come as you are

Two weeks ago at our New Orleans store grand opening I witnessed the definition of community. It didn't matter how old you were, what yoga studio you identified with, or where you came from (in my case, Vancouver): it just mattered that you showed up and had a good time (case in point - the above photo).

it started with beads

It all started with some Mardi Gras beads and a rented Vancouver art space. Our designer Gill had an idea for store art that would tell the story of the city. Working with Vancouver-area (and New Orleans-obsessed) artist Harvey Chometsky and using the beads as a starting place, the final artwork evolved into three circles of found objects that includes everything from voodoo dolls to musical instruments.

Gill and Harvey art-strategizing in Vancouver

Each item was carefully chosen and painted white to balance the very colourful store interior. Each item also had an untold story. As the art came together, piece by piece, we knew that we wanted to celebrate our new store by bringing the art to life and experiencing New Orleans and its growing yoga community firsthand.

a few photos

The first thing we did when we arrived is check out the store. They had only been open for a few hours but you couldn't tell. It felt like any other lululemon store: welcoming, colourful, and familiar - but also distinctly unique.

The beautiful and colourful manifesto on the store's exterior

A bit of unexpected brass in the men's section!

Gill and Harvey's final artwork on the store wall!

At our ambassador Reyn's studio, a 10 minute walk from our store.

grand opening yoga

The next day was the Masquerade-inspired grand opening event which started with outdoor yoga and ended in a full on dance party.

Our ambassadors painted the town gold for grand opening yoga outside the store

Ambassador Lauren Darnell leading us through a fun and fiery practice.

Our yoga class was lit by flambeaux and ended with a very loud savasana as local brass brand To Be Continued got the party started and lead our group of yogis, family, and friends indoors.

watch the video

Thank you, New Orleans, for redefining what community means and for welcoming everyone, just as they are.

Connect with our New Orleans team in real life or on Facebook.

what is a declaration?

A declaration is a statement that follows "I am".

Declarations:
• bring you back to the core of who you are
• connect your vision and goals
• state your future

i am [____]

Whether we realize it or not, we are constantly making declarations, for example: “I am tired” or “I am too busy.” By recognizing what we are declaring, and recognizing the power of our statements, we can shift them from a place of negativity to a place of possibility.

“I am strength.”
“I am learning, growing, loving.”

Our words are powerful. What do yours say about you?

opening party declarations

In order to make our declarations more enduring, we asked local artist Buddy Jackson to create an art piece that could live in our store and around our community. Buddy stained a large piece of copper to read, “I am,” and then, for the party, cut the copper into hundreds of smaller squares, on which guests could write their declarations.

Buddy then reassembled the pieces of copper, so that the entire piece still reads, “I am,” but when looking at the artwork up-close, guests will be able to read all of our personal declarations.

what's your declaration?

We loved seeing our community of Franklin come together and share their declarations that will live on in Buddy’s artwork. The next time you are in your local lululemon, ask someone about declarations. Moreover, consider what you are declaring today and each day. As our store window currently reads, “Our words create. What are yours making?”