Advertisement

Toronto Life - The Wire

The comprehensive index of every blog post, magazine story and restaurant review that appears on Torontolife.com

All stories relating to Roots

The Goods

Gossipmonger
February 26, 2010 | 10:14 am

2 Comments

HBC not making a penny on Olympic mitten sales

Proceeds from mittens go to Canadian athletes (Photo by Michael Francis McCarthy)

Today’s Olympic Mitten Update comes from Time, which is a little late to the story, considering there are only three days left in the Games. Heck, even Oprah scooped them.

HBC’s CEO, Jeffery Sherman, tells Time that 3.5 million pairs have been sold since they went on sale in October—1.5 million of them were sold this month—and that the company doesn’t make a penny off the sales. Sherman says that the proceeds from the mittens ($12 million so far) go to the Canadian Olympic Committee to fund athletes’ programs. Sherman says he doesn’t regret not getting a piece of the profits and that “we entered this to do the right thing.” Besides, the hype surrounding the accessory has led to increased traffic in the stores and overall sales.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Goods

Gossipmonger
February 22, 2010 | 1:14 pm

9 Comments

Jeanne Beker trades N.Y. fashion week for Vancouver 2010, blogs about it

Norway's clownish curling pants (Photo by Kenny Louie)

Jeanne Beker swapped her Fashion Television mic for an Olympic torch in Vancouver—a far cry from her regular rounds backstage and in the front row at international fashion weeks. Beker has been getting her bearings as Olympic fashion reporter while pint-sized blog pundit Tavi Gevinson takes the reins temporarily during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, a gig Beker has already underlined as a one-time deal.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Goods

Beauty School
February 10, 2010 | 10:07 am

2 Comments

Donato Salon and Spa is the newest resident at the Shops at Don Mills

Despite the huffing and puffing indie book shop McNally Robinson made when it closed its Shops at Don Mills location (it blamed the mall for its poor performance), there are still businesses willing to move into the complex. The latest is the 6,000-square-foot Donato Salon and Spa, which celebrates its grand opening tomorrow—Leigh and Harlow and Roots are also slated to open. This is the fourth location of Toronto stylist John Donato’s salon; Donato was named best editorial stylist at the 2008 North American Hairstyling Awards.

The Goods

Shop Talk
February 9, 2010 | 1:22 pm

1 Comment

HBC’s Olympic mittens are the it item at the Games

HBC's Olympic mittens went from torchbearer uniform to best-seller (Photo by Delaney Turner)

While the ubiquitous red mittens haven’t reached the status of the blue Roots berets everyone wore during the ’98 games (which, in retrospect, were kind of a fashion don’t), the Hudson’s Bay Company’s woolly mitts have become the must-have item for the Vancouver Games.

The Star interviewed a bunch of Torontonians who are praising how the mittens, which are made in China, make them proud to be Canadian. News 1130 is getting people in a frenzy by declaring that last week’s shipment of one million mittens was the last, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. The Vancouver Sun dismissed rumours that the gloves are in short supply (there’s an entire wall of them at The Bay at Fairview Mall and a pile on the second floor at the Yonge and Queen location, for those who are looking). CTV even reports that the mittens’ popularity has already led to counterfeits.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Goods

Gossipmonger
February 4, 2010 | 3:41 pm

3 Comments

Olympic merchandise naming rights resulting in unsportsmanlike behaviour

The sporty offerings from Aritzia (tank), The Bay (top mitts), Roots (hoodie), Lululemon (bottom mitts) and Birks (cufflinks)

The Winter Games are fast approaching, and VANOC, which oversees Olympic naming rights, isn’t happy with the slew of Olympic-themed merchandise hitting the market—nor are official sponsors, like The Bay and Birks. Such companies as Roots, Lululemon and DSquared2 are offering Canadian-themed wares by carefully avoiding using off-limits logos (like the rings) and words (like “Olympics”), and the vitriol is flying.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Goods

New in Shops
January 27, 2010 | 8:59 am

Comments

Aritzia’s Olympics collection hits it out of the park

sweatshirts

These sweatshirts are among our favourite pieces from the Park Life collection (Photo courtesy of Aritzia)

Aritzia’s fast-selling Olympics-themed collection, Park Life for Aritzia, is the most stylish of the Games-inspired lines we’ve seen. The faux-fur trapper hat ($60) with clever buckle chin strap is an ideal winter accessory for proud Canadians. The crewneck sweatshirts ($48) printed with aboriginal imagery and the tees ($45), socks ($12) and zip-up sweaters ($100) printed with logos from Olympic Games past are all fun without going overboard on patriotic symbols.

• Warm up with Aritzia’s Olympic line [Fashion]

The Goods

Good Stuff Cheap
January 5, 2010 | 1:48 pm

1 Comment

Sales roundup: 60 per cent off at Holt Renfrew, Restoration Hardware bathroom sale, bridal shows and discounts

FASHION

HOLT RENFREW
All fall and winter clothing left over after Boxing Day madness is now up to 60 per cent off. Until Jan. 30. 50 Bloor St. W., 416-922-2333, holtrenfrew.com.

HUSH COUTURE
Toronto’s designer dress rental house (look for frocks from Halston, Dolce and Gabbana and Valentino) is offering 15 per cent off each rental. Until Jan. 15. Hushcouture.ca.

JOHN FLUEVOG
A large selection of shoes and boots are on sale for up to 60 per cent off. Great finds include the Finch ankle boots ($199, down from $349) and navy brogues ($229, down from $375). 242 Queen St. W., 416-581-1420, fluevog.com.

Read the rest of this entry »

Toronto International Film Festival 2009
September 15, 2009 | 4:01 pm

Comments

50 Cent was performing on a roof but all we got was a leer from Harvey Weinstein

We would have expected the Vanity Fair party, at the Hazelton Hotel’s One, to be ripe with top-tier talent but instead there was only a white-haired Graydon Carter, the Canadian editor-in-chief of the magazine, and bushy eyebrowed Michael Budman, founder of Roots. Tweets tell us that Amy Poehler was there earlier. The DJ had an impressive set list but everyone was too blasé or depleted to dance. Most impressive part of the event? A 15-litre bottle of Moet and Chandon chilling on ice.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Dish

Bottoms Up Toronto International Film Festival 2009
August 18, 2009 | 4:06 pm

1 Comment

TIFF turf wars: eTalk and ET Canada have started to mark their territory and announce parties

Park party: ET Canada's TIFF HQ is moving from Casa Loma to a Hazelton Hotel-adjacent parking structure

Park party: ET Canada's TIFF HQ is moving from Casa Loma to a Hazelton Hotel–adjacent parking structure

Broadcast stations are starting to claim their territory for the 10 days of TIFF, mostly setting up headquarters from where they will navigate the circus of galas, schmoozing, parties and possible Oprah sightings.

The folks at ET Canada, Global’s major entertainment show, have claimed a parking lot rooftop in Yorkville, directly across from the Hazelton Hotel, where all of the show’s interviews will be held. A temporary floor is being installed, and the space is being decorated completely in white and accented with crystal chandeliers and an elevated DJ booth. The location is quite a departure from ET Canada’s Casa Loma headquarters in 2007 and 2008—it’s a smart move from a logistical standpoint (Austin Terrace isn’t exactly party central) but could potentially take the grandeur down a notch.

Read the rest of this entry »

Advertisement

Current Issue
Current Issue

Advertisement

Advertisement

Links and Offers
  • Learn how to say money with thousands of money-saving tips on insurance, your mortgage, electric bills, credit cards, cell phones, and more at billeater.com.
  • Play online bingo in the best new bingo sites in the UK for your bingo pleasure.
  • Fashion4us is an online Asian fashion (Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese) wholesaler. Consumers will be satisfied with the original quality and huge discount on wholesale clothing collections.
The Dish
The Goods
The Hype
The Informer

Advertisement