Store Guide: Philip Sparks’s reimagined Junction workshop and retail outlet
Store Guide: Philip Sparks’s reimagined Junction workshop and retail outlet
By Jean Grant | April 1, 2015
By Jean Grant | 04/01/2015
(Images: Jenna Marie Wakani)
Name: Philip Sparks Tailored Goods Inc.
Sells: Bespoke suits, menswear and accessories
Contact info: 130 Cawthra Ave. , 647-348-1872, philipsparks.com
Hours: Th-Sa 11-7 (or by appointment)
Following the closure of his Ossington outpost , local designer Philip Sparks has opened a new retail store in the Junction. The new space focuses on bespoke suiting for men, but there are also plenty of ready-to-wear items for sale, so clients can come in for a fitting and browse the brand’s products at the same time. In addition to Sparks’s collections of versatile leather accessories, floral pocket squares and retro sunglasses, shoppers will find a small collection of ready-to-wear blazers, trousers and shirts in classic cuts and colours. Off-the-rack suits start at $1,000, while custom projects start at $1,500. The charm of the place is that clients can take in the entire suit-making experience—including century-old sewing machines, books of fabric patterns and mannequins draped with works in progress. It’s a precise business: “I have an obsession with doing things a specific way,” says Sparks.
310898 This padded electronics case is made from vegetable-tanned leather and cotton canvas. $125 (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-01-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-01.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-01/ store-guide-philip-sparks-01 0 0
(Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
310899 The label's paisley pocket squares are perfectly seasonal. $40 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-02-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-02.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-02/ store-guide-philip-sparks-02 0 0
310900 A step in the suit-making process. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-03-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-03.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-03/ store-guide-philip-sparks-03 0 0
310901 This is Sparks' current lineup of custom designs—they come in more creative styles than his off-the-rack pieces. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-04-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-04.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-04/ store-guide-philip-sparks-04 0 0
310903 The workshop has a disheveled look about it, but these spools of thread are pretty organized. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-06-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-06.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-06/ store-guide-philip-sparks-06 0 0
310904 Sparks says this machine is over 100 years old and was extremely difficult to come by. Its only function is creating button holes. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-07-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-07.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-07/ store-guide-philip-sparks-07 0 0
310905 The big arrow was in front of the Ossington shop. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-08-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-08.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-08/ store-guide-philip-sparks-08 0 0
310906 The shelving here is made of wood from a WWII airplane hangar. And the cashier sign dangling from the ceiling is a vintage find from an old American department store. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-09-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-09.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-09/ store-guide-philip-sparks-09 0 0
310907 Here is Sparks' off-the-rack line, which is full of classic pieces in white, navy and grey. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-10-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-10.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-10/ store-guide-philip-sparks-10 0 0
310908 There's a great selection of summery sunglasses. $295 each https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-11-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-11.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-11/ store-guide-philip-sparks-11 0 0
310909 This leather briefcase is a popular item, and customers can also request custom-made leather goods. $595 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-12-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-12.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-12/ store-guide-philip-sparks-12 0 0
310910 Preppy bowties come in silk, cotton or wool blends. $60 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-13-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-13.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-13/ store-guide-philip-sparks-13 0 0
310911 Charming old-fashioned finds, like this how-to booklet, are everywhere. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-14-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-14.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-14/ store-guide-philip-sparks-14 0 0
310912 And here's the designer himself. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-15-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-15.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-15/ store-guide-philip-sparks-15 0 0
310913 The shop is just down the street from the Junction Craft Brewery. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-16-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/store-guide-philip-sparks-16.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-philip-sparks-reimagined-junction-workshop-retail-outlet/slide/store-guide-philip-sparks-16/ store-guide-philip-sparks-16 0 0