Meet Souvenir

A curated collection of artisanal treasures, now with a permanent home

After two years of organizing pop-up gift markets in venues across the city, Danielle Suppa and Trisha Lepper have made a permanent home for their charming selection of artisanal wares. Meet Souvenir, now a must-visit destination in Toronto for curated, handmade treasures.

When they first discovered their narrow storefront, a former Mexican restaurant on College Street, the windows were covered in oversized burrito decals. Now, with the space gutted and soaked in several coats of white paint, it resembles an art gallery. Beautiful ceramics, textiles and paper goods by Canadian designers mingle harmoniously with miniature tea-spoons from Istanbul, rugs from Turkey and Morocco and other souvenirs discovered by the shop owners on their travels abroad.

Following the same formula that made their holiday and beach house–themed pop-ups successful, Suppa and Lepper refresh their inventory every two months to reflect different themes – some seasonal, and some more abstract. Come February, stock will be inspired by “love in all its forms”; a show based on the five senses may also be in the works.

SHOP HERE FOR

Giftable household treasures, lovingly made by a roster of select designers. Goods share the same light, clean aesthetic and natural yet contemporary material palette. Our visit turned up wooden letter holders (from $10), vintage cookie jars in mottled marble (from $20) and white porcelain tumblers with decorative copper geometric shapes ($18).

BEST BET

Peg-legged plant stands to lift your beloved ficus to the next level (from $120). Fabricated by Suppa’s uncle, Giorgio Antonacci, the minimalist maple-wood designs tuck neatly into cozy reading corners and can be custom-ordered to fit your favourite pot.

Editor’s note: This feature story was published in spring 2016. For up-to-date info, refer to our Toronto Souvenir store listing.

1232 College St W  Tue-Fri 12-7, Sat 11-6 souvenir-studios.com