Fashion District
The Fashion District is a vibrant mix of trendy boutiques and heritage shops, making it both affordable and dynamic. Once a center for wholesale and manufacturing, it remains Toronto’s best source for fabrics. Mom-and-pop diners and coffee shops coexist with juice bars and trendy restaurants. Vintage shops stand alongside big brand retailers and small local designers. Despite being a part of the bustling city, it retains a proud neighborhood vibe. The neighbourhood is immensely popular amongst young professionals.
History
The Fashion District (formerly known as the Garment District) owes its name to its historical significance in the garment industry, also known as the “rag trade.” In the early 20th century, this area was home to numerous textile and fabric factories and warehouses, attracted by the convenient access to shipping and rail lines. Garment enterprise owners built multi-story buildings to accommodate their manufacturing operations. By the 1970s, and increasingly through the 1980s and 1990s, these factories and warehouses began to decline as manufacturing activities moved to the suburbs or overseas. Zoning regulations at the time specified industrial use only, which prevented property owners from leasing to non-industrial tenants. Faced with high vacancy rates, some owners demolished buildings with heritage value to reduce real estate taxes. In the mid-1990s, it became clear that land use restrictions needed to be relaxed. A significant zoning change in 1996 re-designated these districts as "regeneration areas," eliminating traditional land use restrictions to encourage reinvestment, create housing opportunities, and provide creative spaces for new businesses. This innovative legislation was championed by then-Mayor Barbara Hall and urban activist Jane Jacobs.
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Queen Street W to the north, Peter Street to the east, Front Street W to the south, and Bathurst Street to the west
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The Fashion District is home to many boutique condo buildings and a blend of traditional condos, hard lofts, and soft lofts. Buildings in the area are predominantly low and mid-rise.
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K-8
Ryerson Community School
Grade 9-12
Harbord Collegiate Institute
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Before WWII, approximately 80% of the city’s Jewish community lived in the Fashion District, many of which worked in the garment industry. Many Jewish delis, tailors, bookstores, and Yiddish theatres and synagogues were established. Following the War, much of the community moved further north and many of the factories and warehouses were slowly converted into other uses.