After years of fashion passion and world traveling, childhood BFFs Angela Pastor and Julie Buczkowski are living their dream: they’re opening up a clothing boutique together. Starting this fall, the two will open Fitzroy Boutique as a seasonal pop-up shop that focuses on affordable, exclusive and international styles.
“Toronto has great high-end boutiques,” says Pastor. “We wanted to do something different.”
After living in Melbourne and experiencing Australia’s unique style, Pastor moved to London, where she was welcomed by pop-up shop popularity. It was clear that once back in Toronto, her only choice was to combine the two.
Fitzroy Boutique will first pop up at 162 Cumberland Street from Sept. 7-30, but will change locations every season. “We want to try out different neighborhoods,” says Pastor.
The one thing that the duo wants to avoid is the curse of the chain store (think H&M, Zara) where everyone ends up wearing the same thing. That won’t be happening here. “We have a small number of each piece so not many people will buy the same thing.”
Names such as Brandy Melville from Italy, Boyod from L.A. and Ladakh from Australia are just a few of the brands that can’t be found anywhere else in Toronto, but will be sold at Fitzroy. Along with these exclusive labels, the shop will also sell the organic and recycled clothing line Threads for Thought and local, handmade accessories from Psalms.
While anything in Toronto with ‘boutique’ in the name is usually pretty pricey, Fitzroy’s price tags will not exceed $200. “We want to be really accessible … prices range from $40 to $180.”
The Aussie/London inspired boutique will shelve a variety of styles from relaxed and Bohemian to edgy and rock n’ roll.
Fitzroy Boutique, 162 Cumberland St., Sept. 7-30.