Vancouver-based RYU athletic apparel launches flagship store in Kits

Look out Vancouver, there’s a new athletic apparel giant in town.

RYU Apparel is launching their 5,600 square foot flagship store on West 4th Street on Friday. What sets them apart from the competition? They claim their clothes combine a balance of design and function – technical athletic apparel that is appropriate for pretty well any occasion.

“When we went out to create RYU, the most important thing for us was ‘how do we differentiate ourselves from complimentary iconic partners?’ We went out to create a DNA that didn’t exist in those comparables,” CEO of RYU Marcello Leone told Vancity Buzz.

Leone said the reception has been positive so far, and says the colour schemes and the design of the clothes is “sleek, urban, techincal, and functional.”

“We’re the world’s first athletic tech apparel company – a blend of athleticism, and a blend of techincal gear that’s some of the finest, toughest gear that you can work out with in the gym but also you can wear these items throughout the whole day.”

He added the difference is obvious when you compare their brand to other athletic wear companies – the style is unique and the DNA becomes apparent.

There are four collections associated with the brand: “There + Back,” “Rest + Recovery,” “Train + Develop,” and “Challenge + Compete.” Each collection is defined by a different purpose – they’re designed to wear to, from, during, and in between workouts.

The brand as a whole is defined by clean lines, modern cuts, and tailored fits, allowing for ease of wear and versatility.

“Our athletes walk, hike, bikes, runs, jogs, CrossFits, plays soccer, plays hockey – we don’t segregate to one sport,” said Leone.

The store already had a soft opening earlier this week, and Leone said people have been very receptive to how RYU sets itself apart from the competition.

“It’s not lululemon, it’s not Adidas – it’s fresh, it’s clean, it’s timeless, it’s modern, it has smart details.”

RYU has big plans for expanding, too. In 2016, there will be a second store here in Vancouver and a third store in California, with six more opening in 2017. The ultimate goal is to have 163 North American stores over the next 10 years.

RYU Apparel Flagship Store

Where: 1745 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Hours: 

• Monday – Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday – Friday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Website: ryu.com