Its beautiful gowns and high fashion clothing have adorned the windows of Sussex Drive for two decades, but soon Cantas Fashion Boutique will be closing its doors. "Sometimes I feel strong - I'm ready - that I made this decision," says owner Semiha Cantas. "But then again, sometimes, I feel very emotional about it.
" Cantas says the COVID-19 pandemic closures had a huge impact on her business, but when people continued to work remotely that made things even more difficult. People not returning to in-office work five days a week and buying things online was a challenge to her small business. "That affected foot traffic, right? And that means sales," she explains.
The store holds one-of-a-kind evening gowns and clothes brought in from places like Paris and Türkiye. Cantas says before making decisions on clothing like this, it often needs to be tried on in-person. Originally from Istanbul, Cantas moved to Canada and quickly opened her first store in the ByWard Market.
Since then, she's travelled around the world to pick out the clothes she sells in the shop. "I always handpick everything," she says. "That's what I love.
You know, and then when I'm selling, I feel (that) confidence. I know what I'm selling. It was fun for me.
" Customers like Semra Gulder say it's that commitment that kept her coming back year after year. "I feel sad," she says of the news of the closure. "She's been open 27 years, and I've been a customer for 24 years.
" Gulder says she always purchased Cantas dr.