Author: Rajat Jindal

Discover your perfect pair.

Ballet flats are having a moment (again). This season, they’re stepping back into the spotlight with a modern sensibility that feels more polished and effortlessly cool than ever.

Find the perfect pair to match your style at Yorkdale, with a great selection of chic ballet flats to browse and fall in love with.

The First Ten Years: An Art Exhibit.

“Culture is like a majestic tree. Our roots are firmly planted; when we look up, the canopy of leaves shade us, and the branches move and bend with us in the storm. Then, like the rings of the trunk, as humans, we bear witness to time marked by the years of being alive.” — Deborah Lau-Yu, Founder & Editor-in-Chief 

Yorkdale is proud to celebrate a decade of Fête Chinoise Magazine’s visionary storytelling, highlighting the richness of Chinese culture, identity, and the arts in Canada. Through this collaboration, we showcase the magazine’s profound impact in shaping cultural narratives and fostering meaningful dialogue.

Fête Chinoise Magazine, an award-winning publication, celebrates 10 years of collecting and sharing powerful stories of identity and diaspora through the lens of art and Chinese culture in contemporary Canada. Yorkdale’s collaboration with Fête Chinoise showcases 14 unique, hand-illustrated art covers from the Fête Chinoise publications over the past decade, accompanied by inspiring quotes from the stories of interviewees and contributors. We celebrate the cultural platform’s dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment to “Moving Culture Forward” with excellence and compelling storytelling.

Edition 10, our Book of Incredible People: Thinking in Decades, is based on the concept of “sitting in the shade of trees planted before us.” Relating culture to a majestic tree that roots us in its foundation, provides shade from the elements, and bends with grace and flexibility, the diaspora stories in this edition demonstrate true markers of time, just as the rings of the tree trunk mark each year of life. With the curated and celebratory use of PMS gold on special pages, and a hand-illustrated cover of a tree trunk formed by quotes and proverbs written out by hand, this edition exemplifies originality, creativity, and storytelling that deeply resonates with our readers, offering them an insightful and visually captivating experience full of delight and joy.

“Every path has its own challenges but when thinking in
decades, even hardships can be joys when you have purpose,
community, and vision.”

— Ginalina

The Art of Celebration Annual is a beautifully curated special edition that brings together modern style with life’s cherished milestones. This book is a celebration of love, culture, and tradition, showcasing how events and gatherings can reflect and enhance our personal and cultural narratives. This edition is a tribute to the joy of coming together and the artistry behind event design. Discover the intricate history of the Kwan Kwa in Chinese culture, which was the inspiration for the cover design. We hand-illustrated iconic symbolism and composed our own unique fabric, which was then beautifully embossed in gold to mimic the actual sparkle on golden threading in real life garments. The intricate beading and threads were individually created with strokes of ink and colour, weaving the dimension texture on paper.

“As you get older, things blur your vision and cover your heart. You may forget who you originally were. Kids bring you back to love.”

— Linda Chung

A love letter to the iconic neon lights of Hong Kong. Fresh and summery, the 2024 Design Annual cover artwork showcases a collection of transformed and dreamy hand-illustrated neon light signs, evoking a sense of nostalgia with a whimsical twist of playful pastels. Every one of these signs represents a story, a business, a time and place in Hong Kong’s history and neon light culture, as well as the craftsmanship required to create neon light signs out of glass tubes and calligraphy of Chinese characters. Many creators from this edition also embrace traditional cultural handcrafts and various forms of design from Taiwan, Malaysia, China, Toronto and Vancouver, each finding innovative ways to preserve and evolve the heritage in our fast-changing world.

“What we do as architects and designers is to capture the light that brings out the space, texture and mood. Light is timeless.”

— Karen Mak

The cover art for the 9th Edition is inspired by a pinball machine, symbolising the never-ending adventure, spontaneity and passion involved in finding momentum in life. Each interviewee is subtly illustrated or represented by an object from their story as part of the pinball machine visual, highlighting each of their unique contributions and achievements. This collective keepsake celebrates their individual stories while capturing the dynamic energy of their pursuits. The dragon curved into a “9” on the cover not only celebrates the zodiac year of the Dragon, it also marks the milestone of the 9th Edition of our magazine.

“Momentum exists when you swing it yourself.”

— Andrew Phung

Celebrating the exquisite art of Chinoiserie. This decorative style, which blends Chinese and Western elements, was highly popular in Europe from the 17th to the 19th centuries. The cover art reflects this rich fusion, illustrating how Chinese culture continues to thrive and evolve in contemporary applications. Inspiration takes off from the historic context of Chinoiserie: its history and artifacts beautifully explained in words and images by Waddingtons; the stunning hand-crafted chinoiserie wallpapers of a renowned British atelier de Gournay that have had transformative impact on interior design; and the intricate floral details in the jewellery design of traditional Chinese studio Yewn.

“Your life extends beyond your house; it is how you feel safe and connected, how you feel part of a community.”

— Krystal Koo

Edition 8 celebrates our community’s trailblazers, inspirational thinkers and makers who are showing us how to embrace change. The cover art for this edition draws inspiration from the symbiotic relationship between knowledge–what we seek and depend on–and the unknown–what lies beyond our current understanding. The illustration depicts the tree of knowledge under a celadon canopy, symbolising growth, resilience, and the courage to reach upwards towards new heights and possibilities. This visual metaphor captures the essence of the edition, encouraging readers to find strength and inspiration in the face of the unknown. Look closely, and you will see each featured interviewee perched on the branches that intertwine with lucky number ‘8’.

“I fancy my journey as more of a life of chapters of story telling; there are no individual accomplishments or contributions without the entire body of your community behind it.”

— Trevor Lui

The Inaugural Design Annual is presented in a fresh sunshine shade of yellow and pops of colour, taking primary inspiration from Chinese Art Deco rugs and a cherished family heirloom tea set in the timeless beauty of the ‘Endless Longevity’ motif (萬壽無疆), passed down to our Editor-in-Chief. Drawing from a shared thread among diaspora families in Canada and Asia, the diverse stories in the book are represented in the cover art, including pop-art inspired interpretations of Malaysia’s Blue Mansion, Beijing’s siheyuan-turned-architect studio, and the Murray’s iconic window facade in Hong Kong. The colourful palette and vibrant design, honours their place in our collective history and cultural identity.

“It’s very important to me that our children know their history, and know how we were raised: our lineage, our ancestry.”

— Jeffrey Remedios

Nearly two years into the pandemic, the 7th Edition offered a fresh perspective on life during a time when the world stopped and had a chance to rethink and form new viewpoints. Through the lens of Chinese culture heritage, we present a collection of stories that challenged conventional notions and assumptions in the lives of high achieving people. The hand-illustrated cover art for this edition featured our interviewees captured in various vintage camera lenses, symbolising the diverse viewpoints, and was also the first time we added illustrated caricatures of people on our cover. This edition also featured a special “Conquering Hate through Art and Love” chapter to speak out against racial hate, as Asians were being targeted during the pandemic.

“Stand tall with honour. Grow strong with deep roots. Survive by bending in the wind.”

— Tina Lee

“The days are long, but the years are short.” Amidst the global pandemic, Edition 6 reflects on the profound shift in our perception of time, as our once fast-paced lives come to a halt. An abstracted tourbillon in blue and white porcelain, meticulously crafted using thousands of strokes of a blue ballpoint pen, symbolises the slowed process of creation amidst chaos and modern pace. Gold-debossed details feature Chinese lyrics from superstar Eason Chan’s song “陀飛輪” evoke a sense of affirmation, rhythm and introspective spirit in the face of uncertainty. Together, these elements capture the essence of Edition 6, inviting readers to contemplate the passage of time and its impact on our lives.

“The trees we sit under today are the ones someone planted years ago. What we leave behind will be the shade for someone else to grow.”

— Tyler Shaw

The 5th Edition’s cover artwork resembles a piece of exquisite Jade that is carved with intricate details. The intention behind the design was to capture a modern day dreamscape inspired by billowing scroll paintings of mountain and water, transporting readers into a fantastical wonderland of cultural delight. All hand-illustrated in fine pencil work, the tapestry invites you down the rabbit hole of adventure, as the eye discovers moments that are distinctively unique, and represents the journeys and aspirations of numerous Big Dreamers among us. A stork is at once a ballet shoe; a brand of peach blossoms from a cake; a Toronto building is nestled in the mountains; a local film crew is shooting a scene; and a porcelain vase pops up for a cameo. The slight ombre from light to darker jade tones embraces both tradition and heritage of feicui jade sculptures as well as contemporary colourways made possible with technology and digital outputs, complete with the touch of Fête Chinoise’s signature use of gold.

“I just had a dream and put myself into as many situations as possible to achieve opportunities.”

— Simu Liu

We are all empowered by language and legacy. Celebrating the richness of cultural heritage, the 4th Edition showcases exquisite stories of culture materialised into visual forms of language, bridging traditional and contemporary values. The colourful cover integrates the Thousand Word Poem in seal script, written by the masterful brush of Canadian Chinese artist Master Shan Bai-Qin with an abstraction of a Chinese embroidered silk fabric. Inside the book, a special chapter also echoes the art on the cover in a visual duet with vibrant coloured contemporary compositions of classic calligraphy by Canadian artist Debbie Mak. The interplay of art reflects the endless conversation that language has to offer. This combination of classical and modern styles underscores the ongoing dialogue between past and present, in which we consider, situate, and define our legacy.

“If these perspectives aren’t shared, then there is a limited depth of connection between cultural heritage and the Canadian story.”

— Bernice Liu

Deep diving into stories and Chinese mythology behind the concepts of luck and rituals, the cover of this edition is packed with rich symbolism. Icons and imagery associated with auspiciousness, traditions and celebrations from Chinese culture were illustrated in pencil and coloured in a seductive palette of merlots, magentas, pink, and gold. The art portrays an exuberant and eclectic dance of visual elements, many of which second generation Chinese-Canadians commonly grew up being surrounded by, oftentimes without ever really understanding the history or the meaning. Every element draws the eye to look more closely, piquing our curiosities and inventing the mind to consider what it all might mean to us personally, today.

“We are more than the sum of our parts and our voices and stories deserve to be heard.”

— Samantha Tan

Continuing the exploration of contemporary Chinese Culture through Canadian perspectives, the 2nd Edition showcased modern events, weddings, and celebrations through a lens of cultural fusion and diaspora stories. The cover is adorned with hand-illustrated flowers, inspired by a beautiful vintage set of porcelain planters that belong to Mrs. Rose Yue. Presented in a vibrant colour palette, the design is a contemporary expression that seamlessly blends oriental influences with modern design elements that speak to anyone who loves beauty.

“If you can tell the story of the worst thing that has ever happened to you, you’ll never be silenced.”

— Lainey Lui

The Inaugural Fête Chinoise magazine was born alongside the Fête Chinoise exhibition, a gathering of Toronto’s finest event designers and artists, showcasing the essence of “Chinese-Canadian” culture. The cover featured layered brush-strokes of the Fête Chinoise logo, which was created by Deborah, Founder + Editor-in-Chief using her own traditional Chinese paintbrush, stone-ground ink and rice paper. Remarkably, the English characters take on a unique visual aesthetic when done with the spirit of writing Chinese characters by brush. The design is meant to be free, not precious – graffiti-like in the same moment that it is prestigiously patterned.

“All the dedicated work to modernize and beautify the perception here of Chinese culture will help to elevate the image for our next generation growing up here in Canada.”

— David Kuo

We invite you to visit the Atrium and discover this stunning installation—14 striking banners that celebrate a decade of Fête Chinoise‘s storytelling, where art and culture intersect in meaningful ways. As you explore, we hope these visuals and words inspire reflection, connection, and a deeper appreciation for the narratives that shape our shared cultural landscape.

Celebrating creativity and community through the lens of Black Artists.

Yorkdale is proud to announce a year-long partnership with The Remix Project, celebrating 20 years of empowering talented youth who face barriers pursuing careers within the creative industries. This collaboration features 14 striking banner images created by Black alumni from The Remix Project’s photography program. These powerful images celebrate themes of identity, joy, self-love, and style, serving as a tribute to the beauty of self-expression, creativity, and community.

Browse the installation HERE and explore the artists’ creative journey and personal evolution.

This installation is not just a celebration—it’s a tribute to community, creativity, and the beauty of self-expression. Visitors are invited to connect with these powerful visual narratives, appreciating the layers of Black culture and the artistry behind each image.

Happy Pride month! As you probably know, the rainbow flag is synonymous with this celebratory time that honours and uplifts the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. You’ll often spot it in the windows of people’s homes, on bumper stickers, pins, blowing in the wind on flag poles in addition to apparel like t-shirts and backpacks. This flag symbolizes unity, acceptance, and the fight for equal rights and when it’s displayed, it’s a way of showing support for the Queer community.

Designed by drag queen Gilbert Baker and dye artist Lynn Segerblom—at the urging of Harvey Milk (one of the first openly gay officials appointed to public office in the U.S.)—the original Pride flag debuted in 1978 at San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Day Parade. This first iteration of the flag (also known as the Gilbert Baker Pride Flag) had eight colours on it with each shade representing its own meaning. Shortly after the flag’s debut, two of the eight colours were dropped from the design (hot pink and turquoise, due to difficulties in manufacturing those shades) to reveal the six coloured flag that’s commonly used today.

While the six striped Pride Flag is often used to represent LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, there are now multiple flags that specifically represent different groups within the community.

Read on to learn more and visit Yorkdale’s Atrium where the flags will be proudly on display beginning June 1st!

Love Dina’s looks? Shop her style with our exclusive guide—featuring what she wore and where to find it!

Yorkdale is thrilled to welcome back Dina’s Closet. Our expert stylists have curated the perfect Spring 2025 looks for Dina, featuring top trends from Yorkdale’s retailers.

This season, expect to see a fresh take on pastels, crochet handwoven knits and sophisticated suits. Tune in to the all-new BT daily to see what Dina is wearing, and find all the details here to shop her looks.

For all of Dina’s looks, click here.

Follow along for her next weekly wardrobe below

Stocked with plenty of curated , thoughtful gifts, holiday shopping at Yorkdale has never been more effortless. Looking for even more festive goodness? Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on upcoming holiday events and hours.

Elevated picks to spoil mom.

While no gift can fully express the gratitude owed to the mother figure in your life, this curated selection of thoughtful treasures comes beautifully close.

From beauty essentials to indulgent shopping experiences, our picks make celebrating Mother’s Day effortless and memorable.

Unbothered, bold, and authentic with Ashkan & Roham Hobian.

Yorkdale is proud to collaborate with Ashkan and Roham, the Hobian brothers, to explore how they blend fashion, storytelling, vulnerability, personality, and Pride into their unique creative journey.

In our Q&A, we sat down with Ashkan and Roham to discuss how individuality and fearless self-expression shape their work, alongside the brands that champion their vision, including Aesop, Nespresso, and COS. Their honest conversation reveals how vulnerability and creativity combine to inspire confidence and inclusion.

April Week 2

This week on the all-new BT: Dina’s effortlessly stylish outfits are a must-see! Be sure to tune in daily to catch a glimpse of her latest looks. Plus, we’ve got all the details right here so you can shop her wardrobe and seamlessly incorporate these stunning pieces into your own spring collection.

For all of Dina’s looks, click here.

Fresh fashion inspiration ahead.

A new season is upon us, and so is a fresh vision for everyday dressing. After scouring the spring runways for the very best inspiration, here, we name the five standout trends to build your seasonal wardrobe around.

Get started on your spring wardrobe wants now—fresh, new collections are coming in every day. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on these exciting launches and follow along on social for more in-the-know style suggestions.