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MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 |
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This Year Threatened to Kill Canadian Shopping—But It Didn’t |
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Amidst empty storefronts and grim retail headlines, Canadian fashion remains stubbornly—and creatively—alive |
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By Leanne Delap |
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Empty storefronts and grim retail headlines made it easy to believe that 2025 was the year Canadian fashion finally broke. Hudson’s Bay, an emotionally complex piece of the national identity, shuttered hulking spaces across the country, casting a long pall over the year. Vancouver-headquartered leisurewear giant Lululemon cut swaths of corporate jobs. Montreal-based online luxury and streetwear retailer SSENSE filed for bankruptcy protection.
Add to that tariffs from the U.S.’s new administration, which rattled confidence and upended business plans, and the outlook looked bleak. After the retail downturn of 2024, forecasts warned that rising costs, consumer uncertainty and cuts to discretionary spending would weigh heavily on apparel. Canadian shopping, it seemed, was on life support.
And yet: it didn’t collapse.
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FASHION |
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Meet the Force Behind Toronto’s Longest-Running—and Most Inclusive—Fashion Week |
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As Fashion Art Toronto turns 20, founder Vanja Vasic proves that the future of fashion isn’t exclusivity—it’s community, creativity and diversity |
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THE KIT X WINNERS |
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Check out the WINNERS Gifting Digital Quiz |
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Discover personalized WINNERS gift ideas this holiday season, each tailored by who you’re shopping for, their vibe and your budget. |
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The Kit X JUSTICE HAIRCARE |
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SHOP JUSTICE HAIRCARE on The Kit |
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