Listen to the full conversation between Kaelen Haworth and Fashionista Staff Writer Catie Pusateri on The Fashionista Network on Spotify.
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Instead of returning home to Toronto after graduating from Parsons School of Design, Kaelen Haworth ended up staying in New York City for another 15 years building her two fashion brands, Kaelen and Second Sight. Haworth always wanted to open her own store (“I’m better at curating and editing than I was at designing, that’s just the truth,” she confessed), and once she moved back to Toronto in 2023, she decided it was time to jump into retail. Absolutely Fabrics — an independent multi-brand boutique stocking emerging and established labels alike — opened its doors that same year to become a hub for brand discovery.
“There’s a lot of opportunity here [in Toronto],” Haworth said. “There’s a lot of people who are really interested in fashion, but don’t have access to a lot of these brands because no one’s buying them in Toronto.”
Absolutely Fabrics stocks well-known names like Marni, Proenza Schouler, Fforme and Christopher John Rogers alongside up-and-coming designers like Conner Ives, Ashlyn and Torishéju. Now, the boutique is expanding beyond its 613 Queen St. West location to a 7,000-square-foot flagship in Toronto’s Summerhill neighborhood this fall, which Haworth said will help the retailer further reach its core consumer.
On The Fashionista Network, Haworth discussed Toronto’s fashion scene, who the Absolutely Fabrics customer is, why brick-and-mortal retail is “thriving” right now (“ if you’re looking in the right place,” she added), the lessons she’s learned while growing her business and more. Watch the full interview on YouTube below.
