Following last year’s opening of its first store in Vancouver, Canadian luggage brand Monos has inaugurated a second retail space in Toronto. Situated on Ossington Avenue, an increasingly popular shopping artery in the Little Portugal area of town, the retail space occupies an 1,837 sq.ft. (171 sqm.) unit on the ground floor of a modern five-storey residential building. The interior design, created by Canadian design practice Ste Marie, draws on the Japanese concept of mono no aware, or the pathos of things in plain English, and is influenced by gentle surrealism and the cultural hospitality of traditional pousadas in Portugal. At the centre of the monochrome store, captured by cottonwood limestone, sits a little olive tree.

The live tree is flanked on both sides by ample shelving units, while right in front, a sizeable display table with a robust stone top is situated. The latter volume is connected to honed Turkish Rainbow Onyx plinths which facilitate a delicate water flow, cuing the simplicity and connection between nature and humanity. A built-in light fixture extends from behind the tree and rises up halfway into the ceiling, diffusing a transcendent glow while adding a dynamic visual element to the setting along the way. Additional rows of ceiling light spots highlight parts of the merchandise on display. The new Monos store carries the full range of luggage pieces, bags, women’s and men’s travel apparel pieces, and also accessories. © superfuture