A Return to Roots for Aritzia
In 1984, a Vancouver-based clothing store opened its first location in the Oakridge mall at Cambie Street and West 41st Avenue. That store was Aritzia, an up-and-coming retail outpost that has since grown into one of the city's biggest success stories. Forty-two years later, the company now operates more than 140 boutiques across North America. This week, Aritzia returned to its origins with a new outlet at the recently unveiled Oakridge Park development. CEO Jennifer Wong described the full-circle moment as "incredibly special" for the homegrown brand. "This moment honours our roots, the community that has been with us from the start, and the next chapter ahead of us here in Vancouver," Wong said in a statement. To commemorate the occasion, Aritzia released a limited-edition collection of t-shirts and sweatshirts featuring the original logo.
A Mix of Past, Present, and Future
Aritzia is joined by nearly 50 other retailers in the 650,000-square-foot shopping centre, of which 500,000 square feet is currently open. The mix of brands represents a slice of Vancouver's retail history, current trends, and future direction. Shoppers can find hometown favourites, luxury names previously only available downtown, and several designer firsts for the city. Many brands lean toward the ultra-luxury category, with Prada, Tiffany & Co., and Rolex drawing crowds and lineups on opening day. To delight eager shoppers, some boutiques brought in special items for their top clientele.
Exclusive Boutiques and Luxury Offerings
At Louis Vuitton's newest store, the fourth-largest in Canada, opening day was reserved for "VIC" (very important customers). They were invited to shop exclusive pieces like high jewelry, watches, and an ultra-rare crocodile Speedy P9 Bag. The shopping centre also features several first-in-market standalone boutiques for brands such as Miu Miu, Christian Louboutin, Veronica Beard, and Valentino. Notably, luxury jewelry brand Chaumet opened its first solo outpost in North America at Oakridge Park.
"Every one of these retailers shared our vision, shared our conviction that this is where they need to be, that Vancouver is strong," said Chrystal Burns, executive vice-president of QuadReal Property Group, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. "They’ve invested time, resources, skill, and have built beautiful, unique stores for us, setting a new benchmark for experiential retail in Canada."
While the retail offering skews toward pricier purchases, more approachable retailers are also present within the centre, ensuring a diverse shopping experience for all visitors.
