London’s Boutique Firenze sells beautiful handcrafted items, and many have a story behind them, says shop owner Bettina Weber. The tale of one product was even adapted for a film.
When the Hadhad family’s chocolate factory in Syria was destroyed by bombs, the family spent three years as refugees before arriving in Nova Scotia. Through hard work and perseverance, they rebuilt their business and named it Peace by Chocolate. The movie of the same name has garnered international awards, and the chocolate is equally prized.
“As soon as we started selling these bars, dozens of people purchased them. Some would buy 15 at a time,” Weber says. The bar wrappers celebrate different occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries, and some wrappers promote the trend of buying Canadian, with “Go Canada Go” and “Elbows Up.”
While Boutique Firenze is known for its fine Italian gloves and scarves, Weber also takes pride in offering Canadian-made gifts and accessories, many created close to home. The shop’s products include designs by First Nations artists such as Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig, and Stratford’s Maxine Noel, a Member of the Order of Canada.
Other unique items include jewelry by Joanna of London.
“Her pieces are great to wear to work or take travelling and they’re all under $40,” Weber says.
Eco-friendly beeswax candles from The Wicked Bee Candle Company are also popular.
“These are imported from Woodstock,” she jokes.
Weber has recently started selling decorative spoons by Toronto wood carver Jamie Maxwell and handiwork from Quebec’s Doro Marcello.
“Doro does charming paintings of birds, animals and plants and makes them into garlands you can hang in your window.”
There are gifts for children as well, such as the wooden cars nicknamed Zoomers. They are made by Len Elliott Sr., a local great-grandfather who is also Weber’s father-in-law.
“They always come in sets of three because Len says you need three to have a good race.”
Weber says people love to take these gifts to other parts of the world.
“It’s gratifying to see that customers are enthusiastically choosing Canadian products to share.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Boutique Firenze
3-189 Adelaide St. S., London
519-649-4122
boutiquefirenze.ca
