Kid Culture Walk into Kid Culture at 2986 Dundas Street West and you will discover “an exploded classroom,” says proud shop owner Clare Raman. The colourful, locally sourced kids’ apparel instantly grabs your attention, but so do the displays: old school chairs and desks and parts of an abandoned piano salvaged by Clare’s husband. A piano harp hanging on the back wall is played expertly by Clare’s five-year-old daughter Amalia, who is often in the store, graciously inviting small customers to share her toys, and it is this kidfriendly atmosphere that makes Kid Culture such a welcoming place for families to shop. Instead of whining to leave, says Clare, quite a few of her younger patrons plead with their parents to stay longer!
Clare grew up in The Junction and is glad to have her business close to the family home where her parents still live. She spent 10 years selling her own jewelry designs at Buttercup Days in Mirvish Village, then four years at Fresh Collective, where she met plenty of Toronto’s most talented crafters. After the birth of Amalia, Clare shifted her creative focus to kids’ clothes, blending new and vintage fabrics and styles in innovative and appealing ways. In September 2011, she decided it was time to open another bricksand-mortar shop. Calling upon her colleagues in the design and craft communities, she filled the space with homegrown quality kids’ wear and accessories. Many of the items Clare sells are made from repurposed fabrics – old sweaters enjoy new life as skirts, dresses, scarves, leggings and even diaper covers – and her customers value this kind of sustainable design. They also love the fact that the merchandise is locally sourced and locally made. At least a quarter of the suppliers are from the immediate neighbourhood, and the rest are from the Toronto area. Residents and retailers in The Junction community are loyal to their neighbourhood, Clare says, “and try really hard to shop here.” Customers return often, eager to replace outgrown outfits, and glad to know they can always place a custom order or make a helpful suggestion. It’s because so many parents lamented, ‘If only this came in my size!’ that Clare added a small collection of unique clothing for adults. Many of the designers who supply the clothing and accessories for Kid Culture
are parents themselves, bringing a certain pragmatism to their collections, in addition to a playful aesthetic. Sizes run from 0 to 12 and there is plenty of selection for both girls and boys. And for those customers who can’t make it in to the store to shop in person, Clare has made it easy to purchase locally from home: much of the merchandise is available online at www.shopcastr.com/kidculture.
Kid Culture 2986 Dundas Street West 416-859-9006 www.kidcultureboutique.blogspot.ca Hours: Mon-Sat 10-8; Sun 11-5
www.neighbourhoodliving.com
|
Neighbourhood Living |
23