Our mission at StyleDemocracy has always been to offer value and to connect shoppers to the brands they love while saving money. During this time of uncertainty, we want to continue to help our shoppers and readers discover new and interesting places to shop right in their own backyards or across town.
Because our team knows from experience how hard it can be to run a store, especially in times like this, we want to lend our voices to support the local businesses that help make the city what it is.
We recently launched #ShopYourCity with the goal to give independent retailers a platform to share their stories and readers a place to discover new stores and brands.
In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be highlighting different shops around the city; some that you may already know and love, and some that you’ve yet to discover.
Now is the time to come together and we’re so excited to share this project with you.
To kick things off, we’ve partnered with seven Toronto-based retailers for an awesome giveaway valued at over $700.
The contest will launch live on Instagram on Tuesday, May 12 at 4 p.m. EST. To enter, all you have to do is head to StyleDemocracy’s Instagram page and look for the image below. Follow all of the participating retailers and @StyleDemocracy, “like” the photo, and tag a friend or two. The winner of the contest will be contacted on Wednesday, May 20 by direct message.
Each #ShopYourCity prize featured in the contest will be sent to the winner direct from the retailer. In order to participate, entrants must have a public profile. The contest is open to all Canadians (excluding Quebec) and is in no way, shape or form associated with Instagram or Facebook. The prizes cannot be redeemed for cash and is non-transferable.
Here’s what the #ShopYourCity prize entails.
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As we await the return to what we once called normal, we must find ways to entertain ourselves and let’s be real: shopping is a great pastime. Now that we’ve had ample time to purge our closest of items we no longer need, it’s time to replenish our wardrobes with some of our favourite items, so why not start with shopping and supporting a few local Canadian stores?
If you are in the mood for a good shop, check out these 10 Canadian Stores You Can Shop Online today!
Good Neighbour
Aziz Alam, owner of beloved east end general store Good Neighbour opened for business in 2014. As an east-ender himself, he noticed the lack of shops in the area which promoted Good Neighbour to be born. He focuses on bringing Toronto’s most sought out brands into Leslieville like Adidas, Baxter of California, Citizens of Humanity, Levi’s, Mother Denim, and Nudie, to name a few. These east-end curators of fashion are always on the lookout for trendy new pieces, bringing you an endless variety of apparel for men, women, and children, along with footwear, housewares, bath & body, and much more.
OKAYOK
Adrienne Butikofer, owner of OKAYOK, has been a familiar name in the Toronto fashion circuit since the early 2000s. OKAYOK is she’s known for its playful patterns, bold colours, and fun graphics. The Junction Triangle shop is all about comfort, ease, and a simple, modern aesthetic. You also might just recognize the brand for its comfy loungewear that have become fan favourites.
I Miss You Vintage
If designer consignment is your jam, step onto Ossington’s I Miss You Vintage. This store sells a wide range of both vintage designer items and current designer pieces for resale. It’s here that you’ll find a selection of designer bags, clothes, shoes, scarves, luggage, jewellery, and so much more. The store carries designer labels like Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Gucci, and many more.
VSP Consignment
High-end consignment boutique, VSP Consignment has a carefully curated selection of designer labels and vintage fashion that are 40-70% off the original retail cost. The Dundas West boutique keeps a limited selection of its best pieces to ensure you find items to fall in love with every day. Expect to shop iconic designers like Fendi, Givenchy, Chloe, Hermes, Prada, Chanel, and so many more.
Ellie Mae Studios
Ellie Mae Waters, owner of Ellie Mae Studios, creates stunning pieces that’ll add joy into your closets. This fashion brand is known for its use bright colours and all of its whimsical designs. Not to mention, Ellie Mae Studios has been worn by some of our favourite celebrities – Gigi and Bella, Gwen Stefani, Nicky Hilton, and Sophie Gregoire- Trudeau, to name a few. The brand focuses on high quality fabrics and local production with longevity in mind so you know what you’re getting will last.
Meg
Megan Kinney, owner of her namesake store Meg, has had a love for fashion beginning at a young age. As a teen, she started designing and sewing her own clothes and today, she creates contemporary fashion for women by offering pieces for their modern-day lifestyle. Every piece within her brand is locally made with the mission to empower women by making them feel confident in the clothes they wear. Whether you are in the need of cozy lounge clothes of perfectly tailored workwear, Meg has got you covered.
The Narwhal
Sydney Wills and Marisa Buchkowsky, co-owners of high-end women’s clothing store The Narwhal, first opened the boutique in 2010. Narwhal focuses on sourcing ethically made brands while also bringing you up-and-coming labels. The Narwhal caters to women that have both a strong sense of style and a love for contemporary designer brands. Expect to shop a wide variety of clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, and jewellery from your favourite contemporary designers like Apiece Apart, Re/Done, Golden Goose, Mara Hoffman, and more.
Province Of Canada
Launched in 2014 to celebrate all things Canada, Province Of Canada creates authentic Canadian staple pieces that are all designed and manufactured right here in Canada. The brand offers a selection of apparel for men, women, and children. In addition to POC’s cozy essenials, you can also get homeware and accessories too that’ll add a charming Canadian touch to your space.
Kotn
If well made basics are what your wardrobe is needing, make sure you check out sustainable brand Kotn. Its goal is to create and provide clothing essentials that are ethically sourced and affordable. Canadian store Kotn is known for its super cute and comfy t-shirts, pants, loungewear, dresses, and more.
NRML
Founded in 1997, this streetwear boutique quickly became the first choice of the urban scene that it encases. NRML carries hip streetwear for both men and women, as well as an exclusive shoe collection. The Canadian store prides itself on its curated collection of fashion forward pieces from iconic brands like Stussy, Reigning Champ, Adidas, Nike, Comme des Garcons, and many more.
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When it comes to shopping sweatsuits, there’s definitely a fine line between looking cute and looking dumpy. Oversized outfits need to be cut perfectly and not every brand or retailer has mastered fit just yet.
But if you’re like me and you’ve been spending your days in isolation looking for a sweatsuit to add to your work from home rotation, you’ll be happy to hear that I’ve done all the digging for the perfect two-piece for you. And the best part yet? All of the sweatsuits in this roundup are from Canadian brands and retailers.
Happy lounging!
Tea You
Made in Montreal from organic bamboo cotton, Tea You’s Super Cozy Après Set (pictured above) is a favourite amongst influencers and it’s easy to see why. It’s super cute and available in four different colours: black, heather grey, Aperol, and ivory. Just act fast — the styles are selling quickly!
Juicy Couture x Brunette The Label
Channel your inner Paris Hilton with this nostalgic set. Vancouver-based Brunette the Label and Juicy Couture teamed up to create this matching sweatsuit, which is available in black and pink.
Aritzia
Add a pop of colour to your isolation outfit with a tie-dye sweatsuit from Aritzia. Stylish and comfortable, you’ll want to wear this outfit all week.
Lululemon
There is so much activewear to explore on Lululemon but I particularly love this matching ink blue set. The pants are super comfy, but you still look pulled together when you leave the house.
Roots
Roots is a no brainer for cozy sweats for the whole family. There’s a huge variety of styles and colours to shop, but my top pick is the Original Zip Stein because if you haven’t heard, half-zip sweaters are all the rage right now.
Simons
From the Quebec-based department store’s in-house lingerie and loungewear line Miiyu, I love this burgundy-coloured set for the mesh detailing on the sweater. Plus, it’s a pretty good price too.
Province Of Canada
Whether you feel like mix-and-matching your sweatsuit or having a full monotone moment, Province Of Canada has you covered. All of the loungewear at the store is made in Canada and 80% cotton, plus if you’re a first-time shopper, you’ll get 15% off your order.
Mary Young
If you’re looking for a more elevated look, allow me to introduce you to this set by Toronto-based designer Mary Young. Made in Canada from knit waffle and available in two different colours, this ain’t your average sweatsuit.
RYU
Founded in Vancouver, RYU is an athleticwear company that’s loved by athletes and celebrities like Kate Bosworth. I love this basic Carmine-coloured set because it’s OEKO-TEX® Certified, meaning it’s 100% free of harmful chemicals.
MICHIi
Toronto-based MICHI is known for its stylish high-end active and loungewear and this set takes the sweatsuit to a whole new level. Dressed up or dressed down, this neoprene set is pure comfort.
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It was another tough year for fashion retailers; Forever 21 went bankrupt, closing 44 stores in Canada just last month, and following in the footsteps of retailers like Payless and Topshop. Still, many Canadian retailers dared to expand their direct-to-consumer footprints in 2019 with the launch or their own storefronts or via strong retail collaborations.
From lingerie brands to a tattoo concept shop, I’m counting down some top Canadian brands that broke into retail this year.
Knix
Canadian intimates brand Knix kicked off its retail debut this year with the opening of its first standalone stores. The brand opened a storefront in Vancouver and inaugurated a flagship retail store in Toronto on Queen West. The brand, which had its start in 2013, equally launched a nationwide partnership with Nordstrom in 2019, rounding out a very busy retail year.
Marigold
It was especially exciting to see independent Montreal-based designer Marilyne Baril break into retail this year with a brand new space for her brand Marigold. She opened a storefront in the Montreal borough of Verdun for her made-in-Montreal line that encourages ‘Slow Fashion’. The store’s interior is characterized by orange accents housing the womenswear designer’s latest creations.
Okayok
Canadian indie label Okayok inaugurated its first permanent retail location in its hometown of Toronto in 2019. The boutique houses the brand’s playful contemporary loungewear, as well as the company’s new commercial studio space. The brand, founded in 2017 by designer and entrepreneur Adrienne Butikofer, is well-known for its niche, and sometimes cheeky designs.
Manitobah Mukluks
Following a successful pilot pop-up project last year, Manitobah Mukluks expanded its number of retail locations this year to 18 stores in several major cities. The brand, which specializes in indigenous modern footwear, opened the pop-up experiences temporarily this year. The brand opened stores in several locations across the country including Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and the Toronto area.
Wuxly Movement
Cruelty-free Canadian outerwear brand Wuxly Movement opened its first storefront in 2019, in Toronto, in a retail space shared with fellow local brand Vitaly. The brand, co-founded by former Canadian pro-football player, James Yurichuk, and master-tailor, Anthony DeBartolo in 2012, offers a range of parkas, bombers, jackets, hats, and vests that promise to be sourced ethically.
Inkbox
Toronto-based tattoo startup Inkbox opened its first permanent retail space on Queen Street West this year. The temporary tattoo brand has experimented with a number of pop-ups since first launching in 2015. The new location offers tattoo designs and a retail space housing the company’s temporary designs. Inkbox also launched an area for permanent tattoos, dubbed Inside Out.
Province of Canada
After 5 years online, Province of Canada announced the official opening of its first brick and mortar store in Leslieville, Toronto, in 2019. The new digs at 1004 Queen Street East houses the brand’s well-made basics collection of made in Canada pieces, as well as accessories like toques, totes, and candles.
Ellie Mae Studios
This year, Toronto-based fashion brand Ellie Mae Studios teamed up with decor brand COFO, to open a retail space at Toronto’s shipping container market, Stackt. The new space is filled with Ellie Mae’s womenswear collection, as well as the two brands’ chic cannabis accessories, and COFO’s modern and streamlined furniture.
Melanie Auld
Six years after launching her eponymous label, Vancouver-based jewellery designer Melanie Auld opened a brick-and-mortar store during the summer of 2019. The 805-square-foot flagship, characterized by pink and green decor, carries Auld’s full range of west coast-inspired bling. Beyond the brand’s jewellery collection, the store also houses an in-house collection of Murano-glass vessels and white ceramics.
Gazelles
Montreal-based designer Habi Gerba opened her first storefront for her high-end clothing line designed for the modern working woman this year. Customers are invited to make an appointment at the boutique located in Montreal at 3859 Saint-Denis for a personalized shopping experience, where they can choose between custom-made or ready-to-wear clothing options by Gazelles.
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In this day and age, stores and restaurants seem to be closing left, right, and centre. So whenever there are new openings, they become a thing to celebrate. This month, Toronto is being graced with a handful of new openings from restaurants and apparel, to gyms and even a spa.
Regardless of if you’re obsessed with all things new, or you’re looking for new spots to shop for holiday prezzies, these 6 new Toronto openings should definitely be on your radar.
ZWILLING
ZWILLING’s first Canadian flagship, located at CF Markville Shopping Centre, is the ultimate foodie destination. The 2,500 square foot spaces sits in the malls new ‘luxury fashion wing’ that includes other high end stores like Michael Kors and Coach. The store is focusing on giving customers a unique shopping experience by having the whole ZWILLING J.A. Henckels catalogue of products available to purchase. To further celebrate the new store, there are a handful of sweet in-store deals to take advantage of!
Province Of Canada
If you’re in search of a spot to get your hands on some actually cute Canadiana, then you’ll want to get your butt over to Province of Canada’s new digs at 1004 Queen Street East. The brand launched in 2014 and this space is the brands first bricks and mortar location. Expect to shop Province of Canada’s well-made basics, dresses, rugby shirts, toques, totes, and candles.
Canada Goose
Winter is in full force with temps steadily dropping so if you’re finding yourself without a warm parka, then it’s time to head to the new Canada Goose store at CF Sherway Gardens. This new location is part of the brands major expansion and it’s also the first store of its kind. What’s so cool about this store is that it features a cold room where you can actually experience your jacket keeping you warm in winter conditions. Plus, you’ll order your coat on a digital screen and it’ll be shipped right to your door!
Yves Rocher
If botanical beauty is your thing, then Yves Rocher should be on your radar. The France-based brand is known for how it uses active ingredients from plants in its products and it’s newest store just opened on December 4th at CF Sherway Gardens. It’s there that you can find Yves Rocher’s lineup of quality skincare, body care, haircare, makeup, and even fragrances.
Hammam Spa by Céla
Need a little pampering before the stress of the holiday season? The Hammam Spa by Céla just opened at Bayview Village and let us tell you: it has everything! In addition to being a tranquil escape, the space is beautiful and but offers a ton of different treatments like medical procedures that include injectables, laser, and skincare treatments. The spa also features faves like its popular Turkish Bath, Seed to Skin Ritual, and full body wraps using products by Céla.
Sweat and Tonic
If you have a gym membership, you probably feel guilty for wanting to try different classes. That’s why Sweat and Tonic needs to be on your fitness hit list. This new space just opened across from the CF Toronto Eaton Centre and it features a spin studio, hot room, and a HIIT room. S&T offers more than just fitness classes, too. Visit the Nutbar cafe for a snack or post-workout smoothie and even indulge in some self-care at the spa for a massage!
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