There's no doubt about it — King East still reigns as the undisputed champ when it comes to the latest in contemporary furnishings. But Liberty Village just might be the city's sleeping giant, ready to awaken with a fury of compact leather sectionals and teak stools galore. Casalife and West Elm have already planted their roots, with EQ3 working away to try to add its name to the area this summer. And with more than one thousand people expected to move into the community soon, who will be next to try to sell them extendable dining tables?

This Week in Fashion rounds up the week's style news, store openings and closings, pop-up shops, sales and upcoming fashion and design events in Toronto. Find it here every Wednesday morning.

NEWS

It's collaboration time! Last week, H&M announced they will be teaming up with Vogue Japan Fashion Director Anna Della Russo on a line of accessories coming to a store near you this fall. In the fast-fashion giant's first collaboration with a non-designer, Della Russo will be drawing on her popular fashion prowess to inspire a collection of clutches, sunglasses, chunky baubles and shoes in turquoise, rose gold and tangerine. The line will launch in 140 stores worldwide on October 4th. Check out her video discussing the collection here.

It's not easy being a start-up, especially in an industry as fickle and fluxing as fashion. Even more reason to give some props to a bunch of upstart fashion brands currently making waves in Toronto. Many of the brands on this list get their goods in front of customers at pop-up events like the Mutts and Co. Traveling Market. From sportswear, to cosmetics to accessories, here are ten little guys to look out for.

While Toronto is now home to global fashion retailers like H&M, Zara and Urban Outfitters, the lack of a Uniqlo store has been a conspicuous absence. I recently reached out to Uniqlo headquarters with an inquiry on whether Canucks can expect a dedicated retail store for the brand anytime soon. The long and short of it? No. A friendly PR rep told me to keep an eye on the website for future updates, but as of now, there are no plans to expand the Japanese giant's North American presence north of the U.S. border.

Dinosaurs have never seen such amazing footwear as what was on display last Friday at the ROM. Although I'm sure the cave ladies did their best with what they had, I just don't think they could hold a torch to some of the attendee's choices, which were highlighted by a pair that had steel spikes all along the heel — the perfect weapon for a night that was all about Fashion (with a capital F, yes).

Lumber in Toronto is easy to find if you know where to look. Beyond the orange goliath known as Home Depot, Toronto has a number of lumber centers with long standing reputations and historical ties to the community. The best of them have a wide variety of wood to choose from, and perhaps more importantly, helpful and knowledgeable staff to aid in the search for the perfect materials. As an added bonus, many of the top lumber centers also offer other home decor and building products.

Here's my take on the top lumber yards in the Toronto area.