Five local retailers to check out

By: Sahra Soudi

With the emergence of Hamilton’s art scene, an abundance of local vintage boutiques and gift shops now surround the arts district located on James St. N. The International Village on King St. E is another stretch of the city with plenty of stores to explore.

Whether you’re looking for gift ideas or a new wardrobe, these streets have something to offer everyone especially for fashion enthusiast and advocates of local shopping.

Girl on the Wing (181 King St. E)

Girl on the Wing has become a haven for many contemporary and vintage fashion fanatics, and rightfully so.

Curated by owner Whitney McMeekin, Girl on the Wing specializes in all things vintage and retro: from plants, cards and jewelry, to retro houseware, one of a kind accessories and carefully selected vintage pieces.

Since its opening in 2013, the shop has supported the Hamilton community through its involvement in Hamilton Flea, as well as the annual Super Crawl.

Girl on the Wing is attentive when it comes to supporting independent artists and makers, some of which include Stay Home Club, Rosehound Apparel and Talulah Fontaine.

Hawk & Sparrow (126 James St. N)

Created by Sarah Moyal in 2011, Hawk and Sparrow started out as an Etsy shop and has since evolved to a signature James St. N storefront.

The shop provides a variety of second hand and brand new vintage pieces inspired by the style era of the 60s, 70s, 80s and early 90s.

The apparel that can be found at this shop varies from denim to floral prints, to colourful windbreakers.

The shop focuses on selecting the most beautiful and unique pieces, appealing to low and high-end vintage clothing collectors.

La Bichette (161 James St. N)

La Bichette is a lifestyle boutique that puts a strong emphasis on enjoying the finer things in life. Its products range from apparel to bath and beauty.

The shop believes in carrying beauty products that are environmentally friendly, vegan and locally sourced in Ontari, including Hamilton-based Perks and Aurora’s Sudsatorium.

Newold’s Vintage Clothing (240 James St. N) 

This shop is a life saver, especially if you have bad luck with finding unique vintage pieces. Newold’s stocks a selection of handmade and vintage pieces.The shop itself is just as charming as the friendly employees.

No matter what you're looking for from vintage coats and swimwear to retro-inspires sunglasses, Newold's has something for you.

Studio 205 (205 King St. E)

Advocating for the importance of shopping local, Studio 205 is a shop that prides itself on carrying exclusively Canadian and handmade products.

The shop’s vivacious atmosphere can be credited to the art that hangs on its walls, impressive handmade apparel, unique cards and prints available for purchase and the cafe conveniently located right inside the store that offers locally sourced coffee and teas.

Looking for gift ideas? This shop has tons.