Finding Chinese cultural clothing in downtown Toronto is a lot harder than you’d think — trust me, I wandered for an hour before I could find one open.
Sifting through the internet will get you absolutely nowhere. Businesses no longer run, there’s limited information about selection and prices online, Google Maps shows wrong addresses and almost every single Reddit post will tell you to go to Pacific Mall in Markham.
So, I went to Chinatown West by foot, equipped with a few tips I got from Reddit threads and Tiktok videos.Â
For every clothing store, there were at least a hundred food spots and a dozen souvenir shops selling Canada-branded t-shirts. Halfway through my journey, at the verge of giving up, I ran across a few hidden gems in empty malls and on the sides of Spadina Avenue.Â
So, if you’re looking for qipaos, tang suits and hanfus, here’s where you can go.
Dai Dai Imports Co. at 223 Spadina Ave.
📸: Aia Jaber/THE GREEN LINE.
Branded as a wholesale and retail store with Chinese arts, gifts and houseware, this business has a treasure trove of products. You can find silk nightgowns, tang jackets with embroidered patterns of dragons and flowers, as well as traditional skirt sets for $40 to $80.
📸: Aia Jaber/THE GREEN LINE.
Non-noo Fashion at 222 Spadina Ave.
📸: Aia Jaber/THE GREEN LINE.
This business was one of the few with lights on when I ventured into Chinatown Centre. It’s located on the second floor and features a slightly misleading front with mainly pajamas and sleepwear.
If you go in a little further, you’ll see that looks are deceiving. They have beautiful qipaos, also known as cheongsams, in a variety of colours.
You’ll also find some other traditional clothing, as well as some kids clothing.
New Century Gifts Trading Co. at 225 Spadina Ave.
📸: Aia Jaber/THE GREEN LINE.
This business has the smallest selection of the three, with a handful of silk garments, alongside Canada t-shirts.
There were a few more places on the second floor of Chinatown Centre with beautiful silk garments. In the middle of the mall sat rows of clothing with no storefront sign or salespeople. Among the colours and silk garments trapped behind glass walls were “For Sale” signs.
Given the rising costs of renting spaces and the effects of gentrification, these spots could soon become some of the many local businesses that have closed down in recent years.Â
📸: Aia Jaber/THE GREEN LINE.
In 2025, the City of Toronto launched its Chinatown Tomorrow Initiative in response to a 2019 development proposal at 315 Spadina Ave., after legacy businesses like Rol San Restaurant were displaced by redevelopment.
The report states that all main streets saw a decline following the COVID-19 pandemic, but the impacts on Chinatown were particularly intensified by anti-Asian hate, which heightened concerns of gentrification and displacement
Despite the challenges, many local businesses are still standing strong.
So, if you’re in a pinch and want to purchase some traditional Chinese clothing for a gathering, a friend’s wedding or your family get together, our list should help you find them.
Do you know of a solid spot? Let us know so we can share with fellow Torontonians.
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