TORONTO ethical fashion

By guest editor and Torontal local Diana Berdichevsky

Ossington is quickly becoming one of the hippest places to hang out, party and shop. It's full of new restaurants and bars. It's for the urban, laid back individual that doesn't like to be pigeon holed into the standard.

Therefore, there are lots of cool shops, many of them are vintage.

15 Ossington Street. At Ossington and Queen. The number is (416) 588-3500. silverfallsvintage.blogspot.com.

This shop is full of great finds catered to women. The urban fashionista will find carefully selected pieces in very good condition ranging from the 1940's to the 1990's. It's an eclectic mix, so anything is possible. A wide range of dresses, jackets, shoes, shorts, and some accessories including jewelery, clutches, belts and hats.

At the back of the store is a small gallery run by Lindsay's boyfriend, Jay Isaac. He also puts out a magazine called Hunter and Cook.

Virginia Johnson

132 Ossington Avenue.

(416) 516-3366

www.virginiajohnson.com

This textile and clothing designer has been in business on Ossington for the past few years but started her business back in 2001. She designs her own fabric prints (her prints are first painted with watercolours and then silkscreened onto fabric in India and Toronto) so her clothes are truly unique. She studied at The Parsons School of Design and has illustrated of Kate Spade, Vogue, InStyle and Hold Renfew. Due to her talent as an artist her shop is full of vibrant colours on dresses, shawls, shirts, bags, pillows, tunics, and some undergarments and make-up bags. Customers can also buy Virginia Johnson fabrics as well as framed originals of her watercolour textile designs.

Her clothing can be found at Barneys, Takashimaya, Holt Renfrew, Liberty's, Selfridges and Net-a-Porter.