Since the ’70s, Canadian shoe designer John Fluevog has earned renown for his innovative footwear for men and women. Fluevog’s first Toronto store opened on Queen West in 1989, and earlier this month a second Toronto location opened in the Distillery District.
In the ’90s, Fluevog’s shoes earned some major street cred when Madonna wore a pair in the movie Truth or Dare, and the brand became known for its Angel boots, which have environmentally friendly soles made from natural latex harvested from Hevea trees. Since then, Fluevog has continued his eco-friendly drive with vegetable-tanned leathers and other new ways to sustain production for the future.
Now, a new generation can be introduced to Fluevog’s progressive looks at the historical Distillery District. John Fluevog and his son Adrian helped designed the store’s interior: the displays, counters and full-body mirror were commissioned and assembled in Vancouver, then shipped to Toronto. The massive paper chandelier that anchors the room, hanging high from the ceiling, is by Moooni.
Also at the Distillery location is a restored Landis shoe-buffing machine that will be operational soon. The Distillery location is one of two stores in Canada (the other being the Gastown location in Vancouver) that have the Landis as a feature.
But ultimately, the shoes themselves are the stars of the show. The Distillery location sports two shoes exclusive to the store: a two-tone brogue for men, and heels with a floral print for women.
The store is currently in its soft opening phase, but it is scheduled to have a grand opening at the end of the month (that’s when the Landis machine will be made available to the general public).
As a poster on the interior wall says, there are two kinds of people out there: “those who shy away from attention and those who wear Fluevogs.”
John Fluevog Shoes, 4 Trinity St., 416-583-1970
