Fashion/Apparel

With one of the highest concentrations of fashion and apparel employment in Canada, Toronto’s fashion industry employs nearly 50,000 people.

  • Clothing Retail – 73.1%
  • Clothing Manufacturing – 16.3%
  • Clothing Wholesalers – 6.5%
  • Textile Mills and Products – 4.1%

[Sector data is derived from a number of sources including the Labour Force Survey, 2006 Census, 2011 National Household Survey, Canadian Business Counts, and the City of Toronto’s Employment Survey. The methodology used to identify clusters and their sizes is based on methodology used by the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity in its 2017 Cluster Study. Note that fashion-related jobs transcend the traditional boundaries of the sector, and stakeholders have called for a redefinition of the sector and its impact on the local economy.]

Distribution of jobs in the fashion and apparel sector in Toronto, by sub-sector: clothing retail 73.1 percent of sector jobs; clothing manufacturing 16.3 percent of sector jobs; clothing wholesalers 6.5 percent of sector jobs; textile mills and products 4.1 percent of sector jobs

[While not comprehensive, the above list provides a snapshot of Toronto’s diverse Fashion/Apparel sector and some of the companies located here.]

  • Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI)
    Non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and nurturing Canadian fashion designers and creative entrepreneurs. The incubator provides strategic business-building programs and services including one-on-one mentoring, educational seminars and master classes, shared workspace, in-house design studios, and promotional and marketing opportunities. Established by the City of Toronto in 1987, TFI has helped launch the careers of many of Canada’s top fashion designers and sparked the creation of more than 18,000 new jobs.
  • Fashion Industry Advisory Panel (FIAP)
    FIAP’s mandate is to provide advice and support to the Economic Development and Culture Division on fashion industry issues, and opportunities to promote the health, competitiveness and long-term viability of Toronto’s fashion/apparel sector. Members include representatives of key industry subsectors, nominated by their respective industry association/organization, and approved by the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture. See background information.
  • Shop Toronto Design
    A directory of Toronto-designed fashion, accessories and home furnishings hosted on the City of Toronto website.