The total market for jewellery and fashion accessories in Canada reached $4.8 billion in 2014, with an average growth of 4% annually over the past five years. Industry consolidation and volatile world prices for gold and silver have squeezed the profit margins of fine jewellers. Costume or imitation jewellery continues to gain market share as consumers follow fast fashion trends and seek out lower-price alternatives during hard economic times. Many Canadians, especially millennials, will splurge on occasional luxury items such as precious jewellery or designer watches and handbags, while making more frequent purchases of low to mid-price accessories to keep up with changing fashion trends. Most of Canada’s demand for jewellery and fashion accessories is met by imports, which reached a five year high of $2.4 billion in 2014. Fine jewellery accounts for half of imports ($1.2 billion), followed by fashion accessories ($1 billion) and costume jewellery ($264 million). The United States and Europe remain major sources, while lower-cost items are dominated by low-cost countries especially China and India. Exporters must be aware of Canada’s strict regulations for lead and cadmium content in children’s jewellery as well as detailed rules for marketing and labeling of precious metals and textile fibres.