Different countries have different esthetics: French chic, Brit eclectic formality or pretty-pretty, and American sportswear. The Japanese look is typically minimalist, but perhaps with a touch of the avant-garde—an extra sleeve for that tricky third arm you’ve been hiding—or a little bit of kitsch. And we absolutely love it.
Enter Muji—a 37-year-old brand that’s entering the Vancouver market via a pop-up at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, January 27 to February 28 (two permanent stores, one on Robson and one in Metrotown, are set to follow later this year). In Japan, its stores are among the most peaceful and orderly places on earth: products have no logos or excess, there’s a soft, folky soundtrack playing and lots of neutral colours. The brand makes everything from furniture to fashion, beauty products to bedding. Stationery is a big favourite, as are the simple and elegant wooden kids’ toys. Fashion-wise, it makes great tunics, shirts, jeans, knitwear and simple sneakers. The flagship store in Ginza, Tokyo, even has an in-store optical shop where you can get prescription spectacles within the hour. While it doesn’t reveal its roster of collaborators, it’s known that they include Naoto Fukasawa, who created Muji’s iconic wall-mounted CD player, and Thonet, Germany’s oldest furniture company.
The Vancouver pop-up will have a carefully curated selection of lifestyle items, including ultrasonic aroma diffusers and essential oils, Fukasawa’s CD player and paper goods. It will be a part of the Fairmont’s Japan Unlayered exhibition, which celebrates that country’s design, food and culture. Since it’s anticipated the Muji pop-up will be ultra popular, advanced reservations are required. RSVP now, here. —Aileen Lalor
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