EcoLux☆Lifestyle: Leisure Center Invites Exploration

EcoLux☆Lifestyle: Leisure Center Invites Exploration

Luxury fashion lovers have been rendered speechless with the opening of the Leisure Center at 950 Homer Street in Yaletown. This new retail addition is a boundary-pushing platform, offering a modern-day definition of leisure time with a specific focus on fashion, art, music, books, homewares, cosmetics, food and drink, in a stylish space.

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Naturally sourced ingredients | Image by Helen Siwak

Inspired by Vancouver’s forward-thinking fashion reputation, the founders of Leisure Center – Mason Wu & MuYun Li – strive to combine luxury and leisure in a beautifully designed environment that seeks to elevate the city’s cultural identity.

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A boundary-pushing physical platform.
A new definition of leisure time.
A brave new world beyond luxury retail.

Mason and MuYun are in love with fashion. Their first big break came in early 2000’s after importing high-end Japanese brands to Vancouver. Mason leveraged his expertise in corporate finance and marketing to convince numerous labels that his company was best positioned to fill a niche for avant-garde garments in Vancouver’s retail sphere. The result was Kokko Luxury Boutique in Richmond, BC.

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Art Installation next to Comme des Garcons | Image by Helen Siwak

The space they chose for their second venture is a 1930’s heritage building, formerly occupied by Chintz & Co, 22,000 square feet of emptiness with high ceilings which has been transformed into a visual and sonic adventure of brands, artists, architects, and luxury concepts. The ground level walls are aluminum paneled, décor is just as artistic as it is functional, and the lower level has black glass with dedicated gathering areas, including a seminar room, a stylized children’s play area, a Presentation Capsule, and a Visual Studio. German artist, Andrea Van Reimershahi continues the artistic ambiance with her hand-painted curtains that frame both upper and lower level floors.

Leisure Center is a destination for forward thinkers from all over the world, a place where clothing, art, and inner well-being can be experienced in a whole new way, far from the mundane shopping centers and retail chain scene.

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Wall of Designers | Image by Helen Siwak

Visitors might be familiar with globally recognized clothing brands Comme des Garcons, Balenciaga, and Vetements, though more avant-garde labels are also featured. Sustainable products from John Alexander Skelton, Petrucha Studioand STORY mfg. are beautifully displayed, and guests can spend hours browsing natural beauty and cosmetics by Haeckels, L:a Bruket and others.

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Tom Dixon homewares section | Image by Helen Siwak
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Tom Dixon tableau | Image by Helen Siwak

Homewares by Tom Dixon injects the space with an aspirational vibe, as does the diverse library section overseen by Donlon Books, an independent bookshop in London. Throughout the space, music of curated local artists provides an ever-evolving soundtrack, produced exclusively by Johnny Nash.

The space was designed by London- and Berlin-based Casper Mueller Kneer (CMK) architectural firm which has designed award-winning spaces for arts, fashion, and culture, including retail concept shops for Phoebe Philo at Celine. With such a respected pedigree, Mason and MuYun brought CMK in to lend their design aesthetics to Leisure Center.

One of the creative forces behind Leisure Centre, alongside Mason and MuYun is John Skelton. Perhaps best known for founding LN-CC in London and Oki-Ni.com, and as a designer menswear buyer for both Selfridges and Harrods, John is also known for his forward-thinking, innovative retail concepts, and has been at the forefront of ethical/sustainable brands and products promotion for the past 4 years.

Leisure Center Seminar Space & VIP Pods

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Furniture made out of flax and kelp | Image by Helen Siwak

On the main floor, L-shaped aluminum paneled walls keep the space open and invite exploration. Art sculpture “Ramble On” by Myfanwy MacLeod, light exhibitions “Syzygy Transit” by OS∆OOS, and curated artworks from Emily Carr University of Arts and Design, add interesting conversational points as guests wander through the reflective corridors of aluminum and clothing racks.

Leisure Center Library & Tonic Bar

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Tonic Bar | Image courtesy of Leisure Center

A tonic bar is stocked with intriguing concoctions sourced from New York-based apothecary The Alchemist’s Kitchen, which brings to life the healing power of plants through an evolving selection of tonics and a botanical dispensary.

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Audiophile Lounge | Image by Helen Siwak

The lower level consists of an intimate environment of black glass and fabric with VIP Pods for private shopping, a seminar space, a children’s play area, a presentation capsule for an exhibition, audiophile listening lounge, and a visual studio.

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Screening and Seminar Room | Image by Helen Siwak

Leisure Center, Yaletown, Luxury Fashion, Vancouver, BC, Vancity, YVR, Helen Siwak, ecoluxury, featured, yvr blogger, entrepreneur, yvr fashion, follow your dreams, fashion, women in business, blogger, fblogger, blush, beauty products, skincare, travel, lifestyle, health and wellness, heathy eating, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, Vancouver, Victoria, yvr, vancity, westcoast, dominique hanke, retail shopping

“Life doesn’t begin and end with the objects we purchase.”

Leisure Center located at 950 Homer Street.

Monday to Thursday: 11am – 6pm
Friday to Saturday: 11am – 8pm
Sunday: 12pm – 6pm

Author Profile

Helen Siwak - EcoFriendly Lifestyle Consultant
Helen Siwak - EcoFriendly Lifestyle Consultant
Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Marketing & Communications Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and digital women's lifestyle magazine EcoLuxLifestyle.co. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Post-pandemic, she has worked with many small to mid-sized plant-based/vegan brands to build their digital foundations and strategize content creation and business development. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at helen@ecoluxluv.com.
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