Growing up in India, Tsering Tenzin and her family worked closely with local craftspeople. Now, with their new Yorkville shop, the family continues down the same path. Terra Pura sells organic and Fair Trade jewellery and accessories, supporting local craftspeople around the world. “We wanted to give back,” says Tenzin (130 Cumberland St., 647-347-0681).
It was a fine arts thesis that put Alexandria Pellegrino on track to becoming a cake baker. “I was using a lot of edible mediums,” says Pellegrino. Her carefully crafted thesis prompted her to take cooking classes where she met Jessica Smith. In 2008 they started Cake Opera Co. This month they open a storefront for their business (1136 Eglinton Ave. W., 647-347-2626).
It started as a way to de-stress, but Janet Schreiber’s love of baking was enough for her to swap veterinarian school plans for cooking school. Later, acting on passion, she opened Eglinton Way Phipps Bakery Café. Twenty years later, it’s still going strong. “What we do here makes people happy and that makes me happy,” Schreiber says (420 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-481-9111).
Elizabeth Schindler already offers Gerry Weber clothing at her namesake Avenue Road store. However, after years of seeing how well the European designer’s clothing fits women, she says she is ready for the next step. Which is why she just opened a Gerry Weber store in Summerhill. The shop will exclusively sell the clothing line (1177 Yonge St., 647-258-7727).
Designer Sumi Jung first realized men had problems dressing when she attended business seminars. “Their jackets were too long, pants too short,” she says. Now, with a new location of her custom-shirt store, Fresh and Prestige, she’s teaching them to dress well (101 Yorkville Ave., 416-644-0078).