If you think for one moment you’re going to spend more then a day in Toronto and not shop, you are missing out on a truly spiritual retail experience! Touted as Canada’s fashion capital, Toronto has a fabulous selection of boutiques, outlets, malls and department stores. If it’s couture you crave, grab your Kate Spade, yourManolos, and lot’s of plastic!Take a meander through Holt Renfrew, Prada, or Hermes in the exclusive Bloor-Yorkville district.Or perhaps you thrive on the thrill of the hunt! The funky neighborhood of West Queen West is an absolute treasure trove of indie designers, vintage boutiques and used clothing shops. The Toronto fashion scene is home to Canada’s prestigious Eco-Fashion designers, and we’ve compiled a list of fab finds for those who love to save green while going green.

Preloved

881 Queen Street West

Preloved has been a beloved fixture on Queen West for the last decade. Reclaimed vintage fabrics and Recycled materials are all incorporated into stunning designs that are both unique, and affordable. The fashion know-all behind Preloved is founder Julia Grieve, opened Preloved in response to the homogenous and wasteful styles she saw flooding the market. Julia has dressed rockstars, professionals, and fashionistas alike. Her secret weapon, designer Peter Friesen, wields his creative genius and leads a team of talented artists. Preloved features designs for women, children and even a home accessories collection.

EcoExistence

21 Vaughan Road

If you’re on the hunt for a planet-friendly gift for that special someone, EcoExistence offers an array of clothing, books, bed and bathroom products. Featuring luxuriously green skin care lines like Evan Healey,  to sumptuous herbal products from herbalist Ella’s, and organic mattresses, comforters and pillows are just a few of the items primed to add a little more green to your lifestyle.

League of Lovers and Thieves

1156 Queen Street West

Another favorite on good ‘ol Queen West is an ever-edgy, eco-concious ecotique. League of Lovers and Thieves balks at the shapeless eco-designs from designers past, and pays careful attention to tailored fit, current and relevant aesthetics and above all, sustainability. Thieves is actually a local designer label by Sonja Den Elzen. Eco-labelsQuite Hero, Fees de Bengal, Ashley Watson are also carried here, with a focus on recycled fabrics or organic materials.

And ladies, bring the gents, Thieves has a great men’s line!

Panacea Eco Shop

588 Bloor St W

Calling all Vegans, welcome to your Mecca! Anything and everything vegan you could dream up can be found in Toronto’s only Vegan Health Store. This retail experience is the answer to those who support animal rights, social justice, fair trade, environmental sustainability, where else can you find that all under one roof! Everything is sold here from Vegan groceries, organic baby products, fair trade fashion and accessories to organic health and beauty products. This truly is a one-stop shop for the planet concious.

Me to We Style

233 Carlton Street

Ethical, sweat-shop free and ultra chic, Me to We is sustainable success story in the Toronto fashion scene. All garments are locally produced and made from certified organic cottons and bamboo viscose fabrics. With a collection of socially concious Tee’s, a men’s line, accessories and more. And to top it all off, 50% of profits are donated to Free the Children.

Love Me Two Times

760 Bathurst St.

Don’t be fooled by suspiciously cheap wares at nearby Honest Ed’s,  Love Me Two Times is an upscale vintage gem with upscale pricing. Funky with a vamp meets bordello feel, this little shop is brimming with stunning finds. If you fell in love with vintage Yves St. Laurent and Jean Paul Gaultier, Donald Pliner Couture or 80’s glam, you’ve met your match. Bring a tall double-double and your best girlfriend, because you are going to want to dedicate some serious time to these bargain racks.

Green is Black

624 Yonge St.

Conveniently located on the bustling thoroughfare that is Yonge Street, before you get swept up in the any of the other 600 retail stores located on the world’s longest street, step into Green is Black and add a little something special to your wardrobe. Earrings made from used soda cans, purses made from movie posters and shoes derived from truck tires are just a few of the sought-after designs from this great shop.

Jordana Manchester, My Destination Ontario
November 2011