7 Downie St.
7 Downie St.'s history began in 1996 in Toronto, Ontario. After a brief stint as a haberdashery sales rep, Vince realized it was time to venture out on his own. He decided to combine his entrepreneurial spirit with a lifelong interest in fashion, and after meeting with several clothing mills in Como, Italy, he began importing and distributing neckwear to small independent menswear stores. For the first eight years of this journey, Vinces and his wife Silvana ran the business from home while tending to their five young children. He would go out selling by day and would be picking orders by night, and Silvana would ship and invoice while holding down the fort.
The business eventually expanded enough to move operations out of their home and into a warehouse and showroom in a mid-town fashion district. Today, they proudly operate out of 10 times the space compared to their humble beginnings. Their number one priority has always been, and remains to be, offering value and quality products.
In 2006, their flagship brand was born: 7 Downie St. Vince is always asked about the meaning behind the name, especially given his love for all things Italian. His favourite spot on the Earth is London, England and particularly, Piccadilly Circus. On one of many trips to London, Vince was inspired to use a UK-based theme for their new brand. He wanted to make sure the name incorporated the number 7—his favourite number, and the number of members in his family, without whom their business could never have flourished. Drawing inspiration from the famed 10 Downing Street, Vince decided on 7 Downie St. And of course, he wanted their brand imagery to incorporate some English icons like Big Ben, The Tower Bridge, and the Union Jack.
