Common Cloth

Sisters Melanie Talbot and Kristina Bozzo are the designers behind common cloth. Kristina, 29, and Melanie, 24, were born in Hamilton, Ontario. In 1997, Kristina moved to Toronto to pursue her degree in Mass Communications and Arts from York University. In 2000, Melanie moved to Toronto to study fashion marketing and merchandising at the International Academy of Design.

Both girls kicked off their careers in fashion as sales and marketing reps for the Italian sportswear line, Miss Sixty. With a few solid years under their belts, the sisters were ready to strike out on their own, drawing inspiration for the line from their love of dance. Both were trained dancers in ballet, jazz, tap and musical theatre. In 2003, common cloth was officially launched out of their studio in downtown Toronto. Although small, the collection created a stir among Canadian fashion media.

The line was featured in Flare's Top Ten Fashion Stars, titling the common cloth look "simplicity personified,” and was named as Highrise magazine's "favourite new label" this year. The line has also been featured in Fashion, Fashion 18, Lou Lou, Sportswear International, the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, Metro, 24 Hours, the Calgary Herald, the Hamilton Spectator and CH Television.

They've sold to accounts in L.A, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal; however, their latest and most exciting venture is the launch of their first and much-anticipated flagship store on Queen Street West in downtown Toronto during Fashion Week. The store will feature two new collections; a dog line, "Fetch," and a new menswear collection, "common cloth man.”