Bergstrom Originals

Contributed by Katia Caporiccio

Bold. Original. Clothing. That's the tag line behind Bergstrom Originals. It essentially sums up what you'll find behind the shop door. Scandinavian shop owner Christina Bergstrom, who greets me with a warm smile upon my entering, tells me her pieces are very graphic. There are a lot of prints in the shop; if you're looking for solid colours, there's an American Apparel on Queen Street West.

Bergstrom, who completed her design training in Copenhagen, uses bold patterns and simple cuts to make pieces that are fun, yet functional. Kind of like business meeting meets patio cocktail party.

"There are a lot of things you can use in a work wardrobe, but you can also have fun with them," says Bergstrom, wearing her very own blue and white Peace and Love polyspandex wrap top ($92). In a nutshell, her designs embody femininity and simplicity. Look for clean lines, floral patterns, and fitted tops.

"A lot of my pieces are fitted. I cut them close to the body," says Bergstrom about her tops, jackets and dresses. Here's where the femininity comes into play, such as in a floral, cotton halter dress called Marilyn ($209). "It's meant to be worn bra-less." Extra fabric just under the bust, which accentuates the ruching in the fabric above it, provides an added touch of femininity to what would otherwise be a plain halter dress.

For a creative touch, Bergstrom adds several metal hook closures instead of buttons on a cotton-spandex fitted jacket, which she calls Hooks etc ($192). The jacket is very professional-looking, but the fitted cuts and the adorable hooks give it personality and a little extra feminine touch.

Bergstrom's Scandinavian origins play a dominant role in her designs and patterns, and she uses various fabrics from Japan in her skirts and blouses. "I'm half Danish and half Swedish so I'm drawn to anything Scandinavian. I'm very influenced by prints and graphics."

To provide a balance to all the patterned fabric, the shop itself is rather bright and simple. A large storefront window brings in copious amounts of sunlight which bounce off the white walls. Along with white tiled floors, the clothes are the focus of the shop.
The dressing space is a little more colourful and comfy. A single red curtain in the back corner of the shop hides a cozy change area, complete with mini red rugs, a little white stool and several overhead pot lights. Just next to the change room are three floor-to-ceiling mirrors, changing the focus to the customer.

Located in Riverside, Bergstrom Originals provides exactly what the name says: original clothing. No super-trendy stuff here. Just good-quality, unique pieces that can be incorporated into any wardrobe.