A prominent Canadian fashionista thinks the recession forced retailers to be more competitive, but she hopes the time is right for the launch of her flagship store in Toronto.

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Pink Tartan opened its flagship store in Toronto this week.

Kimberley Newport-Mimran, president and chief designer of Pink Tartan, opened the line's flagship retail store in Toronto's well-heeled Yorkville district this week.

"It's the perfect marriage of Pink Tartan in this old treasured building," she told the CBC's Amanda Lang in a recent interview at her store.

Newport-Mimran worked for a number of retailing icons including The Bay, Club Monaco and Caban before launching her own line in 2002. Until now, Pink Tartan was merely a wholesale operation, sold at retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Holt Renfrew and The Bay.

But the time is right for a flagship store that houses the entire collection, she says. And far from being competition for retail partners that already sell the brand, the experience will be good for everyone, she hopes.

"The louder and the stronger the brand voice is, the more successful it's going to be in all the markets we're in," she says.

Married to Club Monaco founder Joe Mimran, who now heads up the Joe Fresh fashion chain, Newport-Mimran says she's excited by the chance to get back into the retail side of fashion.

"I keep creative control, but I definitely have a team that helps on the operational side of things," she said.

"The nice thing about being in control is that you're in control of your brand and you're in control of your destiny," she said, hinting that she'd love to expand the brand internationally at some point.