Brands including DaLish Cosmetics, Made, Delight Chocolate, and Philip Sparks had the opportunity to showcase their wares at a holiday pop-up shop on the main floor of the Burroughes Building last weekend. "We set it up like a department store so it doesn't feel like a sample sale," said Jen Foster of Style for Style, who planned the event in conjunction with a client, designer Philip Sparks.
Foster, who also coordinates events for the venue, chose to use the vacant main floor for the four-day sale, which ran from Thursday to Sunday. (The space, originally opened in 1907, once housed the department store showroom of the former F.C. Burroughes Furniture Co. Ltd.)
"We put out the word to brands we were interested in or had a relationship with," Foster said. "We're telling vendors to really go for it with the product displays. They're actually setting up mini boutiques." The design shop Made displayed items on stacks of plastic milk crates, and the floral company Petals showcased feather hair accessories on evergreen branches.
The pop-up shop launched Thursday afternoon with the unveiling of holiday windows designed by David Chang. "We papered up the windows and everyone was rubber-necking because people are so concerned about what's happening with the buildings around here," Foster said of the Queen West strip. Chang used materials he found in the basement of the building, including old bricks and ductwork, to created a display that showed off products from participating brands.
An intimate piano performance by composer Todor Kobakov followed the window unveiling. Visitors to the sale had the chance to purchase locally designed goods from brands like Bread & Butter Skincare, Carrie Hayes, Cuffwear, Katie Muth, Kvell & Co., le Petit Beret, Mercy, PoaStudio, Reclaim by: Emma Pawluk, Soos Jewelry, Susana Erazo, and Takui.
Event sponsors included Steam Whistle Brewing, Queen Street Partners, NOW Magazine, and F-List.ca.
