Toronto stores, like many other local businesses, are coping with COVID-19 by offering a variety of opportunities for remote shopping – including curbside dropoffs, local pickup, and even deals on shipping.
If you’re looking for a little bit of comfort or distraction while you’re stuck at home, and want to support a local business going through a tough time, here are a few of our favourite cozy product picks.
Likely General, a combination store and gallery on Roncy, is full of witchy, soothing finds from artisanal vendors in Toronto and beyond. These Grateful Dead-themed bath salts come in three fragrances – lavender/jasmine, vetiver/fir and palo santo/orange – to help you forget all about the world outside your tub. (While you’re here, consider donating to their GoFundMe.) $9 no-contact delivery available for $4. likelygeneral.com.
This spring’s fashion must-have: Sweatpants. (Obviously, it’s sweatpants.) But just because you’re hanging out at home doesn’t mean you can’t support a local business – and look smashing while you’re doing it. Enter Muttonhead’s unisex loungewear basics, all of which are sewn in Toronto – including this rust-orange pair of bottoms made from super-smooth, sustainable bamboo fabric. $115 free shipping over $100. muttonheadstore.com
Previously a beloved Cabbagetown source for reclaimed fixtures and antiques, Sourced and Salvaged has now pivoted to offering soy wax candles made with essential oils in roughly two dozen different scents. $20 and up free downtown delivery on orders over $50. sourcedandsalvaged.com
Don’t feel pressured to leave quarantine with a half-dozen new skills – but if you do want to dip your toe into the world of fibre crafts, macrame is a simple (and on-trend) way to get started. This DIY wall hanging kit from The Knitting Loft comes with rope in one of 11 different colours, so you can craft something that suits your place perfectly. $20.95 free curbside pickup at 672 Wilson. theknittingloft.ca
Toronto cross-stitch artist Diana Watters sells her designs as downloadable patterns, or as kits containing everything you need to get started (perfect for aspiring cross-stitchers). There’s a handful of designs, including a very locally-appropriate “raccoon in the big city” motif all of them which come complete with floss, a hoop, a needle, fabric, and plenty of tips on how to get started. $35 and up free shipping in Canada. etsy.com
Could your place use a touch of green? In addition to a number of existing plant delivery services, your local plant shop may have rolled out curbside delivery or pickup. If you’re a plant novice, pick up a spider plant: They’re remarkably forgiving (and, in case you kill the first couple, inexpensive). $6.25 free shipping over $100. plantcollective.co
Are you, like me, in an ongoing noise war with your stompy upstairs neighbour? Escalate things the creative way with this build-your-own harmonica kit! (Kidding! …Mostly.) From Toronto gift shop mini-chain Scout, this Kikkerland kit gives you everything you need to start playin’ the isolation blues. $15 free delivery in M4M or M6R area codes, curbside pickup at 405 Roncesvalles. iheartscout.com
Sure, Cambie Design’s blankets are a splurge – but if there was ever a time to burrito yourself in as many luxurious textures as possible, this is it. Cambie’s throws are made in limited quantities, with alpaca wool sourced from a family-run textile mill in Lima, Peru. $100 free shipping over $70. cambiedesign.com
@nataliamanzocco
