It hasn’t always been easy to shop for Canadian designed “wears”, but with the Toronto online retailer MudsharkStreetwear.com it has certainly become fun! With the click of a mouse you can shop labels like Dace, Bodybag by Jude, Eve Gravel and more.

GLOSS had the chance to chat with Jenn Hilsden, the mastermind behind Mudshark Streetwear, to talk about this ultra cool online shopping haunt.

GLOSS: Why did you decide to open your online store?

JH: I decided to open my online store because I could! It was so new and very interesting to me. I started the Mudshark online store back in 1997, before Google had even started up. I was just thrilled that I could do it, that it was possible. I was so excited and would stay up for hours linking pages together. I was inspired to learn as much as I could back then about building my own web page. It was new and fun.

GLOSS: What brands do you carry on Mudshark Streetwear?

JH: Shopmudshark.com carries over 100 different “made in Canada” labels. Some have called us the Etsy of Canadian fashion. We are always looking for new designers and are always excited to hear from fashion enthusiasts.

GLOSS: Why do you think supporting Canadian designers is so important?

JH: I’m a hippie at heart. I really believe in the local economy and also the environment. I love to encourage local design. Online shopping makes sense to me also, as delivery is less costly to the environment instead of multiple shoppers driving around to multiple locations in separate cars to go shopping. Local manufacturing also has less impact on the environment. As a whole, I also love to see how designers can inspire one another within a certain region. Many of the designers I am in contact with are friends from the few major cities in Canada.

GLOSS: What are the biggest colours and trends for fall?

JH: Eco fashion is the biggest trend, whatever colours are available with this new and thriving textile industry. I am constantly on the watch for new fabrics and am actually so obsessed I have become an eco-fabric rep for an amazing company out of Montreal called Delyla ( www.delyla.com .) Eco-fashions in Canada are doing really well. Customers are really supporting this trend and I think it’s amazing.

GLOSS: If you had to pick just one piece, what would be your favourite for fall?

JH: My everyday favourite would be Yoga Jeans by Second Clothing ( www.shopsecondclothing.com ) from Montreal. There are only two machines making these wonderful jeans in Canada, and we are seeing a huge waiting list. This doesn’t surprise me; Yoga Jeans are indeed the most comfortable jeans I have ever put on.

My other favourite would be the Lhasa Organic cardigan (100 percent organic baby alpaca wool) by Deux Fm ( www.deuxfm.ca ) from Nova Scotia. I can never pick just one.

GLOSS loves this site and thinks you will too! Check it out today  at mudsharkstreetwear.com .