Toronto's Horses Atelier builds and sews all their garments in the city, and every piece is crafted by local women for other women just like them.

Founded in 2012 by Claudia Dey and Heidi Sopinka, Horses Atelier has since grown into a staple brand most well-known for its jumpsuits and coats.

Although the brand remains a small and independent company, its strong commitment to quality, ethics, and design innovation remains firm. 

Best friends Dey and Sopinka met at McGill University and established Horses Atelier when they became new mothers while living in Toronto, inspiring them to create a clothing line full of pieces they would want to wear. 

"We started making jumpsuits in 2013, long before we'd seen them anywhere on the market, and based them on traditional workwear, but with a feminized fit," Sopinka told blogTO in an email statement.

Inspired by French styles, Japanese workwear, and their own collection of vintage clothing, Horses Atelier quickly gained traction for its high-quality garments and streamlined silhouettes.  

Originally starting in Dey's attic, the brand later moved to downtown, where they now offer their distinct creations to their clientele at the brand's flagship shop right off West Queen West in downtown Toronto.

The store spans only one floor (the design studio and small production unit are all housed under one roof on Walnut Avenue), but the vast array of beautiful clothing and mid-century modern decor is enough to convince anyone to take a browse around.

As soon as you walk through the front door, you'll see their selection of bestsellers, including their long coat, the Alchemical ($595), which has been worn by notable figures, like Toronto's Margaret Atwood. 

"We couldn't find a coat that could be thrown on over any outfit in any weather on any continent, a coat that was the Platonic ideal of a coat," Sopinka explained.

"We wanted functional pockets as we are women in motion – keys, phones, plane tickets, loose change. The coat, as with all our pieces, is designed from the brand's founding values: utility, beauty, wildness, and endurance."

As you walk through the store, you'll be welcomed by a vibrant Moroccan rug and mid-century modern couch in the main area, surrounded by racks of dresses, including the brand's famous slip dress ($495) that was worn by supermodel Jourdann Dunn and featured in Vogue.

The dress currently comes in three colours: gold peony, red peony and black peony.

As you walk around the store, you'll see artwork on the walls by the Toronto artist Jason Logan, an ink maker that forages around the city to find natural materials to work with. The artwork is also featured on their tote bags, which you can get for free with every purchase.

The racks also hold their collection of blouses ($295-$395), and their cult-fave jumpsuits ($325-$395).

The founders' vision is rooted in sustainability, ethics, and exceptional craftsmanship, leading them to prioritize using all-natural fibres sourced from small family mills in Italy and Japan.

The commitment to sustainability also extends to ensuring all their pieces are ethically produced by skilled sewers who receive fair wages (all garments are sewn by women right here in Toronto).

Horses Atelier is located at 198 Walnut Avenue.