BRIKA’s holiday pop-up shop has arrived in just the nick of time. The online retailer has temporarily set up camp at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, where it is offering a curated selection of unique gifts created by the artisans and designers of the BRIKA community. It is the perfect place to visit as you’re prepping for the gift-giving and hosting season.
While BRIKA began as an exclusively online store, it has since grown to host pop-up shops at busy shopping locations like Hudson’s Bay and Holt Renfrew, and opened a shop on Toronto’s Queen Street West. Similar to the Etsy experience, BRIKA offers a varied array of items such as prints, home fixtures and furnishings, delicate jewellery and even children’s toys and clothes. Founded by Jen Lee Koss and Kena Paranjape in 2012, BRIKA has since grown into a popular shopping destination carrying the work of more than 500 innovative creators. “Both of us felt strongly that there wasn’t a brand that stood for excellence in artisan design and craft,” said Koss. “Drawing on this and our shared values of following one’s passions and building a beautiful life through well-crafted, everyday objects, we developed the concept for BRIKA.”
Not only will a visit to BRIKA’s pop-up shop give you the perfect chance to find gifts for everyone on your list, you’ll also have a chance to indulge your creative side with the DIY corner and colouring wall, while sipping on a warm beverage from the in-store café. When asked why she believes colouring is such a big fad for adults right now, Koss affirmed that you can never get too old for arts and crafts. “Some people also find it therapeutic or stress-relieving and a way to unplug in a world where we’re constantly wired,” she said. “I think people turn to colouring the same way they turn to yoga or reading or any other hobby that allows you to enjoy some much-deserved ‘me’ time.”
BRIKA will host several DIY workshops this month, with lessons on creating decorative paper lampshades on Dec. 2, holiday ornaments on Dec. 5, and signature scents and fragrances on Dec. 9. For more information visit brika.com, and register for workshops here.