Clandestino is the cute little shop with the hammock out front. In the summer months I would walk by it on my way to work and wish for somewhere to put a hammock at home. I talked to Jeff the co-owner and he had this to say about the store:

"Clandestino is a community based boutique carrying local designs and products from around the globe. Our mission is to create a retail oasis; a fusion of traditional elements with an urban design aesthetic offering comfortable clothes, accessories, handicrafts and unconventional gifts at a reasonable price ($5-$150).

Clandestino opened 2 1/2 years ago after my girlfriend and I returned home from winterin' in Mexico. As our jobs in the film industry gave us free time in the winter we were able to travel for 8 seasons to Mexico, South America and Asia. After all those years of travel we had built up quite a collection of unique fun pieces. Our friends and relatives were always delighted to have us return with gifts. This helped us realize we might be able to expose Toronto to these finds we cherished so much.

Not wanting to be pigeonholed as a "handicraft" store we began looking for local designers with a complementary aesthetic, whether it be use of color, theme or material. We now carry independent artisans who make our jewellery as well as more well known brands such as Smoking Lily, Hard Boiled, Monster and Oligarchy. We're also very excited because we were just in Asia and are bringing in a whole Eastern component to the store."

I stopped by the store to take some photographs this past Thursday. I happened to get a look at the new jewellery Jeff and Cyndi just brought back from Thailand. They are all beautiful and unique pieces; definitely conversation starters. Don't fret about supply, I've been told that a shipment of new items will be arriving from Thailand soon.

Clandestino carries clothing for the whole family, including babies. All are from Canadian designers Hard Boiled, Monster and Oligarchy. They are the only Ontario supplier of Smoking Lily clothing. Located along the soon to be trendy Dundas West strip, Clandestino has even been getting press south of the border.

Clandestino
249 Crawford Street
Toronto, ON M6J 2V7
647-436-4761
clandestinedesign at sympatico dot ca