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Home > Hot Shopping

Hot Shopping

Hot Shopping: Be Crafty

The Loop Craft Cafe

The Loop Craft Cafe

Visit The Loop Craft Café on Barrington Street and pick your favourite colourful yarns from the shelves. This spot has a large selection of wool, crochet hooks, knitting needles, embroidery kits, colourful thread, patterns and more. Local products include spindles, glass buttons and needle felted animal sculptures.

For a creative spin, drop by Dartmouth Yarns. Located on Queen Street in Dartmouth, this store has the knitting tools you need, whether you’re a beginner or pro. Choose from a wide selection of yarns, knitting needles and more. Looking to start a new project or hobby? They also have kits for making bangles, yoga socks, silk purses, scarves and hats.

Hot Shopping: Eco Fashion Week

Sustainable fashion gets the attention it deserves at Eco Fashion Week. Photo by Peter Jensen

Sustainable fashion gets the attention it deserves at Eco Fashion Week. Photo by Peter Jensen

Sustainable designs get a chance to strut their stuff during Eco Fashion Week (Apr. 21 to 24). Now in its 6th season, the event celebrates the creativity and innovation required for green design. From limiting the transport of goods to repurposing fabrics and garments into fashionista-friendly finds, these designers make eco-forward practices their bottom line. If the thought of recycled fabric makes you cringe, Kim Cathers’s 68-pound challenge (pictured) from last year’s event may just change your mind. The entire collection is made from—you guessed it—68 pounds of recycled thrift-store clothing and fabric. And every ounce of it covetable.—Jill Von Sprecken

Hot Shopping Halifax: Sugar Fix

Sugar Shok Candy Boutique

If you’re craving sweets, check out Sugar Shok Candy Boutique. Located on Portland Street in Dartmouth, this funky spot opened last fall. It features a large assortment of classic candies, bubble gum, cake pops, chocolate and more. For something a little different, treat yourself and try the ChocoBacon (yes, chocolate dipped bacon). The store also has party accessories, funny greeting cards, neat knick-knacks, gifts and candy bouquets.

Susie’s Shortbreads is the place to be for cake and cookie fans. Located on Dresden Row and Bayers Lake, this sweet spot has a daily cupcake menu jam-packed with flavour. Try the lemon zinger, white chocolate raspberry or peppermint patty, to name a few. The red velvet is only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so plan your week accordingly. Gluten-free and vegan options are also available. Prefer a cookie? Bite into a toffee chocolate chip or coconut vanilla.

For a quirky candy store experience, check out Freak Lunchbox. First founded in Halifax in 2001, this popular shop can be found on Barrington Street and the Bedford Highway. With circus-themed décor and colours galore, it’s a great place for kids—and kids at heart.

Hot Shopping: Baby Bonanza at Hip Baby

Simply Merino keeps little ones cute and comfy

Infant gowns by Simply Merino keeps little ones cute and comfy

Playful parents and their cool kids can’t resist Hip Baby, a colourful Kitsilano shop overflowing with quirky toys, clothing and books for tots and tykes. Owners Michael Ziff and Jen MacCormack share a strong sense of social responsibility and a passion for creative, imaginative products, especially those that are practical, organic, made locally, or otherwise easy on the environment. Some of the most covetable items include hand puppets by Cate + Levi, sleepers by Fig, boots by Kamik and clothing by Vancouver company Simply Merino. The crowning glory of the carefully curated store is the Great Wall of Diapers, which is crammed full of everything required to start cloth diapering your bouncing baby. Feeling overwhelmed by all the options? Sign up for one of Ziff’s cloth diapering workshops, which sell out every month, and you’ll be raising eco-friendly offspring in no time.—Sheri Radford

Hot Shopping: Tiffany & Co. Launches New Paloma Picasso Collection

Olive leaf cuff by Paloma Picasso

Olive leaf cuff by Paloma Picasso

Art is in Paloma Picasso’s blood. The daughter of artist Pablo Picasso and painter/writer Françoise Gilot has been designing bold, unique jewellery for decades. Her newest collection for Tiffany & Co., called Paloma’s Olive Leaf, takes its inspiration from both the serenity of the olive groves near her Moroccan home and her first name, which is Spanish for dove, the symbol of peace. The elegant collection includes eye-catching pieces such as a cuff in sterling silver (pictured) and a bib necklace with tsavorites in 18K gold. Each one is a piece of art—but one to be worn instead of hung on a wall.—Sheri Radford

Hot Shopping: Wearable Art by June Hunter

June Hunter transforms photographs into covetable adornments

June Hunter transforms cool photographs into covetable jewellery

June Hunter received a camera for her 9th birthday, and she’s been taking pictures ever since. Each photo, whether large and hanging on a wall or tiny and adorning a bracelet or earring, tells a story. When creating a piece of jewellery, she transfers the image by hand onto silver then adds resin, giving each piece a shimmery 3D effect. “It’s a bit like magic,” she says. Visit www.junehunter.ca for a schedule of her Granville Island Public Market days and a link to her Etsy store. Also find her pieces at The Gallery Store.—Sheri Radford

Hot Shopping: Brooklyn Cruiser at Reckless Bike Stores in Vancouver

Pick up this cool bike, the Brooklyn Cruiser, at Reckless Bike Stores in Vancouver

There’s no mistaking a Brooklyn Cruiser, with its distinctive cream-coloured tires and comfy leather grips, but until recently smitten Canucks had to head down south to purchase one. Not anymore. The company’s vintage-inspired bicycles are now available in several Canadian cities, including Vancouver. Check them out (and be prepared to fall in love) at Reckless Bike Stores.—Sheri Radford

Hot Shopping: Recipes in Action at Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks

Sample recipes before you buy at Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks. Photo by KK Law

Want a culinary keepsake? Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks is a Vancouver epicurean institution, complete with a kitchen for delectable demonstrations of recipes by local and international authors. Make bread with artisan baker Chris Brown, author of Flour Water Salt Yeast (Mar. 13), or sample recipes from Buttermilk: A Savour the South Cookbook (Mar. 17) with chef Glenys Morgan. We already love reading menus and recipes, but this is a step above.—Jill Von Sprecken

Hot Shopping: Dreamy Accessories by Scout & Catalogue

Take your outfit up a notch with Canadian designs from Scout & Catalogue

Spruce up any outfit with a fabulous hand-dyed scarf or clutch from Scout & Catalogue. This Canadian company was founded after Vancouver gal Breanna Musgrove—former creative director at Aritzia—moved to Mexico for year; while there she fell in love with fabrics and dyes. Now, back on Northern turf, she and her stylish company cater to everyone’s inner dreamer with graphic-printed scarves and tie-dyed handbags. Shop the entire collection at www.scoutandcatalogue.com.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Shopping: Raise a Glass to Chinese New Year with The Urban Tea Merchant

Sahara Snake Teapot from TWG Tea

Celebrate the Year of the Snake with The Urban Tea Merchant. Whether you’re sipping Miraculous Mandarin Tea or filling your cup from this 18-karat gold-plated showstopper (pictured) by Singapore-based TWG Tea, you’ll be ringing in this auspicious occasion in style. —Jill Von Sprecken

Hot Shopping: Stay Warm with Coats from Pappas Furs

Down-filled jacket at Pappas Furs

On chilly winter mornings, stay cozy in a stunning parka from family-owned company Pappas Furs. Our pick? A luxury Italian goose down–filled jacket (pictured), which packs a practical Vancouver punch: it’s made from waterproof wool. Find coats for men, too.—Nicole Capelo

Hot Shopping: Estée Lauder’s New Nail Polish Collection

Estée Lauder nail polish in Explosif

Vamp it up this fall with a little sparkle ‘n’ shine courtesy of Estée Lauder. The newest nail lacquers range in colour from Viper, a deep emerald green, to Explosif (pictured), a glittery gold, to Smashed, a rich purple. Find your new go-to shade at The Bay.—Jennifer Patterson

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