Lewvent Holdings Inc.

It lasted almost a century, from the horse-and-buggy era to the Internet age. It was beloved by Canadians—mostly women and girls—who ordered goods from its catalogues or flocked to its cozy stores to buy supplies from clerks who were as passionate as their customers about crafting.

If you liked to make pretty or useful things, chances are you would find what you needed in the Lewiscraft catalogue or one of its dozens of shopping-mall outlets from coast to coast.

Beads and Sequins: The Lewiscraft Story covers the history of Lewiscraft, from its humble beginnings as a one-man leather distribution business in 1913 to its sad disappearance from the Canadian retail landscape in 2007. It is the tale of a shoestring family enterprise that grew into an iconic and beloved Canadian brand—and ultimately fell victim to a new form of selling known as “big-box” stores. It’s a story about business. About Toronto. About four generations of a family. And about Canadian society in the 20th century.