Introduction to Toronto

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and capital of the province of Ontario. Toronto is also a center for industry, transportation and logistics.

Demographics

Toronto is the most populous city in Canada, with 2.93 million people in 2017 (latest available). The city is influenced by the more than 200 ethnicities that make Toronto the international city that it is. With over 140 languages spoken, an estimated half of Toronto’s residents were born outside Canada.

Top Five Shopping Districts

1. West Queen West: A little bit of everything: Large well-established brands, vintage outlets, boutiques and stores curated to menswear.
2. Dundas West: Formally known as Little Portugal, Dundas West features many minimalist spots such as Bodega Thirteen and VSP Consignment, as well as vintage boutiques such as Penny Arcade.
3. Yorkville: The destination for all things luxury, from Chanel and Prada to Toronto’s own Pink Tartan. The area is home to streetwear shops and men’s fashion boutiques.
4. King East: The best spot in the city to find high-end furniture and home décor. Stores in the area include Klaus by Nienkamper, Kiosk, RADform, Suite 22 Interiors and Calligaris.
5. Castlefield Design District: This north-end neighborhood is full of home-design stores as well as vintage furniture stores. At Sharon O’Dowd, customers can customize furniture.

Famous Retail Events

Toronto Fashion Week: The bi-annual event features national and international designers, as well as entertainers and media. The three-day event is held in the luxury neighborhood of Yorkville. Canadian Asian Fashion Week: This annual event celebrates fashion trends of East and South Asian heritage, inviting emerging and established fashion designers to showcase their work.

Top Innovative Retailers

The Local [caption id="attachment_94151" align="alignright" width="400"] Source: complex.com[/caption] The Local is a Lululemon concept store dedicated to menswear. The Local is split into two parts: Half retail store and the other half community space featuring art, a bar, barber services and a gaming area. The interior of the store has a minimalist design with concrete floors and exposed ceiling pipes, exuding an industrial atmosphere – and not a red Lululemon red logo in sight. The Local is Toronto’s first Lululemon men’s concept store, with sister branches in Philadelphia, Fort Collins (Colorado), Bend (Oregon) and Sun Valley (Idaho). Location: The Local, 6 Ossington Avenue, Toronto, ON M6J 2Y7.   Black Rooster Décor [caption id="attachment_94152" align="alignright" width="317"] Source: blackroosterdecor.com[/caption] Black Rooster Décor is known for unique and stylish furniture from around the world. The pieces are sourced from small business and North American brands. The store is set up as a showroom that constantly evolves depending on the season and new products. Black Rooster Décor started online and introduced its brick and mortar location in 2014. The store consists of a variety of furniture, décor accessories, lighting, art, rugs, planters and plant arrangements. Location: Black Rooster Décor, 1075 Queen Street E #1, Toronto, ON M4M 1K3.           Nespresso Boutique Bar [caption id="attachment_94153" align="alignright" width="519"] Source: nespresso.com[/caption] The Nespresso Boutique Bar in Yorkville is designed to enhance the customer experience for coffee lovers – and promote Nespresso. The boutique bar is two stories and was designed by Aldo Parisotto of Parisotto e Formenton. The store interior is an open concept with a floor to ceiling glass storefront. This is the second Nespresso boutique bar in Toronto, however, this one includes a recycling station for used capsules. The store also features an area in which customers can create personalized capsule art. In the machine gallery, customers can explore the range of Nespresso machines, ranging in price from $199 to $999. Location: Nespresso Boutique Bar, 159 Cumberland Street, Toronto, ON M5R 1A2.   Cocktail Emporium [caption id="attachment_94154" align="alignright" width="412"] Source: cocktailemporium.com[/caption] The Cocktail Emporium is located in Kensington Market and is known for its vintage Miami atmosphere. The colorful interior is designed for consumers who love the art of crafting drinks. Owner Kristen Voisey had a love for at-home bartending and vintage collecting – so she turned it into a store. The concept is to create a one-stop destination for drinks and cocktails. In addition to all the ingredients and on-site consultation for customers looking to learn more about mixing drinks, the store also houses cocktail accessories, vintage glassware, tools and coasters. The store carries absinthe fountains, beer-making kits and turkey-leg pint glasses – quirky items a shopper wouldn’t find anywhere else. Location: Cocktail Emporium, 20 Kensington Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2J7.   The Abnormal Beauty Company [caption id="attachment_94155" align="alignright" width="348"] Source: deciem.com[/caption] The Abnormal Beauty Company houses a collection of beauty brands: With more than 10 brands in the beauty world, the company now has 50 products in more than 15 markets. The portfolio of products includes affordable skincare, makeup, haircare and supplements that appeal to a wide audience. The store uses high quality ingredients sourced from around the world. The store features white walls and industrial shelving, as well as a large workspace in the middle of the store to test out products. Location: The Abnormal Beauty Company, 1240 Bay Street #113, Toronto, ON M5R 2A7.   Aesop Skincare [caption id="attachment_94156" align="alignright" width="276"] Source: Aesop.com[/caption] Aesop is a high-end Australian skincare brand with locations all over the world. The Toronto location on Queens Street embodies the brand’s aesthetic: minimalist. Each location looks different, depending on the city. The interior of the Toronto store has an exposed brick wall and black steel, as well as a wall made of rippled wool fabric. An in-house laboratory develops new formulas for products for skin, body and hair. The packaging looks so similar products appear identical, adding to the minimalist vibe the company strives for. Location: Aesop Skincare, 880 Queens Street W, Toronto, ON M6J 1G3.       Crown Flora Studio [caption id="attachment_94157" align="alignright" width="344"] Source: crownflorastudio.com[/caption] Crown Flora Studio was created by Davis Khounnoraj and Adam Mallory in 2010. The pair combined their knowledge of botanicals and textiles to create handcrafted accessories and a unique terrarium, creating original and creative pieces unique to the company. Some examples include a dinosaur planter, bookhou planters and the bucket bag among other products. The store also houses an event space that comes with floral décor. The store holds private workshops and group terrarium workshops.   Location: Crown Flora Studio, 1233 Queens Street West, Toronto, ON M6K 1L5.       Toronto Designers Market [caption id="attachment_94158" align="alignright" width="436"] Source: torontodesignersmarket.com[/caption] Toronto Designers Market creates an affordable space for up and coming designers to sell products in a brick and mortar location. The 3,000 square foot venue features over 40 different designers and houses a variety of products including furniture, home décor, apparel and jewelry. The space opened in 2015, giving local designers a venue and consumers a way to access up and coming talent with a variety of stores to choose from. Each booth operates as the retailer’s own shop, the creators set prices and set up the space as they like. When TDM staff are familiar with the stores, they also help handle purchases and questions from customers. Location: Toronto Designers Market, 1605 Queens Street W, Toronto, ON M6R 1A9.   Saudade [caption id="attachment_94159" align="alignright" width="459"] Source: saudadetoronto.com[/caption] Saudade is a shop in Little Portugal that houses products from Portugal. Saudade is a Portuguese word meaning a deep emotional state of nostalgia for a person, place or time. The store carries a variety of tableware, hand-painted mugs and bowls, good-luck roosters, hand-woven blankets and baskets, among other trinkets. The interior of the store took inspiration from Portuguese architecture, using blue and white tiling, an antique chandelier and wall niches. The owners grew up with the products they stock in the store. Location: Saudade, 1191 Dundas Street W, Toronto, ON M6J 1X3.   Monocle Store [caption id="attachment_94160" align="alignright" width="490"] Source: monocle.com[/caption] The Monocle is a complete media brand, with print, audio and online elements – not to mention an expanding retail network and online business. Via its shops around the world, Monocle sells products that cater to readers’ tastes, produced by brands the owners believe in. The Toronto store is stocked not only with its media products, but also items such as menswear, bags, stationary and a wide range of other items. The store interior follows the theme of the publication and is very minimalist. Location: Monocle Store, 776 College Street, Toronto, ON M6G 1C6. Must See Area: Leslieville Leslieville has village-like atmosphere and an abundance of antique boutiques, furniture stores, rustic cafes and restaurants.

1. The Rug Company: A variety of unique rugs to choose from, very trendy and modern merchandise.
2. Black Rooster Décor: A furniture store with one-of-a-kind furniture, handpicked by the owners.
3. Raise the Root Organic Market: A natural goods store, offering organic produce and other wholesome products.
4. Arts Market: An eclectic arts store with handcrafted and unique items. A collection of local artists all sharing the space so customers can choose from a variety of different products.
5. Good Neighbour: A collection of unique and trendy pieces for men and women, plus trinkets and quirky items.