Kartar

Sumer Singh is getting back to his family’s roots. “My family background is deeply rooted in makers,” he says of ancestors who were blacksmiths, goldsmiths, painters and carpenters. Sumer, his father, and his grandfather were the first in their long line to break this trend, all getting into either electrical or mechanical engineering. But now, Sumer’s roots have called him back to his artistic origins. Opening Kartār in 2013, the shop carries beautiful, sustainable Canadian-made furniture to quality-hungry clientele.

Kartār carries pieces by Sumer's company MTHARU, which produces concrete, glass, and upholstered items. There’s also unique lighting from the Winnipeg-based Gagan Design, which creates products constructed of lightweight wood and LEDs that create an aviation-inspired feel. Shoppers can also expect to find items by Adrian Martinus, two brothers who make rolling pins, cutting boards and reclaimed coffee tables. “They reuse thrown-away hardwood and skateboards,” explains Sumer. The shop features work by many more artists and craftspeople, ranging from lighting fixtures and furniture to quilts.

Sumer speaks highly of the artists whose work he carries. He says that the first thing he notices about a piece is the person making it. “It’s very important for me to see that the person making it takes pride in making it here in Canada, takes pride in their design and knows that their design is going to last a long time.”