Raising the Style Barcode: UPC Boutique (Toronto, CA)

by Kena Paranjape on October 20, 2008

Inside UPC

UPC is a trendy 'downtown' boutique nestled in 'upper east side' Yorkville. A mural of a comic book fashion superhero welcomes you to exert your style super powers as you descend the stairs into the shop off Cumberland St. Once inside, the shiny epoxy black floor, black ceiling and UPC* inspired lighting create a sleek, modern, gallery-like space that acts as a perfect backdrop for the unique and exclusive pieces that co-owners Maha Zeibak and Anat Lowe carefully select each season. Maha and Anat's buying philosophy is to focus on investment pieces that can be carried from one season to the next and will feel new when pulled out of your closet five years from now. Essentially, every piece of clothing at UPC is a stand-out, unique item - no basic T's here!

I asked the two fashion early adopters to pick their Top 3 "must have's" from the fall collection and here's what made their list:

A menswear look by Rose (a line designed by two celebrity stylists from LA) comprised of a vest with chain detail and cashmere T.
An oversized sweater by Sonia Rykiel paired with leggings or skinny jeans.
Everything plaid, but if they had to pick, a blouse made of vintage plaid fabric by emerging Canadian designer Adrienne Butikofer.

And on my list? A gorgeous silk cut-out top from France's Cacharel (to see it, check out my video submission to the W Network's Expert Search and click on Kena) and a chiffon dress from Milla Jovovich's Jovovich-Hawk line (which is sadly no more, so snap up what's left!). In keeping with their clothing-as-art philosophy, they also carry lines that can't be found anywhere else in Toronto (at least at time of press) including French designer, Erotokritos, Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchkovitch, and for male style superheroes, Rykiel Homme , by Sonia Rykiel. Other widely coveted hipster labels include 18th Amendment, Alex+Chloe and Opening Ceremony.

UPC is not the spot to stock your entire closet, but it is the ideal place to invest in a unique piece to build the rest of your wardrobe around. Expect to hear "I love it! Where did you get it!" from friends and strangers alike.

UPC Boutique

128 1/2 Cumberland St.
416.929.9209

*UPC stands for Universal Product Code and is a barcode for tracking trade items.

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