This Canadian Founder Knows a Good Find
The Absolutely Fabrics entrepreneur and fashion industry veteran talks us through the items topping her wish list.
Kaelen Haworth is not afraid to lead with her emotions. The designer, creative director and founder of Toronto boutique Absolutely Fabrics lets feelings guide her fashion choices, and she wants others to do the same.
“There’s no structure, just vibes,” she half-jokes about stocking her cult-favourite Queen Street store, which carries a curated mix of hard-to-find vintage (think ’90s-era Mugler) and new designer drops (including crystal-embellished Simone Rocha heels). Beyond factors like budget and bandwidth, sourcing items for the store comes down to something a bit more intangible. “It’s just what makes me super excited,” she says. “For so long, I was like, ‘Well, take yourself out of it.’ But I can’t. I need to make sure it’s something I would spend money on.”
Key to this process is fine-tuned taste, which Haworth — who once helmed her own brand — has in spades. After moving to New York City and starting her eponymous label, Kaelen, at 24, Haworth settled back in her home city of Toronto right before the pandemic. In 2023, she launched Absolutely Fabrics and tapped her designer contacts to fill the store. Her goal? To offer a shopping experience that goes deeper than the draw of a name brand.
“I want people to come in because they’re excited that we have Proenza Schouler or Marni, and then discover Ashlyn or Marrakshi Life,” she says. She hopes shoppers find genuine joy in flipping through the racks, which range from “bonkers” knitwear to neutral staples. “Despite everything we’re dealing with in the world, people are still excited about clothes,” she reflects. “People still want beauty, they still want to feel good, they still want to be able to present themselves in the best way possible.”
When we connect, she has just returned from a month-long bout of trips. First Paris Fashion Week for work, then Cayman Islands to celebrate her husband’s birthday, then Disney World with her kids. Still, even with a supremely stuffed schedule, the multi-hyphenate revels in small feel-good rituals and grocery store luxuries. (The true mark of a seasoned connoisseur.)
Below, she shares her fluid approach to personal style, her expertly modified smoothie order and the beauty treatment that changed her life.
How she starts her morning
My morning routine is kind of nuts, because I have two boys, and school drop-off starts at 8 am. Usually, before my kids get up, I have a bath at 6:30 am. My husband brings me a coffee. It’s the best moment of my day. (I’m a cancer; I love to be in hot water.) After that, it’s just a blur. I drop the kids off at school. I’ll try to work out at the GoodLife across the street from me (everyone makes fun of me for choosing GoodLife, but it’s great — it serves its purpose). And then I’ll get to the Absolutely Fabrics store at around 10 am.
How she describes her personal style
Evolving, evergreen and a little eccentric. I’m open to anything; I’m never like, “I don’t think that’s the right thing to wear.” I have pieces that I wear over and over again that feel like a uniform: I’m a big button-down girl, and I have a couple of pairs of baggy denim that I love. I’m big into tailoring and masculine suits, but I also love an incredible dress. So, I’m kind of all over the place.
Some people are so clear on their personal styles. But I feel like you can get stuck in a specific aesthetic when you have the mindset of, “This is my thing.” I know what silhouettes look good on me, but otherwise, it’s fair game. I’m going to try it, and if it makes me feel excited, I’m going to wear it.
What she’s excited about right now
Weirdly — because I just got back from a trip and I’m exhausted — I’m excited about traveling. I’m excited about connecting with other people in different places. I love seeing the new guard of designers. They are so clear in their vision, and when I had a line, I think that was my biggest downfall. A lot of us designers are so focused on the wholesale path and getting all the merchants to want to buy all the things that we offer. It’s very much about being everything to everyone. But the group of designers coming up right now is the antithesis of that.
How she makes a tough career decision
I’m big on collaboration; I don’t think my best ideas happen in a vacuum. I have a handful of people that I trust to bounce ideas off of. And now, at my big age, I have a strong gut feeling about what to do in certain situations. It’s always a risk. But it’s a combination of trusting your gut and making sure you’ve got a good group who will give you not the advice you want to hear, but the advice you need to hear.
Her favourite go-to spot in the city
I go to Nutbar every day; it’s my most expensive habit. If it’s the morning, I get the vanilla smoothie with added espresso, collagen and protein. Sometimes I add frozen blueberries. I’m good friends with Kate, the founder, so I get all her tips on what’s actually good to add.
I’m also a big Impact Kitchen girl. The best thing in the entire world is the coconut chicken curry. It’s not authentic, but it’s excellent.
Her favourite local brand
I’ve been keeping an eye on Golshaah. I’ve met [founder] Golnar Ahmadian a few times, and I think it’s a really beautiful brand.
The best advice she’s gotten
Ask a lot of questions. I interned at Stella McCartney when I was in New York, and that was their thing. They were like, “Don’t ask us questions that you can find the answer to easily. But ask about the business all day.” That taught me not to feel silly asking questions.
Another one is that you don’t need to be everything to everyone. I got this when I was a designer. Honing in on what you can offer — what your niche is, what your edit is, your take on something — is much more valuable than trying to please everyone.
How she decides which brands to include in her store
There are certain brands that look very cool on paper, but I need to see the clothes in person. I’m looking for quality. Does it feel good? Is it well-made? Are the prices commensurate with the perceived value? Are we bringing something in that’s truly adding to someone’s wardrobe and our store? That’s the first thing. And then: Am I excited about it? Would I buy it?
There’s something special about the pieces in our store, and people can see that when they come in. You don’t need a name attached to it. You just need to know that you respond to it in a certain way, and it feels right.
The buzzy beauty treatment she’s really into
I love lymphatic drainage. At Sous La in Toronto, they do a lymphatic drainage facial and buccal massage. It’s been life-changing for me because I hold a lot of tension in my jaw. That’s the most self-indulgent thing I’ve been doing lately.
What she splurges on
Home decor. Right now, I’m trying to rein that in, because I have two cats, a dog and two young boys, so it doesn’t make a ton of sense. I’ll also splurge on groceries at Summerhill Market. It’s so expensive, but honestly, Summerhill feeds my children most days of the week. Their prepared food is out of this world.
And then it’s travel — things that enrich my life. Disney World was the most expensive vacation we’ve ever taken, but it was so fun and we had the best time. I want to splurge on experiences with friends and family that make me feel better. Fewer goods.
WHAT SHE IS CURRENTLY COVETING
Looking for more Canadian fashion content? Read about Allegra Shaw, co-founder of Toronto-based label Uncle Studios, here.
Natalie Michie is the style editor at FASHION Magazine. With a pop culture obsession, she is passionate about exploring the relationship between fashion, internet trends and social issues. She has written for Elle Canada, CBC, Chatelaine and Toronto Life. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and over-analyzing movies on TikTok.
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