Monos Debuts in Toronto

Monos (Vancouver, B.C.) has opened its second retail location, in Toronto. The debut of the brand’s store on Ossington Avenue in that city’s Little Portugal neighborhood comes on the heels of the opening of its first flagship store last year in its hometown.

“We are excited to weave ourselves into the dynamic tapestry of the Little Portugal community through our Ossington store,” said Co-Founder and CEO Victor Tam. “With our roots firmly planted in Canada, we are thrilled to share that this is just the beginning. Come next year, we are set to take our immersive retail experiences to the global stage with eight new stores across the U.S., kick-starting with New York City and Chicago.”

Monos Ossington was designed in collaboration with interior/concept design studio Ste Marie (Vancouver, B.C./Toronto), which created a surrealist interpretation of Portugal’s pousadas, evoking a dreamlike quality through its soft, sweeping forms and carefully curated material palette.

At the heart of the room, flanked by monoliths of split-faced cottonwood limestone, a single olive tree stands against a dramatic light feature of illuminated, stretched fabric. Extending from behind the tree and rising into the ceiling, the backdrop bathes the space in a soft glow.

Plinths formed of honed Turkish rainbow onyx give way to a delicate water flow, an ode to the connection between humanity and the natural world. Softly encased wall niches, adorned with Italian onice avorio striato stone, showcase Monos’ products of suitcases, bags and travel accessories.

Founded in 2018 as a direct-to-consumer brand, the retailer says its name “is inspired by the Japanese concept of mono no aware – the profound appreciation of the beauty in fleeting moments.”