Italian fashion brands Intimissimi and Calzedonia have officially opened their first Canadian stores at CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto, marking the beginning of a planned expansion into major shopping centres across the country.
The two stores opened October 16 in neighbouring units created from the shopping centre’s former Kate Spade location. Each operates independently, with separate entrances, branding, staff and management.
The Canadian expansion is being led by Toronto-based ILT Group Inc., Oniverse’s exclusive Canadian partner. The company has ambitions to establish the brands in at least 20 of Canada’s leading shopping centres, depending on the performance of its initial locations. An Intimissimi store is also planned for CF Toronto Eaton Centre in spring 2027.
Italian Fashion Brands Enter Canadian Market
Intimissimi specializes in lingerie, underwear, sleepwear and apparel, with collections featuring silk, lace and cashmere. Calzedonia focuses on hosiery, tights, leggings, socks and swimwear, offering a specialized legwear assortment.
Both brands have extensive international retail networks, including locations in the United States. Their Canadian arrival introduces two established Italian specialty retail concepts to the Toronto market.
Among the products highlighted for the launch are Calzedonia’s Leg Perfector tights and Intimissimi’s Ultralight Cashmere Boat Neck top, which has gained attention through social media. The brands have also developed international recognition through celebrity partnerships and fashion campaigns.
The Sherway Gardens boutiques occupy separate storefronts and maintain their own merchandise assortments and customer-service teams. The arrangement reflects Oniverse’s approach to operating its brands as independent retail concepts.
ILT Group Plans Broader Canadian Expansion
ILT Group has been preparing its Canadian entry for approximately 18 months. The company is working with Oniverse, the privately held Italian fashion group formerly known as Calzedonia Group, to establish a network of stores in major Canadian markets.
In an earlier interview with Retail Insider, ILT Group General Manager Andrea Meoni outlined plans to expand into many of Canada’s leading shopping centres, with the initial locations helping determine the pace of growth.
“Our goal is to eventually be present in at least 20 of Canada’s leading shopping centres,” Meoni told Retail Insider.
The expansion strategy emphasizes geographic concentration, allowing ILT to establish clusters of stores that can be supported by district management, employee training and customer-service operations.
Toronto will anchor the initial rollout, with Montreal and Ottawa among the markets being considered as the network develops. ILT has also evaluated Vancouver as part of its longer-term plans.
“Our strategy is to build outward from the centre,” Meoni said in the earlier interview. “We could develop Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa first and then gradually move toward Vancouver.”
Cadillac Fairview has played an important role in the Canadian launch, securing the first locations at Sherway Gardens and the next confirmed opening at CF Toronto Eaton Centre.
Physical Retail and Brand Awareness Drive Strategy
ILT is initially concentrating on standalone stores to introduce Intimissimi and Calzedonia to Canadian consumers. The company’s operating model emphasizes product knowledge, employee training and direct customer interaction, particularly in categories such as lingerie.
In Retail Insider’s earlier interview, Meoni said the company places considerable importance on having trained employees who can explain products and assist shoppers.
“Lingerie is different from many other clothing categories because the product needs to be understood and explained,” Meoni said. “We want to have our own trained staff working directly with customers, and we also want to receive that feedback directly from the market.”
Mauro Mammina, a longtime Oniverse business partner involved in the Canadian expansion, said building recognition of the two brands would be a priority during the initial rollout.
“Our first priority is to build awareness of the brands in Canada,” Mammina told Retail Insider. “We want people to get to know Intimissimi and Calzedonia.”
Canadian e-commerce is expected to follow at a later stage, with the initial expansion focused on establishing the physical store network.
Toronto Eaton Centre Opening Planned for 2027
The next confirmed Canadian location is an Intimissimi store at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, currently listed by ILT Group for April 2027. The downtown Toronto shopping centre will give the brand exposure to a large customer base that includes local residents, office workers and visitors.
Intimissimi and Calzedonia are part of Verona-based Oniverse, whose portfolio also includes Tezenis, Falconeri and IUMAN Intimissimi Uomo. ILT Group has identified these additional concepts among the brands it has rights to develop in Canada, although further Canadian store openings have not been confirmed.
ILT will evaluate the performance of its first Canadian stores as it determines the timing and locations of subsequent openings. The company’s longer-term plans could establish Intimissimi and Calzedonia across a substantial network of Canadian shopping centres.
