The Pink Gingham Dress in Kensington Market, circa 1970s by Vivienne Maitland

From MemoryArchive

Who: Vivienne Maitland 
What: The Pink Gingham Dress
When: circa 1970s
Where: Kensington Market, Toronto

In the early 1970s the Kensington Market area was still known as Jews Market, given the Jewish population there, and it was one of the few places that sold tropical fruits and vegetables. The butcher shops also sold parts of the cow that never made it to the local supermarket -- delicacies from many cultures, including mine*.

My young daughter, Kristine, and I liked to go down there and wander through the little shops and stores, especially on a nice summer day. Our first stop was to the Jamaican patty shop, then off we would go spending a dollar here and there, but mainly chatting with the merchants. It was a wonder introduction to things that were different and as exciting as a trip to the theatre. A purchase of 50 cents worth of nuts came complete with an oral "Grandmother's recipe" for her special nut dish.

One day we went past the standing racks of printed cotton housedresses and aprons and into a little dry goods store. It was the type of store that sold everything from "a needle to an anchor". The Portuguese grandmother/owner greeted us and handed Kristine a candy. Inside the store there were more circular racks of ladies nightdresses and slips. There were bins and barrels full of kitchen equipment and small tools, shelves of brightly patterned tablecloths and towels, and much, much more.

The store was opposite a fish shop and the smell of fish permeated the air.

Then I noticed them. Hanging from the ceiling was a row of children's dresses. The storeowner followed my eyes and immediately produced a long, hooked stick and reached down one of the dresses. It was beautiful: pink gingham with a white organdie pinafore. The gingham was repeated in a bias strip around the hem of the pinafore. Without consulting me, she slipped the dress over the tiny shorts and top that Kristine was wearing. Around the waist of the pinafore was a sash, which the lady quickly tied at the back into a lovely bow. I bought it.

But whenever Kristine wore that dress she would get compliments and if she was asked, "Did your mother make your dress?" she would quickly reply, "No, it's from a fish store in Jews Market!"

(*Vivienne Maitland came to Canada from Guyana in 1968. Kristine Maitland, this story's transcriber, was born in Toronto in 1970)