For years, I have been meaning to make it to Toronto's One of A Kind Show but it never seems to be a priority. This time, I felt different. Perhaps it was the free entrance ticket (Thank you to Olive PR Solutions!) or it was my keen interest in finding something artisanal for my house...either way, I hopped on the train to Toronto in the hopes of discovering some "underground" finds. I have two minds about these types of trade shows. On one hand, I discover local artisans and am able to connect with companies directly. On the other, it's exhausting and sometimes a waste of time and money. This year's One of A Kind Show met me somewhere in the middle.
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| All fresh and energized for the show! |
Although I found the show had interesting vendors, many food kiosks, handmade fashion, lots of jewellery and pottery; there were few that really held my attention. I can appreciate the time and effort that all of the artisans invest in their product, but I find it rather difficult to decipher between each. Personally, those that make the largest impact are the ones with the with stellar, streamlined displays; these are the ones I am likely to venture into. As I progress through the show, I get lazy. My interest to dig deep into a rack of clothing or stocked shelves dissolves after the first three rows of merchants so I need ones that are easy to manoeuvre with little effort.
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| The hustle and bustle of the show. |
There were a handful of vendors that did catch my eye, however. I am not sure if it was their product display or energy that I was attracted to, but these left a lasting impression on me....
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| Tealish had me at "hello". I love tea. Period. Their Hangover Helper Tea was the only thing I bought all day. What a lush. |
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| Tremblay Pepper Mills immediately caught my attention. What a display! |
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| Hand Crafted Pepper Mills with outstanding sculptural presence. |
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| The perfect gift for a "foodie". |
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| Porcelaines Bousequet's pottery was delicate and classic. I am a sucker for white pottery. |
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| The "Cones" were a sweet idea for displaying party snacks. |
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| The Pietersma Tinworks has it's hand on a niche market. The punched tin allows for a soft, candle like light. This picture does not do these lanterns justice! It is a must see. |
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| Pallafray intrigued me with their red painted antlers. That's right. This table base is all organic antlers. I kinda wanted to buy it right there. |
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| And the mirror to match. Caution: don't lean in too close... It's more for display! |
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| Hoibo stole the show for me. Although I was there for interior finds, these ladies' booth, products and personalities were exceptional. Note the sexy cowhide on the ground. That helped win me over... |
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| ...and this purse! Omg. I fell in love. It's now on my birthday list. The construction, design and quality was out of this world. Sigh. |
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| Studio Liscious display illuminated this beautiful furniture piece. |
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| Bird carving was a unique touch to the contemporary design. |
Alas, the show made me a more humbled artist and designer. I realized that what I do love about these events is the vibe you get from being amongst your peers: Industry professionals swapping tips, stories and goals. I think it is the very nature of art and life. Many of these artisans work in solitude and rarely get to socialize amongst like minded people, and here...we are all artists enjoying the handmade feel!
Were you able to make it out to the One of A Kind Show this year? Did I miss your favourite vendor?