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Shopping Local Matters, So Here’s a Little Help

21 delightful finds, as recommended by some fashionable Canadians

Shop local—it’s a slogan, a movement and a call to action. And, post-Black-Friday and in the midst of another partial lockdown, it’s a sentiment that feels extra urgent. So we asked some friends in the Canadian fashion community—boutique owners, buyers and champions of local design, to highlight some of their favourite close-to-home buys. Whether you’re still gift shopping (hey, same) or looking to support upstart brands and refresh your decor or closet, here’s some added inspiration. 

Vicky Milner, president, The Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards

Vicky Milner runs CAFA—Canada’s fashion industry cheerleader. With the annual splashy gala that celebrates Canadian fashion talent on hold for the time being, Milner has turned her focus to Shop Local Labels, a new site that highlights, well, local labels. Here’s what she’s shopping right now. 

KipKip pyjama set, $257, sleepinkip.com
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“Soft, luxurious and lightweight, these PJs can also be monogrammed. Perfect for looking chic and lounging around in all day!”

 

LambertLambert bag, $190, designlambert.com
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“I love this bag not only because it was made sustainably, but because it’s the perfect travel and weekender bag. It has different sections to keep all your belongings organized, including lined pockets for a laptop and side pockets for shoes.”

 

100 Years of Love100 Years of Love “Bedtime Story” candle, $32, 100yrsoflove.com
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“Each 100 Years of Love candle is hand-poured with 100 per cent soy wax, cotton wicks and exceptional fine fragrances to fill your space. They are also phthalate-free, paraben-free, lead-free, cruelty-free and vegan. This fragrance is so soothing and relaxing, you feel like you’re in a spa!”

 

RadfordRadford 24K Hydrogel Multi-Pack, $30, victoriaradford.com
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“Infused with gold, Radford’s 24K Gold Hydrogel Masks instantly cool, soothe and nourish the skin. The highly restorative properties of hydrogel, allow the mask to deeply hydrate and lock in moisture. Hyaluronic acid plumps the skin to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, leaving skin looking healthy and refreshed. Your skin will glow!”

 

MifaMifa Eucalyptus Coco Body Wash, $35, mifaandco.com
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“This 100 per cent cruelty-, toxin-free and natural body wash, is made with the highest quality organic ingredients including botanical oils and emollient-rich tropical plant butters for a deep hydration, combined with highly concentrated essential oils. It will revitalize your skin.”

 

Trish Ewanika, owner, Ewanika 

As the owner of one of Toronto’s chicest fashion boutiques, Ewanika is always on the lookout for the next cool thing. With non-essential Toronto shops having to close, Ewanika continues to add new items to her online shop and offers curbside pick-up and virtual shopping appointments from Thursday to Sunday. 

EwanikaCalla slippers, $258 (in store only, coming soon online) ewanika.ca
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“This is the first season I am carrying Toronto-born, Paris-based Calla Hanyes, I love the slippers because they feel absolutely joyous, and healing with beauty is a strong Virgo trait for me.”

 

EwanikaBinu Binu incense, $98 (in store only, coming soon online), ewanika.ca
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“I have had the incense holders in the store for a while now, but Karen Kim has recently launched her own collection of incenses for Binu Binu—four scents centred around rituals. Quoting Edith Sitwell, ‘My personal hobbies are reading, listening to music and silence.’ The incenses suit my personality well!” 
 

Josiah Crocker, founder, Koda Collective

Koda Collective is a  virtual marketplace of Canadian brands. A percentage of all proceeds goes The Rainforest Trust and the site carries everything from baby clothes to sleepwear. 

Koda CollectiveCarolyn Ferreira sweater, $215, kodacollective.ca
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“Entirely made from sustainable, regenerated and all-natural cashmere and extra-fine merino wool, this raglan-sleeve sweater features ribbed cuffs and hem and comes in a beautiful marble of earthy green yarns.”

 

Koda CollectiveBrave Soles bag, $249, kodacollective.ca
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“Brave Soles’ products are ethically sourced from a few different materials, a few of which are repurposed rubber tires, upcycled airline leather seats and leather from Haiti. Because of this, no two pieces are exactly the same—including the fabric interior!”

 

Koda CollectiveKind Karma Co necklace, $60, kodacollective.ca
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“Kind Karma Co’s entire product line is handmade by at-risk and homeless youth in the Toronto area, providing them with wages and a safe space to express themselves.”

 

Koda CollectiveThe Good Tee V-neck top, $55, kodacollective.com
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“Ethically sourced and made, these Fair Trade certified T-shirts are designed and delivered to you with the environment and human lives in mind. The Good Tee  maintains fair and honest relationships with manufacturing partners and a traceable supply chain. It is also a certified B-corp, a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit.”

 

Sarah Power, founder of Canadian shopping platform INLAND

Sarah Power has kept busy during the lockdown, turning the bi-annual pop-up INLAND into an e-commerce platform for Canadian jewellery, fashion and accessory designers. Power says that sales quadrupled during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. “I had to strike a balance; many of the designers are actually very anti-Black Friday,” says Power. “I like to think of shopping as thoughtful collecting. All of my purchases are with local designers and makers—this season and always. Not just because we need to be supporting our communities more than ever right now, but because their work is incredible, it expresses values I care deeply about (sustainability, diversity, transparency), and because I want to feel connected to things that matter.”

InlandHello Darling wrap headband, $46, madeinland.ca
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InlandAdora Watson necklace, $330, madeinland.ca
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InlandBodybag by Jude dress, $187, madeinland.ca
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InlandLLiM scarf, $250, madeinland.ca
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InlandCat Janiga earrings, $149, madeinland.ca
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Océane Stanislas, luxury fashion buyer at Simons

The Simons luxury fashion buyer is doing her part for local designers. This year, Stanislas helped launch a bestselling capsule collection in collaboration with Indigenous fashion designers including Warren Steven Scott and Evan Ducharme. Here, she shares some chic homeware finds by local artisans.

SimonsObakki vase, $180, simons.ca
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SimonsPiera Bochner “Romanesco” candle, $95, simons.ca
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SimonsXenia Taler plates, $52 (for a set of 4), simons.ca
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SimonsDa Ceramics vase, $55, simons.ca
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Turmeric, cacao and matcha latte blends
SimonsBlume turmeric, cacao and matcha latte blends, $65 (set of 3), simons.ca
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