There are more than a few shops that sell jewellery in Toronto, but few do it with as much charm as Bluboho. After a few successful years running their first shop in Oakville, co-owners and close friends Maggie Aurocco and Cheryl Labbett decided to open Bluboho’s second location in the Yonge and Eglinton area.
Aurocco and Labbett met while working for Lululemon and instantly clicked because of their mutual passion for jewellery. It took two years of planning to open Bluboho’s first location in Oakville in 2011, and then another two years to make their Toronto debut.
Bluboho typically works with 20 designers at any given time, including three collections that belong to Aurocco and Labbett. Most of the designers are from North America, with many pieces being one of a kind or limited edition. Rings from Toronto’s The Barber’s Daughters are pressed with words like “to thine own self be true” ($85), while necklaces from Vancouver brand Pyrrha are cast from 19th century wax seals ($150-$200).
“We look for designers that create handcrafted and unique pieces, and who share our core values,” says Labbett. “It’s important for us to create relationships with our designers and to know the intention, passion and story behind each piece or collection.”
Aurocco and Labbett designed the store themselves, filling the 700-square-foot space with antiques they’ve been collecting for years. The ceiling is antique tin, and the back wall sports an old-school bike that balances a stack of vintage luggage.
When customers find a piece they truly love at Bluboho, Aurrocco and Labbett hope they will leave feeling free-spirited, confident and at the very least, expressive.
Bluboho, 2616 Yonge St, 416-482-2646
