Following the success of his pop-up shop earlier this year, Sparks recently opened his first standalone retail space in an airy former garage at 162 Ossington Ave. (side entrance off Foxley St.). Now with the arrival of the luxe men’s boots, he’s created a special shop-in-shop for the collection, re-styled with a vintage train station shoe-shine stand, steamer trunks and iron shelves topped with a classic line-up of wingtip, brogue and cap toe boots.
The boots are all lined in cozy shearling and available in either slick black or rich brown for the dandiest of manly men. They range in price between $350 and $395 for a tall boot; small change considering these are classic designs, made with quality leather, which can weather out the worst of Canadian winters year after year.
Known for his heritage tailoring and gentlemanly aesthetic — a taste he acquired while working with the design departments of the Canadian National Opera and the Stratford Festival — all of Sparks pieces are made entirely in Canada. He even draws inspiration from the country’s great outdoors, as well as from found photographs, vintage fabrics, hardware, and notions.
Images via Philip Sparks