Our Philosophy
Dulari exists to honour slow fashion, intentional design, and the deep human stories behind what we wear. Each piece is thoughtfully chosen — not mass produced — with care for craftsmanship, sustainability, and timeless beauty. Many items are one-of-a-kind or produced in small batches, reflecting the traditions of independent makers and artisan communities around the world.This brand is not just a store — it is a continuation of generations of market culture, migration, resilience, and creativity.
The Meaning Behind Dulari
Our Story
Dulari is rooted in generations of makers, market vendors, and storytellers.
Long before Dulari existed, my family’s journey began on the sugar cane plantations of Guyana. My grandparents — descendants of indentured labourers brought from India — built a life through resilience, creativity, and community. With no formal education and six children to raise, my grandmother began selling homemade snacks and small goods to plantation workers. What started as survival slowly became entrepreneurship.
Eventually, she travelled hours to the markets of Georgetown, laying her products on a plastic sheet by the roadside. There, she discovered the power of independent trade — earning in a single day what once took a month. Over time, she earned her own booth, and soon my mother and her siblings joined her, each opening stalls of their own. It was in those markets that my parents met.
My father was an entrepreneur long before arriving in Canada — hitchhiking across Brazil at seventeen, selling handmade leather bags and belts along the way. After settling in Toronto, he opened a shop in Kensington Market in 1989, selling vintage goods and handcrafted pieces. That store, Dancing Days, still stands today as one of the neighbourhood’s longest-running independent shops.
When my mother arrived in Canada in 1996, she opened her own store — Shanti — which was recognized multiple years in a row as one of Toronto’s best vintage destinations. I grew up running through the racks of Kensington Market, surrounded by artists, shop owners, and lifelong friendships. Retail wasn’t just business — it was community, culture, and storytelling.
At sixteen, I began travelling through Southeast Asia with my father, learning how to source ethically, build relationships with artisans, and understand the deep stories behind handmade pieces.
In 2020, I opened my first independent store, Sol — built from years of experience, passion, and a dream to carry forward my family’s legacy. Like many small businesses, the journey was shaped by unexpected challenges — closures, relocation, rebuilding from the ground up, and eventually learning the importance of rest and reflection.
After stepping back and taking time to heal from burnout, I returned with renewed intention and clarity.
Dulari is the beginning of that next chapter.
A Personal Note
Dulari is built on lived experience — from market stalls in Guyana to the vibrant streets of Kensington Market, to years spent travelling, sourcing, and learning from artisans across the globe.
Thank you for supporting independent businesses, ethical craftsmanship, and stories that carry generations of meaning.
With gratitude,
Sandhyaa
