No. 11: Because dress sweats are a thing
The pandemic turned remote work from an occasional weekday treat to permanent reality for many desk-bound professionals. And in a Zoom-dominated era where one only needs to look presentable from mid-torso up, the need for traditional work attire has all but vanished. Stylish comfort is now king, and Toronto brands are meeting the demand.
Soft Focus has been making silky-smooth pyjamas, robes and slip dresses from plant-based fabrics since 2017. But since the pandemic hit, founder Sammi Smith started selling monochromatic sweatpant sets—including a belted lilac jumpsuit and a perfectly oversized rust-hued sweater with cropped joggers—that can easily pass for Zoom-kosher.
Similarly, minimalist flip-flop company Tkees launched their first clothing collection, Core, in the middle of June. The mix-and-match lineup of cotton basics like sweatpants, tees and hoodies are comfy enough for couch-bound days but have structured, boxy silhouettes that make a laid-back fashion statement when you have to venture outside for groceries.
Costume designer Sarah Gregg Millman took a more indulgent approach to housebound fashion, coming out with a collection of flowy oversized dresses called Local Woman in mid-July. She hosted a successful pop-up, then made a website, which sold out of 90 pieces in a day. “I think people were going bananas stuck in their houses and wanted to feel a bit sexy and alive in the world,” she says.
To people fleeing the city for more square footage and less density, we say pffft. Pandemic or not, Toronto is thriving. Let us count the ways
The People’s Pantry started small and grew fast. Now, nearly 500 volunteers devote their culinary skills, bikes, cars and time to help out
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Donté Colley’s videos are little pearls of joy
They spend their free time printing face shields, making music, and helping Torontonians stay connected
Plastering everything from 20-storey buildings to small traffic signal controller cabinets
Here’s how Torontonians came together to save Pam’s Roti Shop from closure
The pandemic turned our best wine bars into streetside patios, bottle bodegas and de facto wine clubs
Their success is one of the few happy small-business stories of Covid
If we can’t have nice weather, at least we can hold on to the summery vibes
This guy makes really cool all-season backyard office pods for the WFH set—himself included
The pandemic meant postponement for thousands of bethrothed Torontonians. These four couples made other plans
Four examples of random kindness in our midst
By the end of this year, Toronto will have 40 kilometres of new bike lanes—the largest single-year expansion in our history
Even a global pandemic couldn’t slow film and TV production for long
Here’s just a sampling of the heavy dose of CanCon on the Billboard charts
Here are just a handful of the hyper-talented founders, CEOs, CTOs and managers who’ve brought their skills to the city
Toronto is about to get the tallest mass timber structure in North America
They’re a beacon of hope, a catalyst for progress and—oh yeah—a really good team
And Bike Share added 300 of them to its fleet
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The pandemic turned remote work from an occasional weekday treat to permanent reality for many desk-bound professionals. And in a Zoom-dominated era where one only needs to look presentable from mid-torso up, the need for traditional work attire has all but vanished. Stylish comfort is now king, and Toronto brands are meeting the demand.
Soft Focus has been making silky-smooth pyjamas, robes and slip dresses from plant-based fabrics since 2017. But since the pandemic hit, founder Sammi Smith started selling monochromatic sweatpant sets—including a belted lilac jumpsuit and a perfectly oversized rust-hued sweater with cropped joggers—that can easily pass for Zoom-kosher.
Similarly, minimalist flip-flop company Tkees launched their first clothing collection, Core, in the middle of June. The mix-and-match lineup of cotton basics like sweatpants, tees and hoodies are comfy enough for couch-bound days but have structured, boxy silhouettes that make a laid-back fashion statement when you have to venture outside for groceries.
Costume designer Sarah Gregg Millman took a more indulgent approach to housebound fashion, coming out with a collection of flowy oversized dresses called Local Woman in mid-July. She hosted a successful pop-up, then made a website, which sold out of 90 pieces in a day. “I think people were going bananas stuck in their houses and wanted to feel a bit sexy and alive in the world,” she says.
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