As the weather warms up in Vancouver and we start seeing sunshine more frequently, most of us here in the Lower Mainland start to have fitness on our minds again. Perhaps you’re thinking of refreshing your wardrobe with new athletic apparel? Although Metropolis at Metrotown has an impressive selection of fitness apparel shops (including Nike and the newly renovated Sportchek), sometimes the selection at these big stores are overwhelming, and you prefer to shop at a smaller boutique.
Introducing J76. Since 2002, the locally-owned J76 Athletic Wear has been creating athletic and everyday wear for the everyday woman. Their main athletic apparel line is made of Nylon Supplex and Spandex (which is the typical stretchy material commonly found in yoga apparel), while their everyday, casual wear is made of a sustainable Bamboo and Cotton blend.
What’s so special about bamboo? Bamboo is a sustainable resource that does not require the use of pesticides and grows very quickly in favourable conditions. It’s soft, water absorbant (which helps with a sweaty workout) and has a smooth texture which drapes like silk but is more practical because it’s machine washable. Natural antibacterial elements found in the bamboo fiber also helps keep bacteria away – that means less germs after the gym!
J76’s selection of fitness apparel comes in many colors and fun patterns, and there is no heavy branding or logos on the apparel items to distract from the style. This is definitely a store you want to check out for fitness staples – at an affordable price. For example, yoga pants are roughly $60 compared to other more recognizable brands which charge $100+ for something similar.
Each fabric is soft, comfortable and breathable. The apparel carried at J76 is known to be fade resistant, preserving its color, and is pill resistant, which means your outfit will continue to look new, even after you’ve put it through the wash many times.
J76 aims to keep our local economy healthy and thriving so they purposely make it a point to design and manufacturer most of their products right here in Vancouver.
J76 is located on the Ground Level, near the Kingsway Entrance of Metropolis at Metrotown.
