Ron White at Toronto's Manulife Centre.Anna Lisa Sang/Ron White
As the renovation of Toronto’s Manulife Centre nears completion, one long-time tenant is revealing revamped digs. Canadian footwear company Ron White has had a home in the shopping centre since 2002, where its red carpet-ready footwear has garnered an A-list following that includes Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Vanessa Williams and Matt Damon. “Having a Bloor Street location in Yorkville has been very instrumental to gaining international visibility and led to our national and U.S. wholesale expansion,” namesake founder Ron White says.
Located on the main floor, the newly renovated boutique was designed with formal footwear in mind. “The new concept incorporates the elevated, luxurious look and feel that the Ron White brand has evolved to over the last few years,” White says. “We have a dedicated special events section that showcases the collection with brass chandeliers and inlay, mirroring and tufted velvet seating.” That shopping experience is equally lavish for White’s male clientele with an area for men that includes Parisian-inspired banquettes, crushed velvet and more contemporary display tables and lighting.
As it prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in January, the brand continues to produce made-in-Italy shoes featuring its patented All Day Heels technology that uses poron, a cushioning material that doesn’t compress over time. This season’s footwear offerings include luxe options for cocktail and holiday fetes, such as the Cherri Geisha stretch velvet boot, weather-proof styles that range from the everyday to the après ski and, should a winter getaway be in the cards, a selection of resort-wear sandals.
Ron White, Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St. W., Toronto, 416-964-6400, ronwhiteshoes.com.
Ron White Peyton Pearl French Navy, $495.Ron White
Ron White Cherri Geisha Old Gold, $645.Ron White
Ron White Carabella Onyx, $645.Ron White
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