Shoppers that admire high-end fashion designers often speak of the passion they have for the brand’s clothing. Retailers, however, have a different relationship with the clothes altogether. Falling in love with a piece that is cutting edge yet classic enough to be pulled out of the closet a few years from now and still be on the vanguard of design is the draw for every retailer dabbling in high-end clothing.

Da Zoo’s aesthetic falls somewhere between dark avant-garde and sportswear, but exclusively calling its collection one or the other is a misnomer. The racks are filled with both men’s and women’s clothing, with recognizable brands such as Vivienne Westwood and DSquared2, as well as lesser known but just as exclusive names, like Geoffrey B. Small and Alexandre Plokhov. Da Zoo also has an in-house brand called 613 King that is a play off of the address, and reflects the unique styling of the owner, which is hard to classify as anything else but cool. Exclusive finds such as sneakers by Japanese brand Undercover are enough to get any shoe fanatic salivating.

Da Zoo is a destination shop for a specific clientele. “Our guy, he goes from Alexandre Plokhov to the DSquared, but he doesn’t stay there,” says owner Peter Haplin. “He’s not the guy that says this is what they told me to wear. They may be brokers and bankers by day, but they’re partiers and personalities by night.”

Da Zoo plans to open up the second floor of its building this summer to house dressier pieces.

Da Zoo, 613 King St. W., 416-792-5050