NATIONAL TREASURES
Canada’s best designers have something in common with Nordstrom—they know that style is personal, whether your vibe is head-to-toe glamour, or jeans and sneakers. Here, some of the most celebrated names in Canadian fashion describe their style ethos, and what having their labels at Nordstrom means to themu
ON SEEKING CONTRADICTIONS
Over the years, Biko has become about a contrast of shape, texture, line and pattern. I love mixing the sleek, reflective nature of luxe metals with a hammered texture, or making pieces that are wavy. I love playing with materials that are fluid against something a little more sharp and jagged.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE SEASON
Jewellery is a timeless thing. Trends come and go, but jewellery is without season. I make pieces that feel contemporary, but also like little heirlooms—things that you’ll want to hang on to over the years.
HOW I BUILD ON THE PAST
I’ll use an element from a previous collection in a newer piece of jewellery— like building off a hammered metal component I last season to make something that looks and feels completely different. I built the business aound the idea of found objects with stories to share, and I love seeing these stories evolve and shift over time.
WHY I LOVE CANADIAN DESIGN
Being a Canadian designer is wonderful. Canada is diversity—almost everyone here comes from somewhere else. I was born in Canada but I’m also Greek and Polish. To me, Canada is about the influences of many distinct cultures being brought together to feel like home.
THE NORDSTROM ADVANTAGE
When Nordstrom opened here, they jumped on board with Canadian designers. Working with Nordstrom has definitely opened up a lot of doors for Biko.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Matt & Nat stands for “material and nature.” We’re proud to be a vegan company that produces beautiful, contemporary accessories without touching leather.
THE POWER OF ETHICAL DESIGN
For about 10 years now, we’ve partnered with an ethical factory in Taiwan to create a lining for our bags. It’s made from 100-per-cent recycled plastic bottles. It looks amazing, and it’s eco-friendly. Really, the whole market is changing. In fact, the world is changing. There are so many factories in Europe now producing beautiful polyurethane— it’s vegan, and more biodegradable than PVC. The quality is amazing. The look is amazing. More and more companies want to produce something great-looking without harming animals.
OUR ARCHITECTURAL INFLUENCES
Whenever I travel, I take a lot of pictures— I’m an architecture freak. We’re just about to launch a new collection called Studio 901. It’s a bit more luxury, and all the pieces are based on the shapes and lines of architecture.
OUR CANADIAN EXPANSION
We just opened a store in Australia, and one in Soho in New York. We’ve been in the U.K. since 2004, and sales are growing there. We’re also in Japan and Germany. It’s very rewarding to be a Canadian brand and see how we’re expanding worldwide.
THE NORDSTROM ADVANTAGE
When Nordstrom opened in Canada, I was personally grateful—they have great menswear! We’re also very proud to have Matt & Nat at Nordstrom. We’ve been partners for seven years and our partnership is growing every year.
OUR STYLE ETHOS
Chloé: “Beaufille” loosely translates to handsome girl. It explores the contrast between masculine and feminine and also describes the girl we’re designing for.
Parris: We’re always trying to design under that idea—the ethos of bringing together masculine and feminine, hard and soft. We’re thinking of that in every piece.
ON BEING SISTERS
Chloé: We have an ingrained sense of trust in one another. Parris will never get up and walk away from a discussion. We’re very different people, but we balance each other out, and it makes us well-rounded as a design team. PARRIS: Our relationship makes working together easier because we have the same quality standards, background and upbringing. It’s great to have a partner who is also family.
OUR CANADIAN DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
Parris: As designers, we always try to create pieces that make people dream a little, but there’s an essential practicality to Canadian design.
Chloé: As Canadians, we’re more conservative and practical. When you go outside of Canada to a fashion capital, you see people wearing really crazy things. That’s not to say we don’t love to make a piece or two that’s a bit out there, but being Canadian and designing in Canada , we do have an underlying, even subconscious, thread of practicality.
THE NORDSTROM ADVANTAGE
Chloé: It’s a dream to see our work in Nordstrom. Inclusivity is a really big part of Nordstrom’s business and I think that’s an amazing thing to be a part of. It’s great that a company that sells high fashion is also pushing for inclusivity.
Parris: And Nordstrom, as a retailer, supports so many sizes. They order such a wide size range from us, which I think is really important. They definitely listen to customer feedback a lot and stay very current.
ON SEEING CELEBRITIES WEAR GRETA CONSTANTINE
Stephen: It’s recognition, appreciation and acknowledgment. For us, it’s a sign that we’re going in the right direction, and that the things that we do resonate with people.
Kirk: We’re not star chasers—while we love finding out when they’re wearing our clothing, it’s always a surprise to us. We’re always thrilled!
WHY TORONTO IS HOME
Stephen: Kirk and I both grew up in Toronto. We’re connected to the community here. We’ve never even thought about being anywhere else. In this day and age, you can be in Toronto and still have a presence in New York or Paris.
Kirk: People are so surprised when they hear that we’re from Canada, or that Greta Constantine is produced in Canada. Our studio is on a little side street in Toronto, and while everyone’s expecting us to have a grand, fabulous workspace, we’re just happy being here. We’re proud to say that our garments are made in Canada.
THE NORDSTROM ADVANTAGE
Kirk: Being at Nordstrom is a huge compliment. It’s so exciting that they opened here. And when their buying office recognized us, and decided to carry us at The Toronto Eaton Centre and Yorkdale, it was exciting for everybody! It makes us feel like we’re growing and getting better.