Art, fashion, and beauty collide at Yaletown's ridiculously expansive Leisure Center

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      Those who consider themselves on the cutting edge of design and fashion—or those who can’t resist a good Instagram snap—don’t make a trip to Seattle without hitting Totokaelo. The Washington-based luxury boutique carries a mix of high-end, contemporary, and avant-garde brands for men and women, plus a selection of modern homewares, in a pared-down setting that could easily pass as a swanky warehouse or prestigious art gallery.

      Vancouver’s new Leisure Center (950 Homer Street) is kind of like that. If Totokaelo popped a few Adderall and decided it was also going to house a café, 20-seat theatre, photography studio, and children's play “office”, that is.

      The recently opened shop, gallery, and community space spans two floors and a jaw-dropping 22,000 square feet, where you’ll find a dizzying blend of luxury, hard-to-find, and indie fashion labels; a collection of art and design installations, including a stripped-down 1977 Camaro Rally Sport titled Ramble On by Vancouver-based artist Myfanwy MacLeod; a tonic bar stocked with herbal potions sourced from the New York City–based Alchemist’s Kitchen; and, yes, a designated photo spot, kid’s play area, and cinema.

      Beauty goods, homewares, and books occupy their own sections. Among the available threads are elephant-shaped leather bags by Spanish label Loewe; strategically tattered sweater dresses by London-based designer Yang Li; shiny puffer jackets by French streetwear brand Vetements; and fluorescent-hued accessories by Comme des Garçons. Many of the garments are unisex.

      Natural cosmetics from coveted European names like Haeckels and L:a Bruket, Tom Dixon barware, and stainless-steel-and-concrete pens from Japanese stationery shop Kohezi are also on hand. The book department, meanwhile, features a mix of fiction and non-fiction titles hand-picked by the people behind London-based independent book store Donlon Books.

      There’s even an “ethical” area that showcases sustainably produced garments, furnishings, and art pieces, like chairs crafted from layers of delicate seaweed and bowls constructed using recycled toilet paper and newsprint by Dutch artist Nienke Hoogvliet. “Leisure Center is a mindset,” said owner Mason Wu in a media release, “an idea that we need to achieve a healthy balance between material objects and experiences, and it offers both of these in one environment.”  

      Leisure Center is now open seven days a week and available for events and private bookings. Check out the images below for a closer look at the boutique-gallery-community-space.

      Leisure Center
      Lucy Lau
      Leisure Center
      Lucy Lau
      Leisure Center
      Leisure Center
      Lucy Lau
      Leisure Center
      Lucy Lau
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      Follow Lucy Lau on Twitter @lucylau.

      Places to go nearby

      Approx. 15 minutes away

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