From fashion and accessories to beauty and housewares, these Toronto stores offer green gifts for everyone on your list.
If “waste less, live more” is your motto, we have a shopping list for you! At these eco-friendly shops in Toronto, you can buy Canadian, sustainably made fashion, accessories, food gifts and more.
For clean beauty lovers: Detox Market
For green beauty that doesn’t hurt the earth or animals, visit one of Detox Market’s multiple locations, including its flagship downtown store on Spadina Avenue, a short walk to bustling King Street West and Queen Street West.
It’s packed with luxurious and cruelty-free skincare items, body washes and scrubs, hair products and makeup from covetable Canadian brands like Vancouver’s ILIA Beauty and Three Ships, a Toronto-based, female-founded, plant-based skincare.
For vintage fans: Holt Renfrew’s H Project
From boho chic, Vancouver-designed, Bali-crafted rings and necklaces from Iza Jewelry (a certified Responsible Jewellery Council Chain of Custody-certified supplier), to Line’s Royals-inspired cardis made from Merino certified to the Responsible Wool Standard, upscale department store Holt Renfrew’s H Project features unique finds that promote local cultures, minimize environmental impact and showcase local innovation.
Mercado Global’s line of totes, for example, supports the financial independence and creative expression of the Indigenous women in Guatemala who weave their cotton bags.
For fashion hounds: Horses Atelier
Shop for Canadian designer fashion in Toronto at Horses Atelier, a women-founded and women-run shop that creates sustainable clothing downtown.
The label’s Belted Field Suit in Black is its top-selling jumpsuit and has been worn everywhere, from red carpet premieres to weddings, on stage, and to protest marches.
Horses’ social mission includes donations to local non-profits like the Spun Studio, an innovative social enterprise that helps marginalized women gain textile skills, and Regent Park Sewing Studio, which helps newcomers upskill for growth and financial stability.
For accessories addicts: Logan & Finley
Bring a large reusable shopping bag and fill it up with accessories from Logan & Finley. Located in the studio space of a converted factory in boho Parkdale, this eco-conscious retail store offers an alternative to fast fashion.
From layerable travel wear from Montreal’s Fig clothing brand to pampering scrubs, serums and lotions from Toronto’s Wildcraft body care collection, you’ll find plenty of Made in Canada gifting options.
For self-care savants: Cedar Basket Gift Shop
Support talented Indigenous makers and creators at the Cedar Basket Gift Shop, located inside the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto.
Shop for handcrafted and colourful soaps from Sequoia, and check out the Kahnawake-based, woman-owned company’s collection of delectably scented skincare and candles.
Pro tip: Consider booking the Native Canadian Centre’s guided tour, which explores the Indigenous roots of Tkaronto (Toronto) and the Ishpadinaa (Spadina Road) area.
For treasure hunters: Stackt Market’s Marketplace
Looking for unique finds that support Toronto local shops? Head to downtown’s shipping container Stackt Market for Marketplace, a unique collection of small indie shops and boutiques.
Visit the brick-and-mortar location of Rax, a peer-to-peer clothing rental app. With dozens of cute frocks available to try before you buy borrow, it’s easy to nab the perfect non-fast-fashion find for your Toronto hangouts and date nights. Or try Steady Reserve for vintage tees and denim.
Hopeless Romantic Bookshop offers a well-curated selection of romance novels across every genre, perfect for sharing in a Little Free Library when you’re done page-turning.
For green housekeepers: Ecotique
Ecotique is a sustainable living boutique in the heart of Westside’s Roncesvalles. The housewares shop showcases items that are made responsibly using sustainable materials and promotes Canadian artists, including Susan Robertson.
The Saskatchewan-based ceramicist creates handmade porcelain mugs and matching tea bag holders that are a fun and creative gift for anyone looking to spruce up their kitchen.
Pro tip: For a peak-Toronto souvenir, opt for Robertson’s raccoon design.
For wanderers: Patagonia
Toronto is packed with hiking trails and ravines, making Patagonia Toronto a must-stop for adventurers who under-packed, not to mention shoppers seeking gifts for the wanderers on their list.
This Houdini Air Jacket is the perfect gift for outdoor lovers. Made in a Fair Trade factory, the durable and ultralightweight jacket has a water-repellent coating minus the chemicals.
Patagonia donates 1% of sales to environmental initiatives and to raise awareness of environmental justice.
For art enthusiasts: Shop AGO
You can’t go wrong with Indigenous-made or -designed mementoes from Shop AGO, the Art Gallery of Ontario gift shop.
Toronto-based Ojibway (Chippewa) artist Sharon Kiyoshk-Burritt’s porcupine quill earrings are a striking souvenir for accessory lovers.
Collectors will appreciate hand-carved soapstone sculptures by Inuit artist Abe Simonie or limited-edition prints by First Nations visual artists like Algonquin artist Frank Polson.
Other gifts by Indigenous artists include an enchanted owl insulated lunch bag designed by Inuit artist Kenojuak Ashevak—perfect for litterless lunches.
For new parents: Ava’s Appletree
Shopping for new parents? Or do you have your own wee one to buy for? Ava’s Appletree was started by a parent who noticed a local need for natural parenting products.
This green business stocks its shelves with cloth diapers, bamboo sleep bags and toys made from natural materials, including sustainable wood Ostheimer figures that are carefully carved, hand-painted and perfect for play in fairytale land.
While the up-and-coming Birch Cliff neighbourhood is a bit of a trek from downtown, the community is home to a vibrant mix of housewares shops and eclectic cafés. If you’re driving, plan a trip to the photogenic Guild Park & Gardens while you’re out east.
—This story has been updated with new details since it was first published in December 2023.
