About Me

Hello, welcome to my online journal. I am the owner of token, a gift boutique in the heart of the Art & Design District in the West Queen West neighbourhood in Toronto, Canada. You may have seen me in my shop, along side my husband and daughter, Kevin and Alice.

So these are the roles that define me - wife, mother and entrepreneur. In a previous life, I was a womens’ wear designer (“fashion designer” was one moniker I never liked to assume). It was short-lived, but fun. The hardest, yet most rewarding role was yet to come – mother to my little girl, Alice.

I have always had creative aspirations, but am too pragmatic in nature to consider the life of an artist. Instead, I found my strengths in the role of a curator, a curator of “gift ware”, for lack of a better word. I found the altruistic nature of gift-giving a breath of fresh air. Along the way, I have met so many talented entrepreneurs equally enamoured with good design and the love of creating.

If you have visited token – thank you! We have had so much positive feedback since we opened our doors back in September 2004. My goal was to create not a new shopping experience, but a pleasurable one where your senses are awakened. I prefer the kind of shopping in a bricks and mortar store where you can see, touch, smell, hear, or taste (if need be) your choice of consumables.

I love the concept of design, not designer, but design. I can apply the principals and elements of design to anything, be it the silhouette of a dress or the packaging of a present. Sound a bit superfluous? Tell that to the happy recipient of a well-chosen gift.

I will forever, and always have an affinity to design. So I hope you continue to visit my chronicles of gift-giving for the design savvy, and if you’re in the Queen West neighbourhood, pop in to say hello!

With warm regards,

Karen Sykes.

token
888 queen street west
toronto, ontario
m6j 1g3

tel. 416-516-9586