Model Citizen

Three words: Japanese raw denim.
This store is definitely worth the visit. Lots of on-​trend designer clothing with very helpful staff. They were extremely helpful to my husband and brother as they tried on selvedge denim. Julian, the owner, was friendly and extremely knowledgable. The brand they carry was started by a tailor that they know.
They do in-​store tailoring which is an amazing. However, since we were just visiting, we took our goods back stateside to get it done.
Highly recommend going during Boxing Week — the sale prices are worth it!

Twice in the last week I’ve gone in to get a vest and to get some suit pants hemmed. Twice the middle-​aged gentleman has turned me back into the market with perfect suggestions where to get the things I need better, faster, or cheaper. That kind of selflessness and advice doesn’t come from every business owner and I appreciate his honesty.
At some point I will spend money at this store, but as must be custom of the Braavosi tailors as well, «not today!» (GoT reference)
Now dance, Boy!

VIBE
This is a cooler-​than-​cool shop. I see the owner Julian around in different neighbourhoods all of the time but he doesn’t recognize me. That said, when he’s in the store he’s very lovely and «how are you?» chit chatty. The rest of the staff are very welcoming and knowledgeable as well. It’s a great pit stop in Kensington right in the heart of the popular Augusta strip.
THE GOODS
If they made the men’s blazers for women I’d buy one. They are pretty cool. I love the different independent labels they carry but it can be a little steep for my budget. I would say it’s in the $ 100 to $ 150 range and up depending on what you’re getting. What I DO love is their jewelry selection and they do have a number of bespoke pieces that I’ve brought. They’re really great on hair accessories as well.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
I’m a model, you know what I mean?

They have a few great items here, for both women and men. I’m really not into the silkscreened tees they have here (I find them a bit tacky), but they do have a great collection of unique, nice clothing (with a few huge duds sprinkled in for good measure) as well as jewelry for the discerning urban lady. I got a necklace here once that broke literally the next day I wore it. When I went in the store, the chick working there fixed it (after I had to wait for her to finish talking to her friend for 20 minutes), and actually chastized me for it breaking? I can understand that if I was like, wearing it while mud wrestling or something, but when it broke I was literally sitting peacefully on my computer, not moving. Good job it happened at home and not while I was out and about, because I would have lost the awesome bone pendant. Glad she fixed it, did not like her attitude. I expect jewelry to not break within 24 hours of purchasing it, especially since what they sell there ain’t cheap. Shopping here is not a comfortable experience, as I have loathed dealing with the staff, but a few nice items in my closet are worth it.
Definitely worth checking out if you can deal with the off-​putting attitude of some staff! I’ve never had the pleasure of going to the store while Julian is around (as I’ve seen other reviewers mention that he is friendlytown), I’ve only been there when women have been working (and thus I assume they are not Julian).

Extremely pleased.
Julian and his store Model Citizen earn high marks in my books for trend-​setting Mens fashion, including: bow ties, funky Ts and I absolutely love the fit of the ‘Suit’ brands of shirts. Also, I recently purchased a jacket with a ‘dud’ zipper. Julian immediately took it back and is replacing the zipper, no questions asked. Now that’s what I call service!
Not to mention, it feels good supporting a local designer and retailer rather then one of the larger corporate retailers.

One of my favourite stops in Kensington, even if it is just for some creative inspiration! One of the owners, Julian, is usually in the store and is perhaps one of the nicest strangers you’ll ever meet.
The store is curated with a mixture of vintage pieces, lovely structural garments by Canadian designers, and stacks of graphic tees. Among my favourite things there are the lovely accessories for women on display, drapey dark shirts by Juma, and cool raw leather bags by Loid.
Also special note: Model Citizen offers (infrequent) silkscreen classes on site, led by Julian himself, and some of the clothes for sale there are creations by the screenprinting students themselves.

Words like urbane, funky, original and intelligently quirky would be used to describe Model Citizen, which has it’s own labeled clothing line inside the store, as well as men’s and women’s clothes from WESC and Tiger. Silk screening is their specialty, and they teach silk screening classes in the basement as well.
Great hoodies (had to REALLY resist buying one in particular), scarves (an apparent specialty), graphic tees, hats (lots), suit jackets (not sure if they were full suits), and some jewelry, jeans, and other items, in a smallish but memorable shop make this a must-​visit spot when you come to Kensington Market!

You like graphic tees and hip prints in general? You gotta come here then. Model Citizen is one heck of a hipster boutique if there ever was one replete with graphic tees, happy socks, eclectic jewellry etc. The owner is very friendly and down to earth man, happy to help and will offer his opinion on what looks good or what works and what not. I’ve picked up a few cool t-​shirts from here and they do carry an interesting selection of local designers for women’s wear-​some really pretty, unique pieces.

Groovy, Daddio. Ya, that’s hip, hepcat. Skoodlie-​ya-​ya-​dadee-​da-​badoop-​badooooo. Ratatatataaaaaaaaaaah.
I should really just say that. That is enough to describe this store. But it’s so good that I don’t want to leave any gaps. Model Citizen is cooler than the Jets and slicker than the Sharks. The new space on Augusta is a mixture of paint-​chipped concrete and brick, with high ceilings and merchandise displayed on many levels and areas. There are a bunch of shoes I believe that lead your eyes up the stairs.
Maybe you’d like a cool broach — I’d say, that if you feel you are the type of guy who can pull off just about anything that even these broaches would look cool on a blazer or something. For ladies, this might be your chance to one-​up the men in your own regard by adorning your neck with a bow tie necklace.
His signature pieces are blazers, in my opinion, which he adorns with simple piping along its lapels, maybe in white, maybe in pink, maybe in red. Or embroidered with their signature birds. To go with that try a paperboy hat in styles made specifically for this store and a tie with ship anchors.
It is not for the conservative man. No Don Drapers. Though I’m sure the owner would find all his suits real cool and do something even cooler with them.
Come to Kensington and pour through the tshirts, suits, hats, belts, skirts, blouses and even little portraits for sale and if you love the style but can’t find your size in the array of enhanced vintage items, then bring in your own blazer and for about 90 bucks they’ll make one for you — so you can go out and start your OWN gang.
boys, boys, crazy boys, stay cool boys…