THE CARRIAGE TRADE STORY
Since 1963Since 1963, Carriage Trade has held the profound reputation of being the premier boutique in Toronto's west end. A trusted brand spanning over six decades, Carriage Trade houses some of the most coveted, contemporary, and luxury womenswear brands from Europe and North America in an expansive retail space spanning two floors.
The brand's diverse offering of over 120 brands includes Canadian staples Smythe and Jenny Bird, and international brands including Marc Cain, Frame, Equipment, L'Agence, Naghedi, Norma Kamali, and many more. Ripe with newness on a monthly basis, the brand's long-standing success is built on its expert reputation, helping women of all shapes and sizes feel confident, powerful, and stylish.
Generation after generation, Carriage Trade has never wavered in its dedication to giving her clients the "full service" experience. This includes personal shopping, wardrobe audits, and private parties.
Shop today either online or in-store and experience the luxurious Carriage Trade evolution.
The story of Carriage Trade, however, is not just about fashion but also about a remarkable journey of passion and determination.
The journey began when the owner, Nori, first crossed paths with Carriage Trade at the age of 18. The moment that truly captured her heart was when one of the seamstresses crafted a stunning emerald green prom dress just for her. Little did she know that this would be the beginning of a lifelong love affair with this remarkable store.
Fast forward a few years, destiny had a plan in store for Nori. At the age of 21, she found herself presented with the incredible opportunity to take over Carriage Trade. The store was on the brink of closure, and she couldn't bear the thought of seeing the place she had fallen in love with shut its doors. So, she devised a plan, secured a small business loan from her bank, and took a leap of faith. She believed in the power of a handful of people who believed in her to turn a dream into a reality.
Now, 29 years later, everything Nori had envisioned for Carriage Trade has come to fruition, and it has been an incredible journey.
This journey began in Manitoba, where Nori was born to a Pakistani father and a Japanese mother. Her family left Manitoba when she was just a year old, embarking on a unique adventure that saw her grow up in the lush jungles of Colombia for 14 years. Nori's father started a nickel company there, and her family traveled extensively, influencing her worldview and approach to fashion.
Through her travels, Nori and her family witnessed poverty and adversity, instilling in her a deep sense of gratitude and a keen awareness of the privileges we often take for granted in our daily lives. These personal values are at the core of Carriage Trade, where authenticity, trust, and giving back to the community are paramount.
Nori is incredibly fortunate to lead an exceptional team of women who share her vision for the store. They are a close-knit family, and their shared values of honesty, genuineness, and trustworthiness are reflected in the relationships they build with their clients and the support they offer to their community. They deeply care about their customers, and that's why they've earned the trust of the community for six decades.
As a mother of three wonderful children, Nori has always known the importance of having a strong support system. Family has been her anchor throughout her life and remains her number one priority. She couldn't have come this far without their unwavering support.
Nori wants her values to resonate throughout Carriage Trade, creating a warm and welcoming environment for all women. She wants her daughter to know that she can achieve anything she sets her mind to, and this store is her way of building a brighter future for her.
As women, Nori believes in the power to accomplish incredible things when they support one another. At 21, she may not have had all the answers, but she was blessed to have a resilient community that believed in her and said, "Yes, you can."
That motto still guides her today.
Getting the chance to own Carriage Trade felt like destiny, a natural flow of events that was meant to be. It's been the best thing that ever happened to her as a mother and a businesswoman. She's learned that everything happens for a reason, and therein lies the beauty of life's journey.
