New York-based fashion designer Tanya Taylor, who grew up in Toronto, has opened her first Canadian retail store in the city’s Summerhill neighbourhood, marking the third standalone location for her womenswear brand.
The 750-square-foot boutique is located at The James, a development at 8 Price Street near Scrivener Square. It follows the brand’s earlier boutique launches on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Taylor said the Toronto location holds personal significance, noting that the brand seeks out neighbourhood destinations with a strong sense of local character where it can connect with customers more intimately. She described the opening as a full-circle moment given her hometown ties.
A Luxury Development Near Yonge and Price
The James is a 23-storey luxury rental development built by Tricon Residential at Scrivener Square, offering about 10,500 square feet of retail space along with a pedestrian retail mews and public square, with access to the Summerhill subway station.
The project extends the area’s historic Five Thieves shopping district, home to longstanding businesses such as Harvest Wagon, Olliffe Butcher Shop, Pisces Gourmet and Terroni. Other retailers announced for The James include Mamakas, Gee Beauty, Nutbar, Dear Grain Bakery, Chocolat de Kat and jewellery retailer Bluboho, while Toronto boutique Clementine’s has announced plans to relocate there.
Interior Designed Like a Private Residence
The boutique’s interior was designed by Toronto-based Ashley Botten Design to resemble a private home, featuring custom furnishings, artwork and decorative objects. A fireplace anchors the space, topped with a painting by Taylor herself.
The design includes vintage-inspired furniture, custom upholstery, ceramics and a sculptural ceiling light by designer Anna Karlin. The brand’s signature swan motif appears throughout, including on a bronze entrance logo, a custom door knocker, an umbrella stand and decorative hooks. According to the company, the residential styling was meant to create a setting where customers could spend time browsing the merchandise.
From Toronto to New York and Back
Taylor earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from McGill University before studying fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York. She launched her first collection in spring 2013, building a contemporary womenswear label known for hand-painted prints, colourful designs and feminine silhouettes.
Her first standalone boutique opened on Madison Avenue in New York in 2023, followed by the Greenwich, Connecticut location. The new Toronto store brings her physical retail network to three locations.
Beyond its own stores, Tanya Taylor is sold through major retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Shopbop. The label’s designs have been worn by Michelle Obama, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Canadian actress Rachel McAdams.
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