Store Guide: Saudade, a Dundas West shop that sells handmade goods from Portugal
Name: Saudade Sells: Housewares, clothing, apothecary, toys and trinkets Contact info: 1191 Dundas St. W., 647-352-1191 Hours: Tuesday—Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saudade is now open on Dundas West, bringing handmade items from Portugal to the city’s Portuguese neighbourhood. Nancy Fernandes, a teacher at Central Tech, opened the shop (along with her business partner Connie Freitas) to showcase the artisans she’s discovered in her home country: “Portugal’s sort of been in the shadows, but I want Toronto to experience the great modern design that comes from my country.”
Many of the store’s brands bring a contemporary twist to Portugal’s traditional crafts—for example, shoppers will find woollen throws made from burel (a fabric that was used in shepherds’ capes) as well as stylish reed briefcases handwoven in the tiny village of Castanheira. Though the shop’s been open for less than two weeks, Fernandes has almost sold out of items she thought she’d restock in the fall (it’s a positive thing—she says the reaction from the Portuguese community has been overwhelming). There are still a ton of pretty and practical products up for grabs: we love ultra-thick, Jamie Oliver-approved cutting boards, sustainably made from Portuguese pine; and handcrafted, vegetable-tanned leather totes from heritage label Ideal and Company. Prices are incredibly reasonable: great buys include hand-loomed rugs for $60 and porcelain bowls for $14.
