You can call R.A.D. a lot of things – an accessory store, a clothing gallery, a specialty shop – but don't use the word "fashion", at least not around owner/curator Kia Waese. "My background is in design," she says. "My passion is in design. I'm not interested in fashion. Fashion is trendy, fleeting, and transitory. What I like are pieces with timeless, seasonless appeal." This isn't just an empty proclamation. Everything from the design of the store to the location to the selection of products reflects Kia's philosophy.

Located on the up-and-coming fashion (sorry, design) strip at Dundas West and Trinity Bellwoods, R.A.D. is stridently rigid in its parameters, but nevertheless represents a novel approach to retail design in Toronto. It's hard to even use the word "retail." The display is more reminiscent of an art gallery than an accessory shop. The only real embellishment is a reddish barnyard screen at the back of the store, and it sticks out against its concrete floors and plain white walls.

Pieces are displayed plainly on a little shelf, each with a little card listing the price and designer, while a few are mounted to the walls and a few hang from the ceiling. And there isn't much selection. That's the idea; every piece has been carefully selected by Kia Waese. Currently the store only carries four lines, with a few to possibly be added later. Every item in the store is handmade, limited run, and imported from Europe. There are no local designers, and most (if not all) products are otherwise unavailable in Toronto.

Kia takes pride in finding designers that are otherwise unrepresented in the city. The name of the store, Research and Development, reflects her tireless search for artists that represent her design standards, artists who display good form, shape and cut, as opposed to the decorative embellishments of big international designers (you won't find any Prada here). The product lines from Maurizio Amadei (Rome), Nico Uytterhaegen (Belgium), Jas M.B. (London), and L.D. Tuttle (Italy via U.S.) all display a sculptural, form-based aesthetic, including sharp lines, experiments with asymmetry, and grey, white, and black colour palette. When you buy a pair of shoes or a handbag, you'll know that its contours and shape have been carefully developed and formulated.

With extremely limited hours (it's only open Friday and Saturday from noon to 6 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm) and a pretty hefty price tag on all items ($255 to $2095), R.A.D. surely won't be for everyone. But those who like it are sure to like it a lot. – R.T.

899 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON