Head to Ossington to shop for fashion, decor and gifts at some of the best indie stores in Toronto.
The buzzy stretch of Ossington Avenue between Dundas Street West and Queen Street West is filled with fantastic spots for a bite or a cocktail, but between all the great bar and restaurant options, you’ll find loads of Toronto's top local shops, too.
With a well-rounded mix of independent shops, local chains and Canadian flagships of cool international brands, the dynamic Ossington strip is the perfect neighbourhood to shop for fashion, housewares and gifts. Here’s where to go.
Lost & Found
All of the cool, well-dressed guys you see around Toronto? There’s a good chance they shop for their Norse Projects shirts, Sage de Cret jackets, Arpenteur footwear and The Real McCoy’s sunglasses at the menswear store Lost & Found.
"Ossington has an energy comparable to New York, Paris and Tokyo. You can feel excitement just walking [the strip] from Queen West to Dundas Street. The people, the businesses: both give Ossington a wonderful vibrancy that you won't find anywhere else in the city." –Jonathan Elias, owner of Lost & Found
Reigning Champ
Guys can stock up on wardrobe staples at Reigning Champ. This Vancouver-based brand is a go-to for classic tees, polos, hoodies, bottoms and more, all in neutral colourways that can be easily mixed and matched.
I Miss You Vintage
Plan to invest some time to pore through the designer resale pieces at I Miss You Vintage Inc.
Rifle around to uncover covetable finds such as a black blazer from Balmain, handbags from Chanel, Gucci and Dior, a jacket from Isabel Marant and heels from Jimmy Choo—all at up to 70 percent off retail.
Sundays
Pop into Sundays if you’re looking to nail a relaxed, comfortable aesthetic at home. The furniture brand’s clean lines and neutral palette have made the five-year-old company a designer favourite.
It’s easy to see why the cozy Movie Night modular sectional and handsome Easy Edge media unit have become bestsellers.
The Latest Scoop
Visit The Latest Scoop, and you’ll understand why this Canadian brand grew from a pop-up to a national chain.
It’s the It Girl’s lifestyle shop for contemporary pieces you can wear to brunch or the office. It’s also got a solid denim collection and a curated selection of housewares that’ll instantly elevate any vignettes you’ve created at home.
Permission
Fashionable fitness lovers flock to Permission for athleisure goods that are almost too stylish to work out in.
Think labels like Girlfriend Collective, Splits59, Beyond Yoga and swimwear from L*Space. You’ll also find other goodies, such as Emi Jay hair clips and Ember Wellness skincare.
Loversland
Bright pink jeans? Leopard denim? Although you’ll also find gowns at bridal concept store Loversland, this boutique also carries fun, bold looks from labels such as Ganni, Eliza Faulkner and Martin Across alongside darling houseware pieces such as colourful champagne coupes from Fazeek.
Telegramme Prints & Custom Framing
Fill that empty spot on your wall at home with a piece from Telegramme Prints & Custom Framing. The print shop includes work by local artists like Alannah Cavanagh and Dave Murray, plus they’ve got a vintage collection featuring movie posters and Fiorucci.
Rotate This
Grow your vinyl collection with new and used treasures from Rotate This, home to genres from hip-hop and jazz to reggae, punk, indie and electronica. A local mini chain, Rotate This is also a local go-to for concert tix.
Grit & Grace
Back to a hybrid schedule? Complete your hunt for office-appropriate outfits at Grit & Grace, a local Ontario chain that carries cool girl brands like Part Two, FRNCH and Velvet Heart.
They’ve also got just the right boho-chic denim tunic and a range of pretty floral maxi dresses to round out your wardrobe for the season.
Melanie Auld
Treat yourself to a little trinket from Melanie Auld’s Toronto flagship. The toughest decision will be narrowing down what to buy from the array of delicate gold bracelets, pretty huggies and stud earrings from the Vancouver jewelry designer’s fine and demi-fine collections.
Duer
Does performance denim sound like a match made in heaven to you? Then head to Duer.
Think comfy jeans that are stretchy enough for an active lifestyle but stylish enough for a workday. Timeless styles made with natural, sustainable fabrics—such as perfectly draped dolman tees—round out the look at this Canadian brand's Toronto flagship.
Annie Aime
Set your GPS to Annie Aime for European fashion pieces that will make you stand out from the crowd.
From Jack Gomme bags and Saint James striped goods to Wild Bird Society of Japan rain boots and Gallego Desportes shirts, these are wardrobe buys you’ll hold onto forever.
– Additional research by Akira Ourique
—This story has been updated with new details since it was first published in July 2024.
