Better Gift Shop
Better Gift Shop is a hidden gem in Chinatown that peddles anything cool-looking, from clothes to incense to magazines.
The store might go unnoticed by many — but any street style savant worth their salt probably knows about it.
The store was founded by Toronto streetwear legend Avi Gold.
For such a small space (the store is living room sized), Better's curation of products feels precise and calculated with the store in mind.
The result is an easy, seamless shopping experience. All it took was a five-minute walkabout to make my way through the whole store, and I left wanting...well, pretty much everything in there.
Any questions I had about the product were quickly and effectively answered by one of the very mellow staff members — one of whom was behind the counter while the other roamed the store ready to help.
Most of the store's core product is hanging from a pair of rods joined in the back corner, with Better branded t-shirts, hoodies, and varsity jackets available to rifle through.
Prices are pretty well in line with your standard streetwear shop, if not a little more expensive, depending on the product.
For instance, a white New York-themed t-shirt costs $60, a Stussy collab t-shirt is $50, and a grey hoodie is $190, while the varsity jacket goes for $1,490.
And if the clothing selection doesn't pique your interest, there's plenty more to browse through.
Another corner of the store is dedicated almost entirely to incense, lending the store its unmistakable smell. A pack of incense imported from Japan sells for $13, while Better branded metal burner cans ($250) and tray holders ($32) accompany them.
As an avid consumer of print media, I was next drawn to the front corner of the store, where several different art and culture magazines are displayed on a table directly inside the window.
With highly-regarded publications such as the New Order ($20), Kaleidoscope ($27) and Sneeze Mag ($20) gracing the table, they add as much to the store's vibe and aesthetic as they do the inventory.
Once you're ready to check out, head to the counter that looks as though it belongs in a New York City bodega to ring up your order.
Better Gift Shop is located at 558 Dundas St. W.
Chinatown BIA
