Just opened: Ewanika gets a fresh start on Bathurst

Just opened: Ewanika gets a fresh start on Bathurst

Trish Ewanika designs unfussy clothes for women (Photo by Carmen Cheung)

After more than a decade on College, designer Trish Ewanika has moved her womenswear boutique to Bathurst Street, south of Dupont. “College Street was an excellent home,” says Ewanika, 46, but over time the neighbourhood became most known for its nightlife. The new location, a bright and airy space, is near art galleries, a pie shop and old-school diners. “I like being on a block that is still inventing itself.”

The store will focus on Ewanika’s classic, figure-flattering pieces, which conjure a modern-day Katharine Hepburn. In blacks, greys and nudes, the garments are a hit with young professionals looking for polished, unfussy clothes that can transition from the office to the wine bar.

From the fall collection, a geometric black and white button-up blouse ($280) pairs easily with a charcoal pencil skirt with asymmetric piping across the front ($270). The lapels on a black silk wrap dress ($410) fold back to show just the right amount of skin, and a soft grey silk T-shirt dress ($350) that falls above the knee is ideal for a dinner party.

Like the old store, the new boutique carries accessories, albeit a more edited selection that highlights local designers. “I’m going to focus on pieces that I think are unique and complementary to the clothing,” Ewanika says. To wit, divine necklaces by hot young talent Maryam Keyhani ($300–$450): one creation features two strands of freshwater pearls hanging from a black ribbon that’s decorated with roses. Lilliput Hats, by College Street milliner Karyn Gingras, are another whimsical offering with feather and lace embellishments.

The Bathurst store is more feminine than its predecessor—the colour palette (white walls, soft yellow floors and rose accents) is inspired by peonies. A custom-made light fixture, designed by Toronto’s Unit Five (the team behind the brass, mesh flower mobile hanging in Holt Renfrew), recalls both a birdcage and a billowing skirt.

Ewanika hopes the new store will encourage an evolution in her line. After designing clothes for so long, “you look for things to inspire you. I’m hoping the space is going to do that, not just for me but for my customers—how they look at the clothing, how they wear it and pair it with different things.” Despite all the changes, Ewanika isn’t nervous. A few days ago, she cut off most of her hair. She pats her closely cropped head. “It’s all about change,” she says with a smile. With fall fast approaching, it’s the perfect season for reinvention.

Ewanika, 1083 Bathurst St., 416-927-9699, ewanika.ca.