North Standard Trading Post

Finding a Muskoka-like cabin in the middle of Toronto might be impossible, but clothing retailer North Standard Trading Post on Queen Street West comes pretty close to capturing the cozy vibe of a northern Ontario cottage.

From the wood paneling on the walls to the decorative canoe oars hanging around the store, all you need to complete the rustic cabin atmosphere is a warm wool blanket and a pair of camp socks — luckily you’ll find those in the shop as well. Husband-and-wife owners Pamela Hopson and Francesco Fiore first opened their cabin-inspired Parkdale boutique in 2013. Today, the cottagey space is the perfect setting to show off their curated collection of Canadian must-haves.

That doesn’t just mean that the goods are appropriate for Canadian weather. “We try as much as we can in each commodity to have something made in Canada,” says Pamela, adding that some brands are made even closer to home. Muttonhead gear, sourced from Roncesvalles, is sold alongside Smells Like Canada candles that are made in Parkdale, just like the Parkdale Butter Company hand cream, which is one of the many brands of homemade personal care products available at the store.

Even the store’s name was inspired by a piece of Canadian history. The “north” is obviously a nod to Canada itself, while “standard” is “something well-made, a little bit more on the utility side,” says Francesco. But more importantly, the “trading post” refers to the traditional trading posts that were established to exchange goods between the inhabitants of early Canada.

The tradition continues at North Standard Trading Post, where many of the goods — from durable denim to weather-resistant puffy jackets — are manufactured close to home.