Stepping into Knix’s new Yorkdale storefront, I’m captivated by the sight of everything you’d expect to find between the boutique walls of Canada’s leading intimates brand: a freshly stocked bra bar brimming with wireless garments, workshops on how to customize your shape wear and some aptly named specialty cocktails (“Cherry Spice and Everything Knix” takes the win).
Spanning 1,800 square feet, the Yorkdale retail location is spacious and warm—the kind of spot where you can imagine people gathering to try on bras with best friends in tow. High ceilings and oak-coloured drawers give way to an assortment of comfy-looking bras, underwear and activewear that are available in an inclusive range of sizes. Fan favourites—like the Revolution V-Neck Bra and Super Leakproof Dream Short—line the rows and drawers in an array of seasonal colours: cherry reds, dark florals, deep olive hues and understated neutrals.
The blown-up black-and-white images that adorn the new space highlight the importance of community at Knix, with many of the guests browsing the newly minted aisles of the store smiling ear-to-ear when recognizing themselves.
The retail location is Knix’s fifteenth store to open in North America—a significant step forward in the brand’s ongoing retail expansion. Over the next three years, Knix plans to open over 20 new brick-and-mortar locations across the United States and Canada.
Toward the middle of the store, mannequins are arranged on a marbled oval pedestal. Each is unique in size and colour, representative of the brand’s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusivity. Pops of jewel-toned decor and red florals are a reminder of the festive season ahead.
Among the vibrant gathering of guests, community members and Knix ambassadors were the familiar faces of content creators Anupa King, Ariana Christie and Marina Santarossa as well as visual artist and photographer Briony Douglas and ComKids SVP Christi Himmelheber.
At the back of the store, those celebrating the store launch could be found writing love notes at the Knix Mail station. Here, guests penned postcards to loved ones for Knix to send along with a pair of their bestselling Leakproof Underwear. To cap things off, attendees were gifted festive bouquets of dried flowers.
Before the celebration ended, Joanna Griffiths, founder and president of Knix, delivered a few heartfelt words about the significance of this special milestone. It wasn’t long before guests and passers-by gathered around to snap a photo or raise a glass in honour of the landmark moment. Speaking to Knix’s 11-year evolution, Griffiths mused over just how far the brand has come since opening its first pop-up location in 2018.
“Community has remained at the heart of Knix,” Griffiths said. “Opening a Knix location in Yorkdale Shopping Centre is one of the many ways we’re continuing to serve and connect with our community in our hometown of Toronto.”
This year’s holiday collection features cozy modal lounge and sleepwear sets, beautiful gossamer lace lingerie, and the brand’s bestselling bras and leakproof underwear in rich tones, shimmers and festive prints. Guests can also shop Knix’s newest launch, the world’s first and only customizable shape wear. The line offers up to eight different ways to style the leg length and back plunge areas—perfect for customizing outfits with unique cut-outs or silhouettes, just in time for holiday events and parties.
The store is now open to the public. On Saturday, October 26, and Sunday, October 27, the first 50 customers in line each day will receive a mystery gift card valued up to $50. Shoppers will also be treated to bites and smoothies from Nutbar, along with florals from Sweet Woodruff with each purchase.