Dress up on the Danforth at these local clothing shops
Life on the Danforth is one part Greek, one part Canadian and many parts fashion. Its strong ethnic heritage means everyone puts an effort into what they’re wearing, whether it’s a winter parka or mid-summer linens. These local clothing boutiques stand out from the crowd.
Ziliotto Inc
752 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 1L5The story is simple: owner Jennifer Zilotto loved fashion but loved her hometown more. Instead of staying in Paris – where she trained at the House of Chanel and with Karl Lagerfeld – Jennifer brought her sartorial knowledge to Toronto, started her own label and never looked back. But what really makes her different is she provides clothes for real bodies, not the ones found in magazines. Her eponymous shop carries fierce women's fashions in a wide variety of sizes and styles, all at reasonable prices.
Envelop
311 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N7Envelop is a clothing label as well as a brick-and-mortar store, which gives you the rare opportunity of talking to designer Jim Smith before you make a purchase. Instead of buying blindly, get firsthand knowledge about why a particular fabric was used or why a shirt is cut the way it is. There are tons of trendy clothes for both men and women and Jim is happy to talk to anyone about the kind of look they want to achieve.
Do Bamboo
764 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 1L5You don’t have to be a vegetarian, tree hugger or hippie to enjoy eco-friendly clothes, especially with founder John Elias making it so easy to be green and chic. He’s chosen bamboo not only for its fast growth rate and modest environmental footprint but its moisture-wicking properties and the fact that it makes a warm, comfortable fabric. As a bonus, you can bring in your own clothing and have John customize it.
Jexy & Jax
375 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1P1Imagine a giant oversized walk-in closet and you’ll have a good idea of what Jexy and Jax looks like. The showroom features warm hardwood floors, a combination of clothing racks and small tables displays, a wall unit with little knick-knacks and accessories and track lighting overhead to give it a nice ambience. Probably the only difference between your closet and this store is that the latter contains products entirely made in Canada.
K Squared
764 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 1L5There’s something so quintessentially Canadian about the clothes in here, whether it’s the vest-over-a-sweater layered look that’s perfect for early Toronto autumns or the splashes of bright colours to reflect rugged Canadian landscapes. Karin Kasabian, the owner and namesake of the store, has an eclectic personality that’s reflected in the clothes she selects, with pieces that’ll look good on men and women. It’s impossible not to leave looking more stylish than when you walked in.
