Spotlight: Tara Rivas of TMR Pops up at Yonge + St. Clair

 

Spotlight: Tara Rivas of TMR Pops up at Yonge + St. Clair

The wave of a green palm draws passerbys to stop to look at the newest addition to Yonge + St.Clair – Tara Rivas for TMR. The pop-up boutique just opened at the northwest corner of the intersection, at 1470 Yonge Street, but make sure to check it out before it closes on June 28.

We stopped by to talk to Tara Rivas, founder and designer of @tmrcollection, about the art of the pop-up and being made in Toronto.

Q: As an independent designer, why did you decide to do a pop-up in this neighbourhood?

We did a previous pop-up at Yonge and Alcorn – so when we heard that there was a space here we thought we should give it a try. Every neighbourhood is unique, but the sheer volume of people was the biggest surprise. There’s just great foot traffic. Most people think about shopping as weekend-only activity, but here it’s busy throughout the week. Because you’re surrounded by office buildings and you’re right by St. Clair Station, there’s constantly people walking along the street no matter the time of day. I also love that our shop is right at the intersection because whenever there’s a red light, everyone stops and notices that we’re here.

My business is primarily online and we’ve done a few pop-ups before, but we’re scouting physical spaces. Having this space even temporarily has been beneficial – we’re signing up new customers every day and growing TMR’s following.

Q: Have you had a chance to explore Yonge + St. Clair?

Yes, and there are so many great little spots. Everything feels very local – I love Union [Social Eatery], which is a gem. The newer shops, like JJ Bean and Greenhouse Juice Co., are larger brands but they fit very well into the area and they keep me hydrated!

I’ve also been having a great experience with the people in the area – especially all of the different women coming into the shop. They’re very ambitious, often business women, who are instantly supportive and wonderful. They love the collection and also feel passionately about supporting Canadian entrepreneurs.

Q: What are some of the pieces that we’ll find at the TMR pop-up?

A lot of the TMR collection is on display – everything from our summer pieces to samples from our last runway show. Everything is made in Toronto and we use a lot of organic-derived bamboo fabrics.

We have a lot of really popular pieces and our customers have responded very well to how versatile everything is. We have some duster coats that you can just throw on and go. There are some edgier dresses with daring cut outs, which have been very popular for going out. We even have reversible pieces that help you transition from the office to dinner.

We’re also featuring three other great designers in the space. We have a display of bracelets and chokers by Joseph Nogucci. We also have award-winning leather jackets by Bano eeMee leather jackets, which are so soft and buttery.

Q: How have people responded so far?

People are so excited! They love that it’s fashion and I’ve been asked, “Can you just stay?” Everyone has been very welcoming, encouraging and we couldn’t have asked for a warmer reception.

Be sure to check out TMR before it closes June 28th, 2017. And stay tuned for more details about future pop ups in the area.