Carys is derived from the Welsh word câr meaning "love ".
Belle is the feminine form of the French word meaning beautiful.

Carys Belle’s journey started in May 2010 with an official launch on May 1, 2011. We offer a unique and edgy line of bags, using environmentally sustainable jute material that is inspired by current colors and trends. Our products are made up of between 70 to 100% jute, which is a vegetable fibre that is spun into strong thread; along with cotton and natural leather.

Through our bags, we aim to encourage women to love and embrace THEIR individual beauty. Our slogan, My Carys Belle girl is…, empowers you and every woman to create your own label and not let others create it for you. Regardless of any previous or current indoctrination, we want to be a reminder that you can be, feel and do anything you want.

“All people have issues and are from different walks of life. They live in the city, and in the suburbs. They are 21, 35, 60 and older and need to be encouraged.”

Carys Belle

www.carysbelle.com

[close window]

Proverb shoes are a new take on old classics, blending timeless style with modern concepts. Proverb shoes sets itself apart not only with its unique products but also by its not so ordinary approach to life as a shoe company.

Committed and striving to be an extra-non-ordinary shoe company by making the unusual, abnormal, strange, odd and uncommon appreciated in our sometimes thought of run-of-the-mill world.

Proverb’s core and debut line of footwear “The ORIGIN” is an intermingling of the lazy loafer and ever so obnoxious sneaker. Promising nothing more than to make your feet extremely comfortable, in an unusually simple way.

[close window]

Corsets Made With Love

Love, Poetry corsets are individually handcrafted with care, and each has it’s own unique personality. No two Love, Poetry corsets are exactly alike, each featuring different fabrics, trims, closures and styles.

Every Love, Poetry corset also features hand-written lines of poetry inside, to give it that extra bit of heart.

Your Love, Poetry corset will make you the envy of everyone.

www.lovepoetrycorsets.com

[close window]

Melanie Dubuc was passionate about fashion at a very early age. She recalls falling asleep between bundles of fabrics in her aunt’s shop and staying up late to sew her own clothes in high school. She never thought she could build a career out of that passion. That was until she met Ottawa's haute couture designer, Richard Robinson. She felt compelled to enter the fashion design program. During the course of her studies and apprenticeship with Mr. Robinson she learned the secrets of good cut, perfect fitting and the fine workmanship of haute couture.

In 2008, she made quite an impression at the Ottawa Fashion Week with her first evening wear collection. However, working on small sample sizes and never being able to wear her creations was disappointing. After much thinking and a little (big) push from her sister the designer radically changed orientation.

Today she is launching the Melanie Dubuc 14+ clothing line. With this collection, the designer wishes to give plus size women gorgeous contemporary fashion, comfortable yet refined styles to suit their busy lifestyles. From work wear to evening wear all the pieces have been designed to suit womanly curves so you can look your best, go out and have fun.

"I wish that every woman could enjoy fashion and feel beautiful."

Melanie Dubuc

www.melaniedubuc.ca

[close window]

Andy Hall was founded in Toronto in the summer of 2009. The name came as a hybrid of inspiration from the eccentric innovations of Andy Warhol and the iconic female role of Woody Allen’s Annie Hall. These characters serve as daily reminders to always push the boundaries, think outside of the box, and stay true to the strength of femininity.

Designer Natalie Good spent eleven years working in retail paying close attention to consumer behaviour and monitoring what it is that shoppers are looking for. During these years, her love for the contemporary market flourished and, ultimately, led to the direction of Andy Hall. Good uses the cutting-edge details of high-fashion and blends it with her love of soft fabrics and casual fits. "I always looked to the runways for inspiration, but wanted to create a line that would work with my actual lifestyle… which is significantly less glamorous!" she states. Despite its casual nature, Good insists on the importance of fit. Each piece has been carefully created to complement the figure. “Andy Hall is meant to be any woman. The greatest aesthetic asset one can have is confidence; so when you look good and are comfortable, feeling hot is inevitable!” says Good.

www.andyhall.ca

[close window]

Women are constantly in a race against time. Trying to search for a distinctive vintage piece in thrift stores can be time-consuming, and for most it isn’t an option. Our boutique is one of a kind. All of our pieces are hand-selected, and priced affordably; all under $100. Boutique Mademoiselle Vintage carries a variety of blouses, coats, skirts, dresses and accessories that date from the 1920s to the 1990s. Each piece reflects a current trend and can be worn with style! We also offer our very unique vintage turbans. Handmade from vintage cloth and recycled materials, they are bound to turn heads! We take pride in the fact that each item has been recycled. 10% of every purchase is also donated to a charitable organization; our way of making a small difference in the world!

www.boutiquemademoisellevintage.com

[close window]

Mrs. Huizenga is located at both 121 Roncesvalles Avenue, and 387 Keele Street, in Toronto, Ontario...Canada. Deep in the heart of beautiful High Parkdale, and smack dab at the epicentre of the junction.

We Consign, purchase, or offer store credit for Stylish Pieces of Furniture, Artworks, Vintage Hard goods, Clothing and Accessories, Draperies and Quality Materials, Jewellery & Buttons, and general WHATNOT.

We also offer Styling for a modest fee. A personal Stylist will step Briefly and Gently into Your Closet, Help you Organize, Prioritize, Select, and Refine the Elements of Personal Style which are Yours Alone. { By Appointment }

Mrs. Huizenga is a big fan of recycling, upcycling and freecycling. We like to think we are "alternative retail" and not just because sometimes Mrs. H forgets and chews gum in the shop.

We stock predominantly recycled and upcycled goods—hundreds of items just too superb to send on to the great unknown without a fight. In the past four years we have thousands of examples of orphaned items meeting up with their new homes, items destined for an eternity in the garage have instead found their rightful place on the mantle of their new home. Granted it is not always this dramatic and exciting, sometimes it is just a really great blue dress or a book you had when you were a kid and you spent the weekend at auntie Barbara's in the creepy basement room. Ah, memories and a blue dress, life is good.

We are proud to be a part of the High Parkdale and Keele Junction communities and have some favorite initiatives and fundraisers we participate in yearly. Mrs. Huizenga is loving the freecycling. By giving unsold treasures to local fundraisers we have helped to raise money for local schools, community centers, and even an orphanage in kenya! Due to the singular nature of the stock, stuff comes and goes at a pretty good clip. New stock arrives every Tuesday and Wednesday and it is always a surprise. Fantastic, really.

www.mrshuizenga.com

[close window]

Designer Diane Kroe, has worked in the fashion industry for over twenty-five years and has received multiple awards and accolades for her work.

Serving over 240 retailers nation-wide with her own label in the nineties, she has made a name in the national fashion market. In 1997, Diane opened her retail location, on Avenue Rd, in the affluent Forest Hill neighbor hood of Toronto. She has recently relocated and now enjoys continued success at her new Beaches location at 1842 Queen St E. Diane’s boutique was nominated Best Designer Boutique in North Toronto for seven consecutive years, by North Toronto Post.

Diane continues to create Signature Collections for destination spas and resorts throughout Canada and the U.S.

www.dianekroe.com

[close window]

Bio coming soon!

http://www.sprucewoodbrands.com

[close window]