community.
But I never wanted A’TO to be just a sock shop.
Hi, it’s me! I’m Yoona, the person behind A’TO.
I was born and raised in Seoul and later put down roots in Vancouver, BC.
A little about me: I spent six years at university studying Physical Education and Food & Nutrition. Along the way, I travelled the world, changed paths, tried different things, met people from all walks of life, and experienced many different ways of living.
Eventually, my journey led me to become a paramedic, serving my local community here in Canada.
Looking back, none of it followed a straight path—but each experience shaped the way I see life today.
Working as a paramedic, I've met many people going through difficult moments in their lives. It made me realize how much we all carry beneath the surface, whether big or small.
And somewhere along the way, I realized I was one of them, too.
That realization inspired me to create a space where we can share our stories, reflect on life's experiences, and discover new perspectives on what it means to live well.
A space that encourages us to embrace life's uncertainties, find courage to try new things, and discover different sides of ourselves along the way.
Because I believe living well isn't about having a perfect life or having everything figured out.
It's about experiencing life in all its colors, finding joy in every season, and learning to appreciate the journey while moving at our own pace.
Some say “Ato (아토)” is a native Korean word meaning “gift.” That’s where our name comes from.
A’TO began with a simple belief: Life itself is a gift, and there’s no one right way to live it.
We know how easy it is to get caught up in expectations, comparisons, and the pressure to have everything figured out. Somewhere along the way, we sometimes forget to enjoy the life we're living right now.
But life isn't meant to be perfectly figured out. It's meant to be experienced.
That's why we're creating a space to share real-life stories, reflect on the lessons we learn, and discover new perspectives on what it means to live well.
A space that reminds us to embrace life's uncertainties, find the courage to try new things, and discover different sides of ourselves along the way.
We believe living well isn't about having a perfect life or constantly chasing the next achievement. It's about staying curious, finding joy in everyday moments, and appreciating every season of life, even the difficult ones.
Through thoughtfully curated and handmade lifestyle goods, personal stories, and little reminders, we hope to inspire you to experience life in your own way.
What We Hope to Bring You
COMFORT
A’TO brings you thoughtfully chosen goods with a little comfort tucked inside—a note, a poem, or a simple reminder for the day you might need it.
CURIOSITY
A’TO encourages you to keep exploring life—to try something new, look at the ordinary a little differently, and find joy in places you may have overlooked.
DISCOVERY
And somewhere along the way, we hope you discover a little more of yourself—what you enjoy, what matters to you, and what feels true to you.