African Clothing Store in Canada Online: Best African Fashion Stores & Brands

A couple of decades ago, it may have taken a special event to wear clothes that were considered "African." Whether a wedding, cultural event, or other special occasion, bold Ankara prints and other traditional African attire would make an appearance. 

Now, with modern spins on African fashion like stylish African dresses, Kaftans, Boubou dresses and more, traditional clothes are worn every day. 

If you are in Canada, finding African clothing has never been easier.

In major Canadian cities like Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal, you no longer have to wait for someone to travel back from Africa  to bring African clothes; there are pop-up shops, online African clothing stores, independent designers and African fashion brands.

Let's dive into everything you need to know about shopping for African fashion in Canada, from the biggest brands to the hidden gems you'll want to bookmark ASAP.

African clothing store in Canada online

Online shopping has made African clothes shopping a lot easier for Canadians.

Instead of driving all over to different boutiques to see who has the styles you want, you can shop African print dresses, ankara outfits and prints, African print skirts and tops, kaftans, accessories and fabrics online.

When shopping online, a good African clothing store should have clear product photos, accurate sizing, fabrics and shipping info. A return policy should also be easily accessible.

One marketplace in Canada to look into is AVRIL by WK, a Canadian one-stop shop for all things Afrocentric, including Kente products for the family, clothing, and accessories.  It uses fabrics like Ankara, Adire and Aso-Oke.

What can you buy from an online African clothing store?

Depending on the store, you may find:

• Ankara dresses

• African print dresses

• African skirts

• Ankara tops

• African two-piece outfits

• Boubou and bubu dresses

• Kaftans

• Dashiki clothing

• Bazin outfits

• Aso-Oke clothing

• Adire clothing

• Kente clothing

• African wedding outfits

• African bridesmaid dresses

• African traditional clothing

• Matching family outfits

• African men's clothing

• Children's African clothing

• Headwraps and turbans

• African handbags

• Beaded jewellery

• African print accessories

• African fabrics by the metre

  
  

The biggest advantage of shopping online is variety. You can compare styles from different designers without being limited to whatever happens to be available in one physical store.

What is the most popular clothing store in Canada?

There is no consensus on the “most popular clothing store in Canada” so take this with a grain of salt, because popularity depends on the category, city, demographic and whether you're talking about mainstream fashion or African fashion.

For mainstream Canadian fashion, large national and international retailers have substantial customer bases.

But if your question is specifically about African clothing, the answer is different.

Depending on which cities in Canada you live in, there may be a higher concentration of one demographic group.

For example, the City of Toronto has a very large and vibrant African and Caribbean community.

It also has the fastest growing fashion scene in Canada and hosts the annual African Fashion Week.

African fashion in Canada is served by a combination of independent boutiques, online retailers, designers and multicultural marketplaces rather than one dominant national African clothing chain.

What are some good African clothing stores in Toronto?

Are you looking for African clothing in Toronto? We present you with a few options here.

The city has everything from traditional African textile shops to contemporary boutiques and fashion designers.

You can explore some of these places online

AVRIL by WK

Website: https://www.avrilbywk.com/ 

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AVRIL by WK is an online African fashion shop featuring dresses, styles, and unique designs from African designers for women, men, and children.

Discover authentic African fashion, prints, contemporary styles, and statement pieces all in one place.

Maison Afro Chic

Website: https://maisonafrochic.com/ 

Located on Bloor Street West, Maison Afro Chic focuses on contemporary African fashion and offers both online shopping and a physical Toronto boutique.

Its collection includes African dresses, caftans, tunics, bazin, fabrics, jewellery, bags and accessories. 

African Textiles Center

Website:  africanstorescanada.ca 

Located on Wilson Avenue in North York, African Textiles Center is another option for people looking for African fabrics and clothing.

The store specializes in African textiles and ready-made clothing for men, women and children and also carries accessories such as jewellery, shoes and bags.

Located in Kensington Market, this clothing store offers another option for shoppers interested in African-inspired fashion.

Kensington Market itself is worth exploring if you're looking for culturally diverse fashion, fabrics, accessories and independent retailers.

Beni Boo Styles

Beni Boo Styles is another Toronto fashion business worth considering if you are searching for distinctive clothing and African-inspired styles.

East Afro Clothes Inc.

Located on Danforth Avenue, East Afro Clothes is another Toronto option, particularly for shoppers interested in African fashion and clothing.

What makes Toronto good for African fashion?

You can find events, designers, and stylists supporting African and Afro-inspired fashion in Toronto outside of clothes shops.

African Fashion Week Toronto (AFWT) is one example. Their programming celebrates African and Afro-inspired fashion, and gives a platform to artists, models and other creatives. 

Importantly, African fashion is a whole creative industry, and not just about buying a colourful dress.

There are designers creating new interpretations of African textiles, fusing it with streetwear and other fashion trends.

African inspired designs are popping up everywhere from work clothing to outing clothes.

African clothing store in Canada for ladies

When shopping for African clothes in Canada, you can choose between modern designs that incorporate traditional elements of African fashion.

Traditional dresses are still really popular.

Depending on design and fabric, you can use one or many different colors.

African dresses for ladies

African dresses remain one of the most popular categories.

Depending on the fabric and design, you can find:

• Ankara maxi dresses

• Ankara midi dresses

• African print bodycon dresses

• Flared African dresses

• Off-shoulder Ankara dresses

• African wrap dresses

• Boubou dresses

• Bubu dresses

• Kaftan dresses

• Shirt dresses

• Peplum dresses

• Long-sleeve African dresses

• Short African print dresses

• African evening gowns

A brightly patterned Ankara dress can make a statement by itself, while a more muted print can work beautifully for everyday wear.

Ankara outfits for women

Ankara remains one of the most recognizable African fashion fabrics.

It works particularly well for women because designers can use it for practically anything.

Think Ankara:

• Dresses

• Skirts

• Trousers

• Blazers

• Jumpsuits

• Crop tops

• Peplum tops

• Two-piece sets

• Bags

• Jackets

  
  

One of the easiest ways to wear Ankara without feeling overdressed is to combine an Ankara statement piece with neutral clothing.

For example, an Ankara skirt with a simple white blouse can look polished without being overwhelming.

African two-piece outfits

Two-piece African outfits have become particularly popular because they are versatile.

A matching Ankara or African-print top and trouser set can be worn together for a coordinated look or separately with other pieces already in your wardrobe.

That's a win if you're trying to get more outfits from fewer clothes.

African clothing for weddings

African weddings are another major reason people shop for African clothing in Canada.

Depending on the culture and family, wedding fashion can include Ankara, lace, Aso-Oke, Kente, sequins, embroidered fabrics and elaborate accessories.

For wedding guests, popular choices include:

• Ankara gowns

• African lace dresses

• Aso-Oke outfits

• Kente dresses

• Matching family outfits

• African two-piece sets

• Embellished kaftans

• Elegant boubou dresses

  
  

If you're shopping for a wedding, give yourself plenty of time.

Custom African clothing can require fabric selection, measurements, tailoring and alterations.

How to choose the right African clothing store in Canada

No store will be right for every single shopper.

Understand what you want first, then shop.

For ready-to-wear clothing

Look for variety in finished ready-to-wear clothes, and stores with product descriptions and sizes.

For made to measure clothing

Look for a designer or a boutique that provides tailoring services. This is perfect for special occasions (like weddings) and formal events.

For African fabrics

Look for a store that specializes in Ankara and other African prints.

For African fashion at an affordable price

Ask for prices online. Compare prices by looking at different websites and online markets.

For high end African fashion

Look for designers in your area that use high-quality fabrics.

It is much easier to get African fashion in Canada

African fashion in Canada is becoming much more accessible.

Shoppers can now get African fashion both online and in physical stores (like boutiques in Toronto) to buy fabric, make custom orders and find local, independent designers.

It is perfect for people in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) but online stores (that ship to other cities in Canada) are starting to carry Ankara too.  This includes cities like Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver.

Wrapping It Up

Finding the right African clothing store in Canada just got easier! We love seeing the transformations of African printed fabrics in many designs and styles. Whether you want to be comfortable in Afrocentric casual wear, or gracefully draped in Agbada, Canada's stores have it all.

From Toronto’s trendy boutiques to Concept stores in Montreal, and online markets where African designers ship directly to you, the options are endless. 

Don’t get us wrong, Aritzia is still a great affordable brand to shop, but there’s something deeper and meaningful about wearing items that link you to your heritage and artistry.

Your wardrobe is about to get a whole new cultural and aesthetic transformation, bookmark those sites,follow those artists and enjoy the pieces that celebrate your heritage.