Vancouver Showroom

You might wonder how we ended up opening a showroom halfway around the world?

Six years ago, we hired Jane, a Canadian who moved to Oslo to lead our marketing. After three and a half years in Oslo, she moved back to Canada and has since been working remotely while spending time between North America and Europe.

Earlier this year, during planning for the season ahead, Vancouver came up as a possibility. The city already had a growing Varsity community online, and a strong connection to the outdoors – a lifestyle shared with Oslo. Brands like Arc’teryx and Lululemon started here. It felt like a natural place to be closer to our customers in North America.

Six months later, we opened our first showroom in the region.

Co-founder Sebastian flew in from Oslo to help Jane set up the space. That way of working is fairly typical for us – roles don’t really define how things get done. When something needs building, the people involved show up and do it.

Sebastian also designed the retail concept: a modular system that can be packed down, shipped, and rebuilt anywhere. It reflects how we think about physical retail – flexible, simple and focused on product and experience rather than fixed format.

At the centre of it is still the same priority: meeting customers in person, having real conversations and letting people experience the product properly.

The showroom is located in Ambleside, West Vancouver, a short walk from the ocean.

Jane describes Vancouver as the closest Canadian equivalent to Oslo – both defined by ocean, mountains and an everyday life built around being outside.

“Vancouver always felt like the Canadian version of Oslo – ocean in front of you, mountains behind you and a lifestyle built around movement and nature.”

We designed the space to be open and community-led – a place to meet customers, host conversations and build from the ground up. Nothing fixed, just a starting point.

If you’re in Vancouver, stop by. If you know someone here, send them our way.

Over the past 13 years, Varsity has largely grown through word of mouth and customer experience. That hasn’t changed.

Here’s to the next step in Canada!