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  • Toronto Community Court Day Recap: A Slam Dunk Success

    On Friday, September 20th, Pier Five and PUMA came together for an unforgettable 'Community Court Day' at the One Yonge Community Recreation Centre in Toronto. The event brought together 25 creative entrepreneurs and small business owners for an afternoon filled with basketball, networking, and plenty of fun. The atmosphere was electric, and the sense of community was palpable as everyone hit the court, geared up in their brand-new PUMA attire. The day kicked off with a warmup and bonding session led by renowned basketball coach Ali Nizam. This session set the tone for the day, allowing participants to connect through teamwork exercises while sharpening their on-court skills. The energy during the warmup was contagious, and the camaraderie built during this time carried through to the rest of the event. (Swipe for more photos) As the activities unfolded, attendees got to showcase their basketball skills during drills and workshops that catered to players of all levels. Whether seasoned players or first-timers, everyone gave their all and put on an impressive display of effort and athleticism. From layup lines to shooting drills, the focus was on skill-building, but the smiles and laughter on the court proved that fun was the top priority. The 5v5 games that followed were the highlight of the day, with participants channeling their inner pro-athletes while forming new friendships through sport. Before the games, teams were also challenged to come up with creative team names and cheers, which they then presented to the other teams. This activity was a lighthearted and fun way to break the ice, build team spirit, and shake off any nerves before stepping onto the court. The competition was fierce but friendly, and the sight of everyone in matching PUMA gear made for a unified, vibrant aesthetic. The event wasn’t just about basketball—it was about community, and that spirit was felt both on and off the court. (Swipe for more photos) The day finished with a roundtable discussion [summer-camp style], exchanging ideas, stories, and business insights. These moments of conversation and connection were invaluable, with new relationships blossoming and countless collaborations brewing. Pier Five’s mission of fostering connections between creative entrepreneurs was fully realized, as meaningful conversations flowed as freely as the basketballs on the court. In the end, 'Community Court Day' was more than just a day of basketball—it was a celebration of community, collaboration, and creativity. Every attendee left not only with incredible memories and new business contacts but also with the confidence that they are part of something bigger. The event was a slam dunk success, and the buzz around it will no doubt continue to inspire future gatherings of like-minded individuals. PUMA’s support ensured everyone looked and felt their best throughout the event, adding an extra layer of confidence to each step, pass, and shot. All in all, this collaboration between Pier Five and PUMA perfectly encapsulated the spirit of community and the joy of coming together. We’re already looking forward to the next one! If you're interested in getting involved on an event with Pier Five, either as a guest or a partner, follow us on Instagram  or email us at community@pier-five.com !

  • Community Court Day MTL: Pier Five x PUMA x Ball Her Way x Double Dribble

    On September 7, 2024, Pier Five, alongside Double Dribble , Ball Her Way , and PUMA , hosted an unforgettable event celebrating Montreal’s vibrant basketball community – “Community Court Day”. This collaborative event brought together 25 inspiring individuals from Ball Her Way and Double Dribble's ongoing pickup runs "Run & Jump" for an afternoon filled with basketball, networking, and thoughtful discussions. From start to finish, the event perfectly blended the worlds of sports and creativity, making it a day to remember for everyone involved. The event started with a surprise for all attendees; a full new basketball kit generously provided by PUMA. The new gear was an instant hit, setting the tone for an afternoon where everyone felt empowered to perform their best on the court. The basketball action began with a series of drills and warm-ups led by Ball Her Way founder and experienced coach, Heather Alonzo , where participants showed off their skills and got a chance to connect through the love of the game. The intensity picked up with 5v5 games that brought out the competitive spirit, yet fostered a deep sense of camaraderie. As Albert Nguyen , founder of Double Dribble likes to say, it's "the nicest basketball run in Montreal!" Whether seasoned players or newcomers, everyone took to the court with enthusiasm, making the games a true highlight of the day. But the event wasn’t just about basketball. Pier Five, Double Dribble, and Ball Her Way curated meaningful discussions and networking opportunities, allowing participants from diverse backgrounds—business owners, designers, artists, lawyers, social workers, and more—to share their stories and build lasting connections. These connections were full of energy and inspiration, as attendees explored the intersections of sports, entrepreneurship, and community impact. With the support of leading basketball brands and community leaders in Montreal, Community Court Day was a huge success. The collaborative spirit of Pier Five, Double Dribble, Ball Her Way, and PUMA came to life in this dynamic event, leaving everyone excited for future opportunities to engage with the basketball and creative communities. Pier Five was truly honoured to be back in Montreal, continuing its mission of bringing unique, engaging events to cities across Canada. The event captured the essence of what Pier Five stands for—fostering creativity, connection, and collaboration through unforgettable experiences. With so much excitement around “Community Court Day,” it’s safe to say that the future holds even more thrilling events from Pier Five and its partners. If you're interested in getting involved on an event with Pier Five, either as a guest or a partner, follow us on Instagram or email us at community@pier-five.com !

  • Pier Five Community Canvas For Kuwalla Tee

    In the first edition of Community Canvas , Pier Five brought together an inspiring group of talent for a unique editorial lookbook, with looks by Kuwalla Tee , a Montreal based fashion brand designed to help those express their creative authenticity. This edition highlights a diverse mix of innovators, each representing the creative spirit and entrepreneurial drive that fuels the community. Featuring Glory Allan, an online content creator teaching people how to make their own clothes, the lookbook explores the intersection of fashion, craftsmanship, and self-expression. Adria Kain, a multidisciplinary musician, singer, and artist, adds a rich layer of sound and visual artistry to the canvas. Vintage lovers will be captivated by Post Design, a curated business blending style and sustainability through furniture. Photographer Teaunna Gray, who also owns her own studio Of Sorts, captures the essence of beauty through simplicity. At the heart of it all is Pier Five, the founders of the Community Canvas  series, who continue to champion creativity, collaboration, and connection. Sponsored by Kuwalla Tee, this campaign is a celebration of both fashion and community, with every look styled in Kuwalla Tee's new Fall/Winter 2024 collection —showcasing the power of creative partnerships in bringing new stories to life. Discover the stars of Community Canvas Vol. 1 and all of the looks below: Glory Allan Andre Chin, aka Glory Allan, is a passionate fashion designer dedicated to empowering others to embrace creativity. Through his work, he encourages people to kickstart their hobbies and discover the joy of making. Inspired by the art of creation, whether in designing clothes or crafting engaging content, Glory Allan thrives on bringing ideas to life. His work serves as a bridge between fashion and education, fostering creativity and self-expression. Adria Kain Adria Kain is a multifaceted artist and singer known for her soulful voice and authentic storytelling. With recent success in the music industry, Adria has re-emerged with renewed focus, sharing both her music and creative journey. In July, she expanded her artistic reach by launching a photography and creative direction studio, offering a space that fosters artistic expression and collaboration. Her studio has become a welcoming environment for creatives of all backgrounds, dedicated to inclusivity and supporting the growth of the creative community. Post Design Post Design, founded by JP Guay and Amanda Mota, is a curated studio specializing in unique furniture, objects, and wares. They offer carefully selected pieces that reflect creativity, paired with dynamic spaces and brands. Beyond their collections, Post Design provide furniture rentals, studio bookings for shoots and gatherings, and design services like sourcing, set design, brand pop-ups, and interior staging. At Post Design, they blend design with community to create inspiring spaces. Teaunna Gray Teaunna Gray is an Afro-Indigenous Director and Film Photographer from Toronto. Starting as a curator, she gained recognition through group art shows that support under-represented artists and give back to global communities. Her storytelling reflects her multicultural perspective, prioritizing inclusivity for womxn, people of color, and the Deaf community. As the founder of Of Sorts®, Teaunna creates a space for creatives through events, programs, and studio rentals, encouraging impactful art and dialogue. Pier Five Julian Golden and Jeff Lei are the founders of Pier Five, a community driven organization that offers support to creative entrepreneurs and small business owners. Pier Five's mission is to empower those looking to turn their passions into full-time businesses and careers by hosting unique networking events, fundraising programs and content series across Canada. Pier Five's initiatives have connected thousands of creatives and business owners and is building one of the largest founder networks across the country, shaping culture and driving economic growth. Shop the looks at Kuwalla Tee's website and make sure to follow Pier Five on Instagram for more content with the creative community.

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  • A Conversation With Titi Finlay

    A Conversation With Titi Finlay Titi Finlay is a Scottish creator and artist residing in London, UK and currently holds the position of Social Media Manager at LacedHQ, the UK's top resale sneaker platform. Titi has built a following through her artwork, impressive sneaker collection and advocacy for women's empowerment in the sneaker and fashion industry. ​ @ttfinaly You received a lot of recognition recently for a quote “ We don’t need women's exclusives. We need inclusive sizing .” and we couldn’t agree more that the sneaker world definitely has some catching up to do when it comes to inclusivity. Besides inclusive sizing, what are five things you think brands could do to make footwear more inclusive for everyone? Make everything unisex. Get rid of women's exclusives. The brands right now are giving women different (often times worse) shoes but we want the same shoes the men do. There's no need to keep styles separate. Innovate with sneaker models. Shoes like the new Nike Fly Ease Go which is a "hands free" shoe make cool sneakers more accessible for people with disabilities. I'm curious to see how they develop styles around that to give everyone a cool shoe. Storytelling should be diverse. We're always seeing the same women or men in campaigns. It's always a celebrity or popular hypebeast but what about the mum in Manchester with a huge Airmax collection? Increase representation of African Americans in sneaker media. There's no denying that most of this culture comes from black culture and it should be represented as such. Reconsider how you run gifting programs. Similar to point 3, it's always the same celebrities receiving pairs from brands. I understand the influence big celebs have but brands should also seed to the creators and collectors actually into the products. ​ Bonus thought : Overall there's too much gatekeeping from brands but also the community as a whole, telling young people they can't be into Jordans because they didn't see him play or telling skaters they can't rock SB's. None of that matters. If you like the shoes, that's what matters! We definitely need to talk about your “Power to the Female” AM90 which was so purposeful and amazing! What were five things you wanted to achieve with this collaboration or get out of the experience? I wanted to make a shoe for the female sneaker community to celebrate and enhance the conversation around the topic of women in sneakers. I wanted to give other women a platform with the promotion of this shoe. I was lucky enough to be able to collaborate with a lot of my friends and women in the space on some content which I think really helped grow the conversation. I wanted to make it unisex that anyone could wear. I used the slogan "By women. For everyone" to sum that up and I think it worked well. I wanted to show people that it wasn't only the big influencers that can create. Hopefully this inspired young up and comers to keep working and show them that anything can happen. Lastly, this [sneaker design] was a new discipline for me and it was awesome to get my hands dirty and really learn the ins-and-outs of the process. ​ What are some things you love or dislike about the UK sneaker scene? LOVE : The Community - I've made so many friends through social sneaker groups in the UK. There's something called Pickup Days where the raffle winners go get their shoes from OffSpring and it's such a fun time meeting everyone, before COVID that was. LOVE : Sneaker culture really blossomed in the UK so there's a ton of history. For example, it's all Adidas in the North of England but if you go to London everyone loves Air Max's. LOVE : Lots of small pockets in the UK that you wouldn't expect actually have a dope sneaker scene. Glasgow has Sneaker Laundry, Edinburgh has some wicked skate shops and Dundee has a great sneaker hangout spot even though it's a small town. DISLIKE : This one isn't so UK exclusive but there is a lot of gatekeeping in the space. We need to be more open and not let the history or the "OG's" keep people out. ​ You’ve done a great job building the LacedHQ brand on social and helped foster a strong sense of community with the #lacedcommunity. As the Social Media Manager for LacedHQ, what are five tips you can give to a brand or individual trying to build up their community on social? Create content that people can own themselves. For example, my quotes are content that resonate with others and that they can share on their own stories and feeds. Have a solidified POV. Have personality and stay true to and support your opinions throughout. Create something that can be engaged with. Posting polls for people to vote on is fun and builds engagement. Give a platform to other creatives and showcase their work. The LacedHQ feed is fully on regrams and it's a great way to build relationships and get intro'd to new creators. Data is everything. Use your insights to see how your content is performing. ​ Bonus thought : Don't forget to pay attention to the aesthetic of the full feed and not just the individual posts. Being an advocate for inclusivity in the sneaker industry, who would you say are 5 other people that are really paving the way for change within within the sneaker community/industry? Liz Beecroft - Pier Five Alum!! She does an amazing job blending mental health with sneakers and streetwear. ( READ PIER FIVE <> LIZ BEECROFT INTERVIEW ) The Air Vegan - He's a co-creator of the Business of Hype podcast and also runs a platform called FutureVVorld which shares information about how the sneaker industry can be more sustainable and more earth friendly. _womeninsneakers - Steph who leads the page works for ON Running and on her page showcases everyone from female influencers to designers at the brands that are doing awesome things in sneakers. Coco Mell - She used to work at ASOS and is now a freelance stylist for sneaker brands. She is really campaigning for black women in the sneaker culture and has been doing clubhouse chats with women in the industry (ex. Jazzy Ray - OG in sneakers) Arielle (A_ebz) - She's a colour designer for Nike in Portland and has worked on making colourways more inclusive and pushing against women's exclusives and men's exclusives. ​ Lastly, we need to speak about your puppy! How has having a dog changed your perspective on life? It's been amazing, like having a therapy dog full time! Maple has really helped with my anxiety throughout COVID. It helps me take my mind off of things and relax. Having a dog helps maintain a routine. Things like needing to go for 2 walks a day really force you to wake up and start your day. I try to look through her eyes and see how simple life can be. It's a great way to stay calm and level out. I think I've become smarter and more productive thinking about how I use my time for myself and with Maple.

  • Keeping It Authentic With Katherine Johnsen

    Keeping It Authentic With Katherine Johnsen As the opportunities and the audience grow, it can be easy for one to find themselves being pulled in a million directions with outside influences taking over. For Katherine Johnsen, creator and VP of Growth and Partnerships for Counter Culture agency, she has learned the importance of staying true to herself and ensuring that you grow with authenticity and passion. This has led to countless incredible experiences and the creation of lifelong relationships that Katherine attributes to her happiness and success. We got the chance to speak with Katherine about all of this and learn some of her secrets to building the next generation of opportunity for creators and brands. Read the full conversation below. Hi Katherine! Thanks for chatting with us today. For those who don't know, can you tell us a little about yourself? Excited to chat! So, my name is Katherine Johnsen and I'm the VP, Growth & Partnerships of Counter Culture agency which creates culturally relevant program with creators and for brands, amongst many other things. I've been with Counter Culture for 2 years and before that I spent a lot of time leading partnerships for some of the biggest tech and startup conferences in North America. I'm also a creator myself and on the brand side, have worked with tons of brands in tech, fashion and footwear, food and CPG so I like to think that I know the landscape pretty well and that can really help our partners. Throughout your time in the tech partnerships world and now at Counter Culture, has there been anything that you have learned that is a common thread across it all? Definitely! The biggest thing is that your relationships are everything. I spent a lot of time with company founders in the tech space and bringing that time into partnerships, I've seen how much those connections that you build can lead to success. I'm constantly trying to expand my network and stay connected with those who are close to me. That's a great point! As the network builds, how do you always stay in touch with so many people? I travel a lot and one of the guys I worked closely with at Microsoft who was one of the Top 5 People To Know in the NY startup scene used to tell me to divide my flights into 5 minute intervals and use that time to reach out to as many people as you can, just to check in on them. Just give when you need nothing and then when you need to tap people, they're more than happy to help you because you maintained a relationship there. With all of the different projects and travel, how do you stay organized? My calendar is everything and I'm a big advocate of time blocking. I allocate different blocks of time in my schedule to focusing on certain tasks without distractions and that's very helpful. I also make sure to prioritize. We all have so much going on but if you can prioritize 3 tasks for the week and get them done, then that's a win. I love this quote which is, "you don't always have to climb the whole staircase. You just need to take the first step." Oooh love that! As a creator yourself and a coach so many other creators out there, what is one piece of advice you stand by? I'm a firm believe that if you like something, then it's cool. I think it's so important to shed the weight of other people's opinions and just focus on liking what you like. A through line to all of the coolest people in our lives is that they are all authentic to themselves. What we often tell creators is that, by just looking at what other people are doing and looking at other trends, you will fall flat. We always say just listen to "what makes me excited to wake up in the morning?" and if you share that, I think it builds authentic community. That definitely shows in your content! For sure! My channels are really just an extension of my daily life. I like to share what I'm doing as opposed to doing things to share them. Love that! Lastly, on the business side, what advice would you give to creators looking to make a living out of this? 2 things! The first is when working with brands, be mindful of your value and your identity and always stay authentic to that. Brands will often come in with their own idea of how they think something should look and will try to use money to push that forward. The key is finding a way to make it your own - that will be the sign of a good partnership - and not being afraid to walk away if it's not a good fit. Secondly, it's important to think about your long term goals and understand the best ways for you to build your community and ultimately drive revenue. Partnerships are just one way to make money but there are so many other ways to expand your channels and revenue streams. Maybe that's building a mailing list, maybe it's connecting through events or selling product. At the end of the day though, the biggest thing is always prioritize your community. The people out there that are able to do all of these cool things as their full-time job are able to do so because of the community that they built. Make sure to check out Katherine and Counter Culture on Instagram and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations with cool creatives and industry leaders!

  • A Conversation with Jarah Stoop of Peterson Stoop

    A Conversation with Jarah Stoop of Peterson Stoop Jarah Stoop is one half of the duo behind Peterson Stoop, a sneaker repair studio in Amsterdam, Netherlands launched to reduce the amount of waste created in the sneaker industry and to bring new design flavour to footwear. P+S applies traditional leather shoe repair techniques to classic sneaker models and has built a global following. They have collaborated with brands like Timberland and Staple Design and sell limited runs of their footwear in stores such as Wagamama (Tokyo) and Selfridges (UK). ​​ @petersonstoop You’ve just released the designs for your AW 21 collection (congratulations). What were some goals you had going into this season for Peterson+Stoop? Thank you! We’re really excited about this collection. As always, and continuing with this collection, we really try to reduce the use of virgin materials as much as possible. Every time we cut into a new material we think “is this worth it and is it needed?” We tried to cut new patterns that would create as little waste as possible. We tried experimenting with new dynamic designs on the outsole which I think turned out really well. We wanted to add new silhouettes that were more suitable for people’s lifestyles being at home so much more. We did this with our patchwork mule slipper made from old shoe materials. We’re also excited to work with new retailers for this collection. It helps us try new things and reach new audiences. ​ Every aspect of Peterson+Stoop, from the natural materials and water-based glues to the recycled men’s shirt dust bags is designed to reduce the environmental footprint (no pun intended) of footwear on the planet. Why has this been so important for the two of you as you continue to develop the brand? ​ When we graduated in 2008 we were thinking about whether or not we should go work for a brand or start our own. I am a spiritual person and need a true purpose in life. I am very analytical and if I was going to start something new it would need to make sense. Joining a brand and “designing for landfills” didn’t make sense to us and wouldn’t excite me to get out of bed in the morning. ​ We started looking at common products and noticed that most things were not made for repair. The Air Max 97, a shoe I love, can’t be repaired. Once that air bubble pops, it’s over. We realized this was our purpose; bring repair to the world. Brands should promote repair, but they don’t, so we wanted to make repair accessible. It’s better for the planet, looks cool and can become more beautiful over time and overall, it’s just the right thing to do. Peterson+Stoop has done some really impressive collaborative projects including the “Wavy Pigeon” with Jeff Staple and Construct10061 with Timberland. Who are some other designers or brands that you would love to collaborate with in the future and what might you work on together? This is a tough question. If we could work with a brand on a long term repair initiative that would be great. Nothing hype but real change with a brand would be something we might do. If you could see anyone wearing your shoes, who would it be? Definitely our king; Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. He’s worn sneakers and I think that would be awesome [laughs]. With each pair, Peterson+Stoop is changing the way that we think about the lifespan of the things we own. Besides sneakers, what are other ideas/items people can upcycle in their daily lives? This question is tricky because everyone’s life is different. I think “Design for Repair '' should be a course in school so that people become accustomed to thinking about repair and upcycling. If we train the mind to get creative with repair, we will reduce a lot of waste with everything. I often think about this with food. There’s a lot of waste with food. I try to think about the scraps and try to find ways to reuse them. All clothing as well can be repaired or designed to have new purposes and it can be a lot of fun. You guys have crossed paths, got to know each other & shared a studio space before becoming partners of Peterson+Stoop. Now as full-time partners, what are 5 tips you’d give to new business partners looking to run a business? Hmm. Don’t do it [laughs]. I’m joking but being in a partnership is very hard and truthfully it’s easier to get a job. That being said, if you’re stubborn and motivated you can make it work. A partnership should have people with diversified skill sets. Make sure there is someone who knows design, someone who knows the business side, etc. Be open minded and willing to learn about other people and their opinions. Communication is very important. Talk through everything, when you agree and when you disagree. Remove your egos from the company and the partnership. You have to always think about what is best for the company and not what is best for you. Don’t be afraid to take risks!

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