Toronto small business owner looking for life change after 16 years

Change can be tough, and even tougher if you’ve been doing the same thing for 16 years. Cassandra Moy is a Toronto-based slow fashion designer, seamstress, leatherworker, and owner of a self-named design studio where customers can come and try on her designs or book an appointment for a personal design.

The studio/shop sat nestled at the corner of Heintzman and Dundas on the city’s west end, with Moy announcing the closure to customers and followers on social media on Jan 5.

“I honestly have been thinking about it all of 2024, and I was sad about it in all different ways and versions because it has been so long, but I’m ready for a change, and I’m actually like pretty excited, and once I made the decision, I was like, okay, Iim ready now,” Moy tells me.

Moy’s venture started in 2008 after finding a love for design while in school. “I actually studied drawing and painting at OCAD. I never went to school for fashion and was completely self-taught, but it was in my last year at OCAD that I decided to start the business and it started as more of like a tailoring service,” she explains.

Prior to the commercial space, Moy worked out of a home studio, adding an online shop in 2020 during the pandemic. “So it was like alterations, repairs, some custom work, and then quickly, over the years, I stopped offering that and just focused on bespoke designs.”

“I designed privately for clients for years, doing everything from bridal, evening, and dancewear. I started doing convertible leather bags. Then I got my commercial space three and a half years ago and that’s when I started kind of dabbling in retail.”

Anything in-store that was designed by Moy could be customized, with entirely new designs available to be made and catered to your personal style or occasion. Pieces ranged from bridal and evening wear to convertible leather bags. Cassandra Moy started as a passion project and eventually grew into a successful business, with many moments to look back on.

“People have trusted me to make their wedding gowns or, you know, our godson was wearing a medical halo for a few months, and I created custom pieces that could kind of velcro grow around his halo,” Moy details.

“In a world where it’s fast fashion and everything’s made at the expense of so many other things to be able to have this very cheap, affordable thing, but clothing originally was custom made back in the day, and to go through that journey with every single client was magical,” she continues.

While special moments at the studio will always be cherished, sometimes that little voice knows a thing or two about what’s out there for you and for Moy, it was time to listen to it.

“There was part of me for a long time that just wanted to be nomadic, work remotely, travel, work abroad if possible. And so, I got a job as a part-time executive assistant for a US company. It’s a nonprofit for a rare disease, actually a rare disease that I have, so I started with them in November, and it’s really meaningful work,” she adds.

“I want to get my rescue diving certification. I was like, that’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I keep thinking to myself, in the future, if I want to come back to this career, I can, but there are so many things that I want to do that I might not be able to do later. So I feel like now is the time to do all those things,” Moy continues.

While no exact date is in place, Moy says she will be closing the studio for good at “the end of February,” and that all are welcome to stop by until then to check out last-minute items. So, if you’ve been thinking about taking that trip, signing up for a class, or starting a passion project of your own, Moy’s advice is simple. “The world is our oyster.”

Cassandra Moy is located at 2822 Dundas St W.