Ecotique

The old adage that "it's better to give than to receive" certainly applies to Ecotique.

The environmentally minded gift and lifestyle store on Toronto's thriving Roncesvalles Avenue is the brainchild of owner Anna Pinchak, who describes herself and her husband as "avid recyclers and tree huggers."

The couple spent a year travelling the world before opening Ecotique in 2011, and the trip provided much of the inspiration for the store. "I discovered a lot of creativity, both here in Canada and around the world, among young artisans using sustainable materials — everything from coconut shells to bamboo to various grasses," Anna explains. "So I thought, 'I'd love to open a business where I could showcase this.'"

Upon her return, Anna did exactly that. While Ecotique offers reusable household items such as lunch bags, lotions and toiletries, its focus is on giftware that's made "in a sustainable, environmentally responsible and socially responsible manner," Anna says. "Our slogan is, 'Gifts for greener living and giving,' so not everything in here has to have a purpose."