Fashion Stores
Shopgirls Gallery Boutique
I've always liked the concept behind Parkdale store Shopgirls. Owner Michelle Germain was working for Holt Renfrew and The Bay when she started expressing her secret indie side by hosting arts and crafts shows, selling clothing, jewelry, and accessories. And at each one, people came up to her and asked, "Where's your store located?"
Eventually, she opened up Shopgirls, selling all Canadian designers, everything handmade, and art and housewares as well, according to store manager Ashley Winnington-Ball. The store also has a unique structure with a variety of deals for artists, from a flat consignment fee to membership in the Artist's Circle, which offers more promotion and a higher cut for a monthly fee. Visual artists can even rent wall space.
It was the results I wasn't wild about - while I often enjoyed the art and accessories in-store, I didn't like the clothing, which included plenty of AMAW-wear: duds that belonged on Artsy Middle-Aged Women types, with plenty of hippie-like deconstructed items, Susan Harris pieces, and "creative" clothes crafted from recycled pantyhose, teatowels, ties and the like.
Yet on my more recent visit to the shop, I found that some of the new brands brought in - and the summer selection - made a clothes-shopping visit to Shopgirls a must.
There were silver lame tops with dolman sleeves from Waterloo's Eve Farber ($189) and structured black frocks by Eve Gravel of Montreal ($150), although that sense of playfulness was still there, from the cute summer dresses crafted out of dead-stock vintage fabric by Toronto's My Mom Made That ($140-$160) and the bright-red shirt-dress from Maudlin & Joy ($160) out of BC.
I'm still pleased with the accessories, too, including Julia Moon's poppy pins ($20-$40), Danielle Zippan's laser-cute silver jewelry in cute shapes like hummingbirds and elephants ($25-$80), and LaKrause feathered headpieces ($35-$200).
There were even a few pieces that wouldn't be out of place in a higher-end shop, like Maudlin & Joy's navy cinched-waist jumpsuit ($230) and the various draped jersey dresses by Kania that could almost hold their own with Denis Gagnon's twisty creations of late ($230).
A lot of the AMAW sensibility remains in the form of teatowel skirts, Zyzanium tunics, and the usual screenprinted stuff, but there's a lot more to shop for at this Shopgirls.
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As for our prices, Shopgirls represents only Canadian artists and designers, and everything we carry is actually made here in Canada. That means that clothing designers, for instance, don't have the dubious benefit of large-scale off-shore production; the people here in Canada who are hired to make these items are paid fair wages and the clothing lines that we carry are all small-run, so those costs are reflected in the retail prices of our stock.
Shopgirls has a wonderful and loyal customer base who find that our prices - from small items at $8, to great tops at $60 to a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture for $1200 - are fair and reasonable. They are supporting local artists and our growing independant business, and we appreciate them dearly for this.
I imagine the owners spent months upon months deciding what to place in their space and at what price range. Adjusting to a few naysayers would be a silly idea, when they have so many great ideas of their own!
Not only did I see lots of beautiful designs but I also felt really cared for and respected by the staff. As a new mom I needed a few essential pieces that would fit my post-baby shape and be useful for when I return to work. After looking around a lot online and around town with out much success I was so delighted to discover so many great pieces at Shopgirls. The owner has great taste.
The staff even helped me with my baby while I tried things on - talk about customer service! Instead of feeling frumpy and frazzled (as I can quite often feel in some Queen Street boutiques) they helped me feel funky and fashionable. A positive experience all around.
I can understand some comments about the prices being high but it does make sense given that these are all made in Canada and the price of clothing has been driven down (along with our expectations) because of sweatshops and such. In an ideal world I renew my whole wardrobe there but instead I got a couple of investment pieces I know I'll wear all the time. I'll be sure to save up for my next visit and maybe this time get a babysitter!
14 hour day whilst making a measly $3/shift wage, you still choose to support the exploitation of the situation by continuing to buy overseas.
I, too, shop at Walmart, Dollarama, etc. or anywhere else that probably sells cheaply made and labored product; it's impossible not to at this point. Once you see the difference (the ethical difference, if none other) you can't deny that you are supporting a better life for everyone. Shop local when you can, it's about humanity. It really is that simple.
It reminded me of an "artist" that I knew who would quickly piece something together and which cost them $3 or $4 to make and then would tell us, "I'll just sell this for $60. Someone will buy it!" There was no rhyme or reason how they arrived at that price.
That's what it's like in here.
Pass.