Toronto accessories designer Lyndsay Borschke remembers the moment when she was shown a vintage 1940s photograph of her husband’s grandmother arriving at Canoe Lake, Ontario by train. “She was eloquently dressed and carrying a lovely suitcase over her canoe paddle,” recalls Lyndsay, “I loved that even while travelling from the city to the Northern wilds of Algonquin Park, she still took the time to dress impeccably.”
That photograph has since gone on to be featured in The Sartorialist, and is the inspiration for the designer’s new line of luxurious accessories and outerwear called Tuck Shop Trading Co. The brand got off to a splash at the most recent Toronto International Film Festival where it was featured even before it was officially launched. “It was awesome to be featured at TIFF,” said Lyndsay. “We were completely unknown at the time and it was an honour to be in the same company as Canada Goose.”
Lyndsay herself is no slouch when it comes to the great outdoors. She spent summers at a traditional camp where adventures included 42-day canoe trips through Northern Ontario and Quebec. “While canoe tripping is hard, there’s something magical that keeps you coming back for more.” Summer camps led to a stint designing and selling clothing for a company catering to the camp and school market. Soon Lyndsay realized that she had the tools and plenty of ideas to begin designing her own backcountry inspired fashion line.
Luxurious, refined and lumberjack-cool all come to mind when walking through her collection. “I was given a vintage buffalo check (two-tone plaid) jacket from the 1970s by my mother-in-law which became the inspiration for the Cottage Coat,” Lyndsay said. Impeccably made in downtown Toronto, the sturdy jacket will last for generations due to Lyndsay’s insistence on the highest quality for all of her designs. Inspiration from the past also shows up in other facets of the line including the snowshoes in the brand’s logo and the recycled fur stole – both derived from the style and sensibility of her grandparents. Other fast and firm favourites include the cozy blankets, warm hats and infinity shawls – giant cable knit loops of cashmere that can be worn around the shoulders or looped around the neck.
Lyndsay ensures all garments and accessories are designed in Canada and manufactured in North America. “I used to work in an industry that makes most of its products off-shore. It was always about the cheapest price – not about design integrity. I got tired of selling product I wasn’t proud of.” She went on to explain that clothing made in Canada makes it easier to control production because she can simply visit the factory floor to make sure the designs are all made to her exacting standards. “Keeping manufacturing in Canada is important and we have skilled workers here who deliver quality product.” Her designs are meant to last generations just like that inspirational vintage jacket, and by keeping an eye on quality close to home it means generations will be able to wear her Canadian-made, Canadian-designed clothes.
View all imagesAs an ode to her hometown of Toronto, Lyndsay has also come out with a line called City of Neighbourhoods. Toques, t-shirts and sweatshirts are all made in Toronto and, well, about Toronto. Each piece features the name of a Toronto neighbourhood from The Beaches and Cabbagetown to Parkdale and Mimico. The toques have a slouchy retro-chic feel to them and come in a variety of fresh designs. If you’re keener on cottage country she’s recently collaborated with Norquay Co. on a line featuring favourite haunts like Muskoka and Georgian Bay in the style of her Neighbourhoods line.
It’s clear that Lyndsay is an outdoor girl with a sense of wilderness style. Despite residing in Toronto her lifestyle is one spent between the city and the cottage and her new line is a perfect reflection of this ethos.
Toronto accessories designer Lyndsay Borschke remembers the moment when she was shown a vintage 1940s photograph of her husband’s grandmother arriving at Canoe Lake, Ontario by train. “She was eloquently dressed and carrying a lovely suitcase over her canoe paddle,” recalls Lyndsay, “I loved that even while travelling from the city to the Northern wilds of Algonquin Park, she still took the time to dress impeccably.”
That photograph has since gone on to be featured in The Sartorialist, and is the inspiration for the designer’s new line of luxurious accessories and outerwear called Tuck Shop Trading Co. The brand got off to a splash at the most recent Toronto International Film Festival where it was featured even before it was officially launched. “It was awesome to be featured at TIFF,” said Lyndsay. “We were completely unknown at the time and it was an honour to be in the same company as Canada Goose.”
I got tired of selling product I wasn’t proud of.Lyndsay herself is no slouch when it comes to the great outdoors. She spent summers at a traditional camp where adventures included 42-day canoe trips through Northern Ontario and Quebec. “While canoe tripping is hard, there’s something magical that keeps you coming back for more.” Summer camps led to a stint designing and selling clothing for a company catering to the camp and school market. Soon Lyndsay realized that she had the tools and plenty of ideas to begin designing her own backcountry inspired fashion line.
Luxurious, refined and lumberjack-cool all come to mind when walking through her collection. “I was given a vintage buffalo check (two-tone plaid) jacket from the 1970s by my mother-in-law which became the inspiration for the Cottage Coat,” Lyndsay said. Impeccably made in downtown Toronto, the sturdy jacket will last for generations due to Lyndsay’s insistence on the highest quality for all of her designs. Inspiration from the past also shows up in other facets of the line including the snowshoes in the brand’s logo and the recycled fur stole – both derived from the style and sensibility of her grandparents. Other fast and firm favourites include the cozy blankets, warm hats and infinity shawls – giant cable knit loops of cashmere that can be worn around the shoulders or looped around the neck.
Lyndsay ensures all garments and accessories are designed in Canada and manufactured in North America. “I used to work in an industry that makes most of its products off-shore. It was always about the cheapest price – not about design integrity. I got tired of selling product I wasn’t proud of.” She went on to explain that clothing made in Canada makes it easier to control production because she can simply visit the factory floor to make sure the designs are all made to her exacting standards. “Keeping manufacturing in Canada is important and we have skilled workers here who deliver quality product.” Her designs are meant to last generations just like that inspirational vintage jacket, and by keeping an eye on quality close to home it means generations will be able to wear her Canadian-made, Canadian-designed clothes.
View all images
As an ode to her hometown of Toronto, Lyndsay has also come out with a line called City of Neighbourhoods. Toques, t-shirts and sweatshirts are all made in Toronto and, well, about Toronto. Each piece features the name of a Toronto neighbourhood from The Beaches and Cabbagetown to Parkdale and Mimico. The toques have a slouchy retro-chic feel to them and come in a variety of fresh designs. If you’re keener on cottage country she’s recently collaborated with Norquay Co. on a line featuring favourite haunts like Muskoka and Georgian Bay in the style of her Neighbourhoods line.
It’s clear that Lyndsay is an outdoor girl with a sense of wilderness style. Despite residing in Toronto her lifestyle is one spent between the city and the cottage and her new line is a perfect reflection of this ethos.