Stores like Simons: 6 Canadian alternatives worth shopping in 2026

Simons is a go-to for well-made, design-forward clothing and home goods. The catch is that it isn't in every city, so plenty of Canadians go looking for stores like Simons closer to home or online.

Older shopping guides don't help much. Several of the stores they recommend have since closed.

This guide covers which alternatives are still worth your time as of October 2026 and what each one does best. You'll also get a simple way to pick the right fit for your budget, style and values.

What makes Simons unique?

Simons stands out for mixing curated designer brands, its own in-house labels and home goods under one roof. The best stores like Simons share that mix, and top picks include Holt Renfrew for luxury and boutiques like Gravity Pope and Less 17. Anthropologie covers fashion and home, while Common Goods brings independent Canadian brands together online.

Simons is also a Canadian family business, and the company describes itself as Canada's oldest. John Simons opened a small dry-goods shop in Old Quebec, and Simons says it has been family-owned since 1840.

As of October 2026, Simons lists 19 locations on its delivery information page, which also says it ships across Canada. That blend of curation, house labels and home pieces is what most shoppers mean when they ask for a Simons alternative.

There's one more thing Simons fans often value: Canadian ownership. If that matters to you, it helps to know which alternatives are Canadian-owned and which simply have Canadian locations. We'll flag the difference as we go.

Is Simons high-end or fast fashion?

Simons carries renowned designers like Rick Owens, Vivienne Westwood and Acne Studios, according to Simons' designer collections. It sells them alongside its own labels, such as Twik, Contemporaine and Le 31.

That mix makes Simons hard to put in one box, so we'll leave the tier to you. A more useful approach is to judge any store, Simons included, with a few simple questions:

• Fabric: What is the garment made of, and will it hold up to regular wear and washing?
• Construction: Are the seams straight, the hems finished and the buttons secure?
• Release pace: How often does the store drop new styles or repeat the same trends?
• Maker: Can you find out who made the piece and where?

These questions matter because clothing waste adds up. The United Nations Environment Programme shares UNEP textile waste figures showing the scale. Studies suggest 92 million tonnes of textile waste are generated worldwide each year, it notes.

Buying fewer, better pieces from independent makers is one of the simplest ways to step off the fast-fashion cycle. You get clothes built to last, and you know which small business you're supporting.

A quick habit helps here. Before you buy, picture three outfits you'd wear the piece with this season, and pass if you can't.

The best stores like Simons in Canada

Canada's retail landscape changed in 2025 with the closure of Hudson's Bay and Saks Off 5th (more on that below). This list skips closed retailers and focuses on places you can shop now.

Here's a quick comparison before we dig into each pick. The last column describes what each store carries rather than quoting prices, since prices vary by brand and season.

1. Common Goods: Independent Canadian brands in one place

Common Goods is a Canadian-owned online marketplace with over 400 independent brands. You can shop women's clothing, men's apparel, shoes, accessories and home goods without hopping between a dozen websites.

The collections cover the staples Simons shoppers reach for most. Browse Canadian-designed women's dresses for weekends, weddings and everything in between.

Building a work wardrobe? Start with polished Canadian workwear that moves easily from the office to dinner. There's also a women's outerwear collection designed for the Canadian climate, so you're covered when the snow arrives.

Every seller on Common Goods is verified Canadian-owned, so each purchase supports an independent business here at home. It's an easy pick if there's no Simons near you, since the whole selection lives online.

2. Holt Renfrew: The luxury step up

Holt Renfrew is the move when you want to trade up from Simons' designer floor. It's a luxury department store, so treat it as a step up rather than a like-for-like match on price.

Locations include Bloor Street, Yorkdale and Square One in the Greater Toronto Area, Ogilvy in Montreal, plus Calgary and Vancouver. Holt Renfrew's event calendar lists in-store dates at these stores into November 2026.

Go to Holt Renfrew for investment pieces, special-occasion outfits or a specific designer label. For everyday basics, the other picks on this list are a better fit.

If you do plan a splurge, the questions from the fast-fashion section still apply. A higher price should come with fabric, construction and fit you can see and feel.

3. Gravity Pope: Footwear, clothing and accessories

Gravity Pope carries footwear, clothing and accessories, with stores in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver, according to Gravity Pope's about page. That makes it a natural stop if the shoe department is your favourite part of a Simons trip. Its brands include Naked & Famous, so you can build a full outfit, shoes included, in one visit.

Want your next pair from an independent Canadian label? Common Goods gathers shoes from Canadian companies in one collection, so you can compare makers side by side.

4. Anthropologie: For the aesthetic-driven, home-and-fashion shopper

Anthropologie overlaps with the side of Simons that blends fashion and home décor. Anthropologie's Don Mills store in Toronto, for example, sells women's clothing, accessories and home décor.

It suits shoppers who buy into a whole look, from the living room to the weekend wardrobe. Keep in mind that Anthropologie isn't a Canadian brand.

If you'd rather keep your home spending local, Common Goods offers Canadian-owned furniture and lighting from independent makers. It's an easy way to get a curated home look while supporting Canadian businesses.

5. Less 17 and My Filosophy: Curated Prairie boutiques

Prairie shoppers have two strong options for a more curated experience. Less 17's online shop lists its retail store at 930 17th Ave SW in Calgary and brands like Rick Owens. Not in Calgary? You can shop Less 17 online.

My Filosophy's Edmonton boutique at 15010 107 Avenue is lingerie-focused and also carries apparel. It ships within Canada, so you don't need to live nearby to browse either store.

These boutiques suit you if Simons feels too broad and you want a tighter edit, whether that's designer menswear or lingerie. Expect a strong point of view and fewer, more deliberate choices.

They're also worth a visit if you're travelling through Alberta. A boutique stop is a good way to see how a store styles its labels in person.

What happened to Hudson's Bay and Saks Off 5th?

If you've found older lists that still recommend Hudson's Bay or Saks Off 5th, they're out of date. Daily Hive reported (Hudson's Bay closed June 2025) that HBC officially closed all its remaining stores on the afternoon of Sunday, June 1, 2025.

The closures included 80 Hudson's Bay stores, three Saks Fifth Avenue locations and 13 Saks Off 5th outlets across Canada, according to the same report. If you used to shop there, Holt Renfrew covers the department-store experience. Boutiques and online marketplaces of independent Canadian brands cover the rest.

Best online stores like Simons for Canadian shoppers

Simons itself is one of the best online stores like Simons, since it ships across Canada. Standard delivery takes 4–7 business days at the time of writing, according to Simons' delivery page.

For more variety, Common Goods lets you browse by category and filter brands by province. That's handy when you want to support makers from your own part of the country.

Start with women's outerwear for Canadian winters, designed with our climate in mind. Shopping for him? Common Goods also carries menswear from homegrown brands.

Because every seller is an independent Canadian business, you know exactly who you're supporting with each order. That direct line to the founders behind each brand is hard to get from a big chain.

A few habits make online shopping smoother wherever you buy. Check each brand's size chart against a piece you already own, and read the return policy before you check out.

Younger shoppers searching for Gen Z stores like Simons often want trend-forward pieces that feel personal. Independent Canadian designers are a great place to find them.

Take Lucia Kinghorn, a designer who offers breezy separates in maximalist prints. On Lucia Kinghorn's about page, the brand says it aims for the best possible sustainable practices.

How to choose the right Simons alternative

The right pick depends on what you love most about Simons. Run through these four points before you shop:

• Budget: For a luxury step up, try Holt Renfrew. For a wide range of price points, browse independent brands on Common Goods.
• Style: Less 17 suits designer menswear, and My Filosophy suits lingerie and curated apparel. Anthropologie suits a cohesive fashion-and-home aesthetic.
• Location and access: No Simons nearby? Shop online through Simons, Common Goods, Less 17 or My Filosophy.
• Values: If Canadian ownership matters, choose sellers that are verified Canadian-owned, like every brand on Common Goods.

Values are shaping more shopping decisions. Global News reported on an Abacus Data Buy Canadian poll where 61% of Canadians said they'd bought more Canadian goods.

The same September 2026 poll found 61% believe buying Canadian-made goods would cost more. Both figures are self-reported and cover all products, not just clothing.

That cost concern is fair, but the price tag is only part of the story. A well-made coat you wear for many winters can cost less per wear than a cheaper one you replace every season.

Cost per wear is easy to estimate. Divide the price by the number of times you expect to wear the piece, then compare that number across your options.

Convenience matters too. Common Goods' own survey found 93% of shoppers would prefer to buy Canadian if given an equally convenient option.

That's why we built one place to shop independent Canadian brands. Every order helps keep wealth circulating in Canadian communities.

FAQs

Is Simons a high-end store?

Simons carries renowned designers like Rick Owens, Vivienne Westwood and Acne Studios alongside its own labels, such as Twik, Contemporaine and Le 31. Whether that counts as high-end depends on which labels you shop.

Does Simons ship across Canada?

Yes, Simons ships to addresses across Canada. Standard delivery takes 4–7 business days, according to Simons.

What are the best Canadian department stores like Simons?

Holt Renfrew is the main department-store alternative still operating, since Hudson's Bay closed all its stores in 2025. Boutiques and Canadian marketplaces like Common Goods fill the rest of the gap.

What stores are similar to Simons in price and quality?

Independent Canadian brands on Common Goods, Gravity Pope and Anthropologie are good places to start. Compare fabric, construction and price piece by piece, since each store carries a range of labels.

Are there stores like Simons in the United States?

Simons ships across Canada and also runs simons.com for US shoppers. For Canadian shoppers, the alternatives in this guide are the best place to look.

Shop 400+ Canadian brands at Common Goods