Parkdale will be looking a little greener next week with the opening of Chartreuse Style, an eco-friendly fashion boutique. Owner Mary-Ann Kowala is hoping to bring a little bit of organic chic to the stretch. “We wanted to infuse some greenness in the area,” she says. “The area’s kind of known for antiques, and that’s very eco. We just felt like we would fit in.”
Examples include Lilikoi hand-printed dresses, Ethos clothing from Paris and seed-to-shelf organic T-shirts from Pure Blankz, which requires its garments to be eco-friendly from the beginning of manufacturing all the way to the end process.
“I hope to have things that appeal to a sort of younger market that is interested in the environment and fashion. What I’m looking for are designers that are doing interesting things with fabric, and local designers that are trying to make a go of it and hopefully showcasing them as well,” Kowala says.
Chartreuse Style will possibly be looking to add vintage upcycled clothing to its roster as well. Considering the success of boutiques like Preloved, it’s clear that Torontonians still look to vintage wear as the solution for eco-friendly wardrobe staples. In addition, the price points will appeal to a wide variety of shoppers.
“I’m trying to keep things sort of reasonable, so T-shirts will be around $25 and can go anywhere up to $100. My top price point right now is $200 for a dress.”
Chartreuse Style will also carry advertising banners, pre-manufactured bags made out of candy wrappers and line of bags (some of which will be made of recycled inner tubes, like the one at right). “There’s so much attention on making sure that everything is eco or sustainable,” Kowala says.
The shop is set for a May 18 opening, but items are already up for order at the boutique’s online store.
Chartreuse Style, 1692 Queen Street West, 416-901-2800
