Toronto prides itself on being multicultural and diverse, but women of colour still face distinct challenges within and outside of their cultural communities, such as struggling with mental health, gender-based violence, and being criticized for having high career ambitions.
However, International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate women of colour in Toronto and how they continue to uplift everyone through small businesses they have founded based on their own creative passions.
Now Toronto compiled five local businesses all founded by women of colour.
1. Shop Sol, 1205 Queen St. W., Unit 1
Shop Sol is a boho chic store dedicated to handmade and artisan clothing, jewellery, and home decor. Owner Sandhyaa Devi is the child of Guyanese immigrants who’ve been running a vintage store in Kensington for 30 years.
Sustainability is at the core of Shop Sol where their silk items are made 100 per cent from upcycled saris.
Devi has travelled to India, Thailand, and Peru in search of high-quality fabrics and designs to showcase in her Queen West storefront.
“My experiences have exposed me to many different cultures and ways of life,” Devi said on her website. “Having adopted my parents’ sense of entrepreneurship and seeing so many beautiful pieces during my travels, it [has] inspired me to start a boutique of my own.”
Along with being a store, Shop Sol hosts unique community events, such as womb healing workshops that promote sisterhood and rejuvenation.
Shopsol will be hosting a collective care and gift making celebration for International Women’s Day on Friday.
2. Dilato
One in four women experience painful sex, according to Dilato’s website.
Dilato is a community platform to manage vulvovaginal discomfort and help women who experience pain during intercourse feel more confident.
Dilato founder Azia To was a culprit of vaginismus and vulvodynia herself, but tried to pretend she didn’t need any extra care, only to find herself getting more insecure, depressed, and stressed.
“I would always question, ‘Why me?’” To said on camera to her 50,000 TikTok followers.
@azia_mery Replying to @nick I used to suffer in silence until I saw vaginismus as more than just a physical condition – but one that comes with emotional and mental impact. That’s why I created Dilato, our support group app. I put everything I learned in video courses, a dilator tracker, timer, guided meditations, exercises and resources reviewed by pelvic floor therapists – addressing both the psychological and soxial impact of vaginismus. Get a free trial today in my bio link. ✨🫱🏽🫲🏾 Can’t wait to see you there. You’re not alone. #vaginismusstory #vaginismuscommunity #vaginismushelp #vaginismuslove #vaginismusstories #vaginismussupportforwomen #datingwithvaginismus #vaginismussupport #vaginismusgirlie #vaginismusgirlies #secondaryvaginismus #primaryvaginismus ♬ original sound – <3
To built a community to openly discuss living, dating, and being an Asian-Canadian woman who has vaginismus and vulvodynia by sharing her personal stories.
Eventually, Dilato was formed, and To has been able to help over 1,000 women and individuals with vulvas. The digital platform provides access to science-backed courses on pelvic floor therapy, somatic healing, dilators, and group messaging for questions or support.
To is speaking at Femtech from 6:00-8:00 p.m. for International Women’s Day this Friday.
3. Mara Love Baking
Mara Love Baking is a Black family-owned business started by Desree and her husband Dill Fellows while the name is inspired by their first born Amara.
“When I was pregnant with this gem I craved everything sweet! Nothing in stores satisfied my cravings, “ Des said in an Instagram post. “When I had my son Ajani, having both children pushed me to take my business to the next level. I want to show my babies that they can do anything they put their minds to, and that practice makes progress.”
For the last five years, Des has been selling homemade 3 layer brownies, Snickerdoodle cookies, and cupcakes at some of the largest music and culture events in Toronto, especially to support the Black community.
Mara Love Baking treats have appeared at Canada’s largest songwriting camp Beat Cave, Deeply Rooted Farmers market for Black and Indigenous vendors, and meditation workshops at Hello Reset community space in Little Jamaica.
She’s also selling her made-with-love goodies at The Burrow Coffee Shop and Mentis Neurocafe for $3-$5 a piece.
4. The Villij, 5 Dickens St.
The Villij is a wellness studio for women of colour founded by best friends Kimberly Knight and Shanelle McKenzie in 2017.
They first created a card game together called Just Checking In, which is meant to help women of colour embrace vulnerability and build more meaningful relationships.
That first card game has now grown to an entire team of therapists, sound healing experts, and yoga practitioners where women of color of all sizes and backgrounds come to take community healing classes.
“No code-switching required,” is one of The Villij’s values, along with providing access and empowerment to everyone who enters the space.
All of their classes include complimentary tea and snacks, consent cards to receive help from instructors, and warm blankets, while encouraging authenticity and calming the nervous system.
@thevillij Sis, welcome home 🫶🏾 We look forward to seeing in studio for our weekly yoga and Pilates classes, sound healing sessions and so much more. 📍 5 Dickens St., Toronto Sigh up at thevillij.com
♬ Show Me How – Men I Trust
The Villij won the ByBlack’s Community Health Organization Award in 2019 and the BMO Celebrating Women Grant in 2020.
5. Catchoo
Catchoo is a Canadian born Chinese-Indonesian artist who loved trading stickers as a child, ultimately connecting to art with self-expression and purpose.
Catchoo’s graffiti-inspired stickers all have themes of self-love and self-acceptance, which she struggled to find as a kid and hopes to guide others through.
People can join the “catchooniverse” where they choose a character they identify with based on their emotions and feelings.
Through her passion for combining grunge aesthetics with stickers, Catchoo has built a community with other street artists where they participate in art shows, fundraisers, exhibitions, and workshops all over Toronto.
Inspired by the everchanging art world, Catchoo collaborates with NFT collections and pastes her stickers on public posts, fire hydrants, and other common outdoors spaces for the entire city to enjoy.
Catchoo’s sticker collection is on display at Fix Up Look Sharp show at Northern Contemporary Gallery until March 12.
