SHOPPING IN KING WEST FOR ACTIVE WEAR AT MEC AND PATAGONIA

On any given day in King West you’ll find area residents going for an after work run, taking their bike along for their weekend errands, or heading to a number of the nearby fitness studios and gyms to let off some steam and work up a sweat. It’s such an active and adventurous community that it’s no wonder Mountain Equipment Co-op chose to set up its flagship Toronto store on the King West strip more than 15 years ago, and Patagonia a bit further down the street.

Mountain Equipment Co-op

The King West Mountain Equipment Co-op, or MEC as it’s known to outdoor lovers and environmentally conscious shoppers, calls home to the north side of King Street West between Peter and Charlotte Street, and carries leading brands such as Ghost Bikes, New Balance, Nike, Vibram and Castelli to help the King Blue community achieve their fitness and activity goals.

Many of the goods carries at MEC have been produced to emphasize a low environmental impact. Even the building is designed with the environment at the forefront with a remarkable 10,000 square foot sustainable green roof. MEC designers and product testers live and breathe the products they design, putting equipment through its paces with everything from mountain climbs and triathlons to weekend bike rides through Toronto’s cycling trails and camping trips in Ontario Parks.

MEC’s Green Roof on King Street in Toronto. Photo by Jackman Chiu.

Here you’ll be inspired by the abundance of quality gear that is eco-friendly and made with sustainable materials. Products and services cater to members’ core activities and interests such as cycling, running, hiking, camping, climbing, paddlesports, snow sports, yoga and fitneThe store offers services that extend their urban impact including focused environmental tours and their Annual Bikefest Event.

400 King Street West. Mec.ca Twitter: @MEC_Toronto

Patagonia Toronto

A little over a block away, urban adventure athletes flock to Patagonia Toronto.  While Patagonia was founded by surfers and climbers and still pays homage to their mountain heritage, shoppers at the Patagonia Toronto store are drawn to their high quality women’s clothing and men’s active wear famous for its Ironclad Guarantee and loved for its innovative clothing manufacturing using sustainable and recycled materials. As testament to their dedication to selling clothing that is environmentally friendly, Patagonia has worked with bluesign technologies and their Polartec fleece has achieved this prestigious designation.

The interior of Patagonia’s Toronto King West neighbourhood store was furnished with eco-friendly materials. Photo via the Patagonia Toronto website

Even if you don’t think you need another yoga tank top or messenger bag for bike commuting, a visit to the King West Patagonia store is a must-do, if only to see the ways the company used sustainable materials to construct and decorate their building. The building itself, the former historic Gurney Stove Factory, is a theatre district landmark and has been a part of Toronto’s city landscape since 1870. Reclaimed lumber, antique and industrial lighting, bamboo wall fixtures and non-VOC paint are all part of what Patagonia calls a gift to the King West neighbourhood.

400 King Street West. Patagonia.com Twitter: @PatagoniaTornto

What’s your favourite way to stay fit and active in King West? Tweet us @KingBlueCondos or join the conversation on Facebook.