Pier Five’s 2023 Food Drive: Supporting Community and Fighting Food Insecurity This holiday season, Pier Five partnered with local business Lost & Found in Toronto to launch a community food drive, addressing the pressing issue of food insecurity. With the collective efforts of both communities, the drive successfully gathered hundreds of food items, filling14 shipping boxes of food and raised $170, all of which were donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank in December 2023. This initiative is a testament to Pier Five’s commitment to building a strong community of entrepreneurs and small business owners while making a positive impact on those in need. We want to thank everyone that donated to the drive, shared our campaign and helped raise awareness for such an important cause. See you in 2024 to do it all again!

2024 Recipient: Folds Wear Explore the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund Introducing Folds Wear, one of the ten recipients of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2024! Founder: Nina Kharey Location: Toronto, ON Discover Folds Wear online: Website // Instagram About Folds Wear Folds was founded by ex-luxury fashion designer, Nina Kharey, to bring innovation, style, and sustainability to healthcare uniforms, an industry traditionally lacking in these qualities. Their eco-friendly scrubs are made with high-performance materials, offering comfort, durability, and permanent antimicrobial protection without harmful chemicals or microplastics. As a female-led business, Folds is committed to providing healthcare professionals with premium, sustainable workwear that supports their demanding schedules. Despite being a small business, Folds has seen rapid growth and built a loyal customer base through word of mouth, built on the brand's belief that healthcare workers deserve better—better scrubs, better options, and a brand that’s truly invested in their comfort and well-being. How will the fund make an impact with your business? With the Mastercard x Pier Five Fund, Folds will use the $10,000 CAD to increase marketing and brand awareness. The funds will be allocated to digital marketing campaigns targeting healthcare professionals on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google Ads, highlighting the unique benefits of Folds scrubs. Part of the funds will go toward influencer and affiliate partnerships with healthcare professionals to build credibility and expand reach. Additionally, Folds will invest in content creation, producing professional videos and photos to showcase the versatility and functionality of their scrubs. These initiatives will help Folds scale the business, increase sales, and continue providing healthcare professionals with high-quality, sustainable workwear. What is your long term goal for the company? Over the next 3-5 years, Folds aims to build a strong executive team with expertise in direct-to-consumer operations to drive growth while maintaining brand integrity. A key focus is expanding internationally, with plans to enter the European market, particularly through a partnership with Meryl in the UK. This partnership will help Folds introduce its sustainable, high-quality scrubs to healthcare professionals in key European markets like the UK and Germany. With the right leadership and international presence, Folds seeks to become a global leader in premium healthcare uniforms. The company is committed to maintaining its focus on innovation and sustainability throughout this growth. Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2024 recipients here .

Interviews Explore conversations with our esteemed guests from around the world. Business (84) 84 posts Art & Design (65) 65 posts Streetwear (62) 62 posts Sneakers (43) 43 posts Wellness (30) 30 posts Food (21) 21 posts Activism (19) 19 posts Sports (18) 18 posts Photography (17) 17 posts Music (12) 12 posts Pier Five Turns Five: A Landmark End-of-Year Celebration and the Launch of Pier Five Studios Dec 15, 2025 The AI Studio: How Pier Five and HP Canada Empowered Canadian Small Businesses with AI Oct 14, 2025 Small Business Activation Grant Runner Up: Yueh Tung Restaurant Jun 22, 2025 Small Business Activation Grant Runner Up: Stimmie Jun 22, 2025 Small Business Activation Grant Winner: Grays Jun 22, 2025 Pier Five’s Mental Health Mixer: A Space to Reset, Reflect, and Connect Jun 4, 2025 Mental Movement Day with Pier Five and Puma Brings Toronto’s Creative Community Together for Yoga, Wellness, and Open Conversation Jun 3, 2025 A Spring Clean-Up Day to Remember Apr 29, 2025 5 Essential Tax Strategies for Small Business Owners to Save Money Mar 7, 2025 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Mastercard x Pier Five's 2024/25 Priceless Experience Mar 2, 2025 2024 Recipient: BocoBoco Feb 5, 2025 2024 Recipient: Lesley Hampton Feb 5, 2025 2024 Recipient: Mahara Mindfulness Feb 5, 2025 2024 Recipient: Paintillio Feb 5, 2025 2024 Recipient: Shawish Market Feb 5, 2025 2024 Recipient: Remix Snacks Feb 5, 2025 2024 Recipient: ImaginAble Solutions Feb 5, 2025 2024 Recipient: Folds Wear Feb 5, 2025 2024 Recipient: Bruized Feb 5, 2025 2024 Recipient: The Magpie Cakery Feb 5, 2025 Pier Five’s 2024 End-of-Year Celebration Dec 17, 2024 Celebrating Creativity and Community at the OOAK Show '24 Dec 5, 2024 5-Tips On Brand Building From Kuwalla Tee's Founder Yaniv Abecassis Nov 26, 2024 Pier Five Community Dinner Vol. 2 - Financial Foundations Nov 15, 2024 Toronto Community Court Day Recap: A Slam Dunk Success Oct 21, 2024 Pier Five Community Canvas For Kuwalla Tee Sep 25, 2024 Community Court Day MTL: Pier Five x PUMA x Ball Her Way x Double Dribble Sep 22, 2024 Pier Five Community Dinner: Volume 1 Jul 31, 2024 Pier Five x PUMA: Mental Health Strength Day - A Triumph of Community and Wellness May 14, 2024 Your Number One Resource With Nishal Kumar of No Days Wasted Apr 24, 2024 Playing the Game Better With Drew Stevens of Margin Skincare Mar 11, 2024 Doing It Yourself With Carol Pak of Makku Feb 7, 2024 Creating Your Identity With Jun Arnaiz of Neutria Jan 9, 2024 2023 Recipient: Joni Jan 9, 2024 2023 Recipient: Loba Jan 9, 2024 2023 Recipient: U Grow Girl Jan 9, 2024 2023 Recipient: Cubed Style Inc. Jan 9, 2024 2023 Recipient: Guests On Earth Jan 9, 2024 2023 Recipient: Dandylion Jan 9, 2024 2023 Recipient: Zing Jan 9, 2024 2023 Recipient: Inoki Bathhouse Jan 9, 2024 2023 Recipient: Spice Girl Chai Jan 9, 2024 2023 Recipient: Colour The Trails Jan 9, 2024 Pier Five’s 2023 Food Drive: Supporting Community and Fighting Food Insecurity Dec 29, 2023 Ready For Anything With Bimma Williams Nov 21, 2023 Building Your Own Spaces With Monday Girl Nov 8, 2023 Protecting Your Brand With Zak Kurtz of Sneaker Legal Oct 9, 2023 Pier Five x PUMA: Community Court Day 2023 Sep 14, 2023 Embracing Your Community With Sarah Sukumaran of Lilith NYC Sep 9, 2023 A Strong Foundation With Carlo Aragon of Salomonology Aug 25, 2023

2022 Recipient: Parkerview Brews Kombucha Introducing Parkerview Brews Kombucha, one of the five recipients of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2022! Who: Amy Kaban Where: Saskatoon, SK Instagram / Website In 2017, only a handful of kombucha brands were available in grocery stores. After trying all the kombucha Amy could get her hands on with little satisfaction, her natural inclination was to create her own! The goal was to brew kombucha that tasted better than existing ones - less tangy (vinegary), lightly sweetened, bubbly - and to incorporate local ingredients from Saskatchewan growers. Together with her husband, she began experimenting and created a kombucha that was better than any other brand she had tried previously. Today, Parkerview Brews Kombucha is the largest commercial kombucha brewery in Saskatchewan and can be found in 200+ stores across the province. The brand also has their own cafes and e-commerce making them a go-to destination for all things kombucha. Parkerview Brews is known for making kombucha that simply tastes great - it's sparkling, balanced in flavour and uses unique Saskatchewan ingredients like Saskatoon berries, sour cherries and chaga mushrooms. The business also supports local charities that help provide at-risk youth and families with food throughout the year. How has the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business fund helped you? Being a recipient of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund has been a game change for our business. The $10,000 injection has allowed us to scale and get into canning, which has been a huge goal of ours. Having the opportunity to meet other women entrepreneurs has been amazing and also to get to meet with experts in their fields, providing us with advice and motivation and connecting us with resources is just the cherry on top. "When we support other small businesses, we are supporting our local economy. When customers support me, I'm able to then put my kids into another program or course that is being run by a small business owner, which is a beautiful thing." Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2022 recipients here .

An Introduction to norda™ When You Can’t Find It, Make It Many of the guests on Pier Five can be considered problem solvers. Whether through community work, knowledge sharing or product creation, the best results come from real needs. The latest group of problem solvers to grace Pier Five with their presence comes from decades of experience as endurance athletes and lifelong shoe craftsmen who, after years of being unsatisfied with the product offering on the market, decided to take matters into their own hands. Without any further ado, we are pleased to introduce norda ™ , the world’s newest trail running footwear brand, created by runners for runners. While norda ™ was made possible by people all over the world, the brand is run by four individuals in Montreal and the East Townships in Quebec, Canada who set out on a mission to create the world’s lightest, fastest and most durable trail running shoe. While there are other brands out there with deep pockets, norda ™ feels they have the ability to take the sport by storm. This ability starts with the incredible team that makes up norda ™ . Running Is A Team Sport The company was founded by, husband and wife, Nick and Willa Martire who have spent many years as high-performance runners, bikers, skiers and hikers and nearly equal time as pioneers in the footwear industry. The two have collectively held leadership roles with major companies Aldo, Authentic Brands Group and Pretty Ballerinas LTD, developing and launching numerous high-tier brands in North America. The second half of norda ™ is equally as impressive. The brand’s Head of Design, Louis-Martin Tremblay, founder of Atelier LMTL, designs for Aime Leon Dore, KITH & SSENSE, and Gerard Cleal, who is the founder of Thompson + Cleal Agency and previously worked as Design Director for ALDO, serves as the Creative Director for norda ™ . Between the four partners with over sixty years of combined footwear experience, an incredible product, a strong international network of creators, producers and athletes, and the support of many of the best running stores around the globe, norda ™ has all the tools to make a big splash in the space. The Shoe The norda ™ shoe is unlike any other trail running shoe that exists and was made to prove that high performance and sustainability should always run together. The shoe, norda ™ 001, is made from Dyneema®: the world’s strongest and lightest fiber ™. Dyneema delivers the lowest carbon footprint per unit strength of any material. Seventy-five percent of the energy used to manufacture Dyneema Fiber® comes from renewable energy sources. The sole of the shoe is a brand new design made in collaboration with Vibram, a leader in shoe design and footwear soles, and was inspired by the Canadian Shield, the largest and strongest pre-Cambrian rock formation on Earth. The soleplate is engineered with Vibram® Litebase® technology to conserve energy and enhance your performance with a thirty percent duction in overall sole weight. The Vibram® MegaGrip® rubber delivers superior durability, traction and the strongest possible grip on both wet and dry surfaces. The norda ™ 001 was made with patience, perseverance and grit and was built to unlock every runner’s full potential. Whether you’re running around the block or fifty kilometers, norda ™ believes that everyone deserves the best and was made to deliver the ultimate running experience without compromising on the company’s sustainability goals. A Conversation With Co-Founder Nick Martire Over the next three months, Pier Five is proud to introduce a new series of content with some of the coolest people in footwear, product design, brand direction and running, made possible only by our friends at norda ™ . To kick things off, we sat down with norda ™ co-founder, Nick Martire, to chat about the journey of starting norda ™ with his wife, what it was like to build a team with a shared vision, global product manufacturing during a pandemic and much more. Read the conversation below and when you’re finished, head over to norda ™ website for an in-depth look at the sneaker and the ability to pre-order the norda ™ 001 before it sells out! Hey Nick! It’s so great to be chatting about norda ™ and this launch. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit more about how the idea of norda ™ came to be? Hey guys! Really excited to be connected. The idea of norda ™ came from my wife, Willa. We’ve both been endurance athletes for nearly all our lives and after a certain point, we couldn’t find a shoe that was light enough, strong enough and fast enough for us. We were having a conversation about this and Willa looked at me and said “why don’t you make it?”. At first it was a wild thought, but we have worked in the footwear industry for so long and I thought “ya, we could actually do this!”. Love that! If you can’t find it, make it. The norda ™ 001 is made using materials and technology from some pretty incredible companies, Dyneema and Vibram, which we can’t imagine are easy to just link up with. How did that come together and what drove you to want to work with them? We knew this shoe had to be driven by science and technology to achieve our goals. We went out looking for leading edge materials, and examined what elite rock climbers, hikers and hardcore backpackers were using. That led us to Dyneema, a material whose properties are simply unmatched. Nobody has been able to make a shoe like we did out of Dyneema and we set a mission to break the historical boundaries of performance and sustainability. It took a global team of equally like minded and stubborn people to make this happen but at the end of the day, we got it done. For Vibram, we were able to partner with them to engineer a completely new sole. They are leaders in that space and our Head of Design, Louis-Martin Tremblay, was able to create something really incredible with them, featuring all of their best technologies in weight, feel and grip. The result is a sole that Vibram calls “the Dream”, because it is their highest performance running sole ever made; and it’s exclusive to norda. That’s very cool. Besides making the best shoe from a performance standpoint, why was making a shoe with sustainable materials and processes so important for norda ™ ? It’s critical that we take responsibility for our actions. The apparel and footwear industry are some of the most polluting industries. Shoes are not recycled in any way, shape or form, and while we’re not there yet, we believe the strongest impact we can make today is to go up the supply chain to make shoes in a more sustainable manner. The goal was to make the ultimate cutting edge shoes with the smallest footprint. Most brands ignore this because it’s hard and expensive, but we won’t do that. We can’t imagine the manufacturing process was easy during the pandemic. How did you navigate everything? It definitely wasn’t easy. Many manufacturers only want to go into sure things, especially during the pandemic. We reached out to our network and friends who we have worked with for many years. You would be surprised how much goodwill there is from the people in your circle, and how much they are willing to help if they believe in your vision. For us, the R&D team in Europe and Asia was beyond committed to making this product a reality. We were working with manufacturers overseas and technology and material that had never been used to this extent in running shoes before so it was a lot of back and forth but we kept pushing. It was hundreds of hours of calls with people all over the world and, at times, we thought we wouldn’t be able to complete certain parts that we wanted to, but our team never stopped believing in our mission and what we were trying to accomplish. Well it was worth every minute. Now that the shoe is ready for launch, can you share some info about the launch strategy for the norda ™ 001? We’re very excited for the launch. Our Creative Director, Gerard Cleal, led some amazing work with Canandian creative agency LG2 and visual production house L’Eloi, to put together our digital launch strategy. We have also had the support of some of the most experienced endurance athletes and explorers from around the world to help us build awareness for the shoe’s release. The shoe goes live for pre-sale on our website on July 14th *psst it’s live now!* and we will be releasing the shoes in some of the best running shops in North America, as well as some distribution with a couple international stores. We plan on expanding internationally further in 2022. Later in August we will also be releasing a very special collaboration that we cannot wait to share more information about soon. Pier Five will have special coverage of this collaboration later in the series so be on the lookout for that! We can’t wait for all of that and are so excited to put some miles in these shoes. Lastly, for those who may not have explored the world of trail running before but might look to norda ™ to be their introduction, what tips would you give to those looking to hit the trails for the first time? Firstly, you need the right shoes! Trail shoes have more traction than road shoes, and they’re built for stability on ever changing ground. Decide where you are going and get prepared. If you’re lucky you can find a great trail in the city’s parks, or a provincial park. Make a plan for the day. Figure out how far you’re going to go and make sure you have the right amount of food and water. The weather can change quickly depending on how long you plan to be out for. Lastly, slow your pace down compared to road running, take breaks and enjoy the scenery around you. The magic of trail running is that you get to experience views and sensations that only being in a wild natural setting can provide. If you’re as stoked as we are to hit the trails with norda ™ , be sure to check out their instagram and website for more information on the norda ™ 001 and upcoming news and releases. Keep it locked to Pier Five as we continue to roll out content over the next few months with some of the coolest people in footwear, product design, brand direction and running, made only possible by our friends at norda ™ , and stay tuned for a special announcement from Pier Five & norda ™ at the end of the series.

A Conversation With Kyron Warrick aka Gotsweige Montreal based creative entrepreneur and modern renaissance man, Kyron Warrick, also known by his social channels Gotsweige, has created a name for himself as one of Canada’s fastest growing talents in fashion. As an advocate of the “don’t knock it until you try it” mentality, Kyron has made a strong effort to explore all facets of the fashion industry including styling, creative consulting for brands, content creation, product design and modelling, to develop his skills, identify what he loves and put one-hundred percent of his energy into his success. Now after nearly a decade as a Fashion Youtuber, an impressive following on Instagram and a growing portfolio of impressive clients, Kyron is on a roll and showing no signs of slowing down. Before he outgrows us all, we got a chance to link up with Kyron in his hometown of Montreal to discuss his come up, life as a YouTuber, the need for supporting local brands and never being afraid of what you love and then of course, we had to shoot some street style pics and break down his fits. You’ve been on YouTube for nearly 10 years now. What has that journey been like? It’s kind of crazy that it’s been this long. The first five years were more casual for me but the last five, I have been really focused. Content creation was something I could really take into my own hands which I liked. A lot of fashion is actually slow moving and there’s a lot of waiting around. With YouTube, I didn’t have to do that. I could make content, have fun and create new opportunities for myself through that. You’ve been really ramping up the amount of content lately and the channel has been growing at a really consistent pace. What are 5 tips you’d give to aspiring content creators to increase their success on YouTube? Consistency is definitely the biggest thing. I know people say this a lot but it’s really true. Once I got out of school and could start putting more time into content, things really started progressing. I saw the results of consistency first hand. Have your own thoughts. People will consume your content if there are your own thoughts throughout. Be inspired but make it your own. Do it because you like it and not because you’re looking for validation or growth. Know yourself. Understand what you’re good at and what you’re not good at. Once you identify your strengths, you can go full force into that. On the note of making things your own, your style has always been very unique. Did you ever face criticism for doing things a little differently? Definitely. In high school, while I did have a bunch of friends, people definitely kind of looked at me as the weird kid. I was the only person that I knew who was into fashion but didn’t let that bother me. I was so focused on learning about the industry that I didn’t care about what people thought. One of your more popular content series highlights low-key/up & coming streetwear brands. Why is shining a light on these smaller/local brands so important to you? Any you’d want to shout out today? When I was coming up, I always wished there were people that would shout me out and help me get exposure so now that I have a bit of an audience, I want to be able to be that person for others. Starting from zero is really tough so I want to help lift those people up. I also think that a lot of these brands are really cool and it’s sustainable for me to consume as well because it’s often a bit more affordable and I like knowing that my money is going to someone local and not just into the pockets of big corporations. One of the brands I really love is Wun-Off , they do a lot of pop-culture installments and have a philanthropic side to the brand as well. They recently dropped the “Covid Ruined My Spring Break” hat and used proceeds to buy toys for children in need. installments. Just did the covid ruined my spring break trucker. Grimey MTL is another one I’m really into as well. It’s a pretty common progression for content creators to start their own brands. You’ve done collabs with some in the past but would you ever consider starting your own brand? It’s definitely something that I’m thinking about. Through working with so many others, I’ve learned a lot about what I would need to put into starting my own brand and what I would and wouldn’t want it to be about. A lot of creators are making merch and I definitely don’t want my stuff to be just that. I think about this as a long term play. I won’t be doing Youtube when I’m 40 so if it’s just merch then it ends when Youtube ends. I want my brand to be something that can grow with me and outlive things that I might be doing now. Let’s talk about style now. How would you describe your personal style? What are you wearing these days? My style is very situational based but is often a combination of lively vintage 70’s style and darker silhouettes from brands like Rick Owens. I like to mix bright and dark together. Your style has followed a number of trends, from hype, to sneakerhead to luxury. Looking back on it all, what do you think were some of your best and worst moments in your fashion career thus far? I think my best moment, and potentially also my worst, was the Pyrex-Hood By Air phase. I really wasn’t aware of all that it represented. I was super impressionable, like all kids on the internet were, but it was good for me to go through that and start experimenting with things. It helped me start to really learn about what I do and don’t like. It also exposed me to some black designers who are now making huge waves. (break down Kyron’s fit with pics and labels of the items/brands) Do you think Montreal was integral in developing your style and business? I used to think that I had to get out of Montreal to make it but the internet has so much power so I have always been able to tap into cultures and people around the world without leaving. Montreal is also great as well though. It has given me so many opportunities and really shaped who I am today. In addition, whenever I go visit my family in NY or Philly I can bring that different perspective too which I think plays to my advantage. Overall, Montreal really is a power city and I think that a few more icons coming out of here will be big for putting it on the map. Justin Saunders [JJJound] is doing a lot for the city. I think a big musical figure would be huge too. Totally agree! Lastly, what's next for you? Honestly, I’m taking things day by day. Whatever I enjoy, I’ll work on. The brand is definitely in the works but I don’t have a launch date. I’m going to work on getting even more opportunities in styling as well and just see where things go. And of course, more video content! Make sure to follow Kyron Warrick on Instagram and YouTube to follow his journey and get updates on all of his new work and don’t forget to keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more.

Shaking Up An Institution With Colin Li of Hong Shing The restaurant industry is cut throat and one that is constantly evolving, which requires drive, creativity and an attention to detail and consistency to stay alive. For Colin Li, owner of Hong Shing, one of Toronto's most well-known Chinese restaurants, this challenge is one that he loves and his ability to innovate has led him to great heights. Since taking over the restaurant from his parents 8 years ago, Colin has built Hong Shing, a 25 year-old institution, not only into a notable location for Chinese eats but also a locally recognized brand and we got the chance to sit down with him to learn about his journey. Read through the interview below! Hey Colin, thanks for having us into the restaurant. You took over from your parents 8 years ago and the growth has been incredible since then. Can you speak more about that journey? The pleasure's all mine. It's definitely been a pretty wild 8 years and I'm really proud of that growth but the real accomplishment is that Hong Shing has been around for 25 years. When a restaurant, especially a Chinese restaurant which do not often stick around this long, gets to that point, it becomes an institution and being a part of that has been incredible. I came into this with no formal restaurant training but have been working hard over the last 8 years to learn every aspect of the business, from dishwashing and serving to everything in the kitchen and bar, to ensure that I can run a tight ship and turn Hong Shing, not only into a known restaurant, but also a well rounded brand. Can you speak more about Hong Shing the brand and what that entails? Yes, of course. Once I took over the restaurant, I started doing some research and came to understand that people really only think about restaurants at 11am and 6pm, right before meals when they're hungry. This means that for all of those other hours during the day, I needed to find a way to be top of mind. This is where stuff like the merch or the basketball team sponsorship comes in. I've always been into fashion and the merch idea first come from just wanting to re-invent my staff's uniform to be more casual, comfortable and approachable and it has become a really fun project that I work on with my team. For the basketball team, we sponsor a youth girls team which has been an awesome opportunity to get more involved in the basketball community and watch these girls grow into great basketball players and human beings. Wanting to uplift youth seems to be something you are passionate about. It definitely is, especially with young chefs. In the Chinese restaurant industry, almost all of the chefs are over 50 years old. Traditionally, Chinese restaurants only hire based on experience, like how many years do you have behind a wok, so no young chefs are getting into Chinese restaurants and if they do, older Chinese chefs are not normally so welcoming so young chefs out of culinary school choose to go to fine dining restaurants or other European cuisines. I'm really trying to break down those barriers and support young chefs in the Chinese community. Many of them are more experienced in the kitchen than I am but I believe I have a lot to teach them about running a successful restaurant. It's great that you take on that mentality to share your knowledge. Did you learn that from your time as a kid growing up in your parents restaurants? Not at all actually. My parents never used to speak with other Chinese restaurant owners. They would undercut each other and just tell me to focus on myself. There wasn't anything wrong with them. There was just a real sense of competition in the Chinese restaurant community back then. I wanted to change that once I took over so the first thing I did was put all Chinese chefs that I knew, young and old, into a group chat to exchange ideas and learn from each other. We can only grow so far on our own. Building this together is what will really take things to the next level. I always tell my managers "what's the point of being in first class if your friends aren't with you?" We couldn't agree more. What is something you did learn from your parents that you think was very valuable? There's a saying that my parents used to say which was "You need to learn how to be a human before you can run a business." If you know how to be a human that is kind hearted and respects others, then you will run a good business. That's a good one. Before we let you go, what are some things for the restaurant that you're looking forward to? There's a lot. Lunar new year is going to be big this year. I've spent a lot of time designing a menu that draws inspiration from my childhood which I think our customers will love. I'm also working a lot more on our retail business, so creating products for grocery stores like pre-made frozen meals and spices and sauces. As we continue to expand, that will become a huge part of our business. Lastly, we're also about to completely redo the bar area which is going to be great. It will allow us to expand our drink offerings, such as focusing on baijiu cocktails, and make for a better space to throw events this year. I want to make the space one that different creatives and groups from the community can host their own events here. I think that will be a great way to expose new people to Hong Shing but also continue to uplift other creatives which I'm passionate about. So stay tuned for that! Make sure to check out Hong Shing at 195 Dundas St. West in Toronto and check out their Instagram for updates on the restaurant and HS brand and keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews with entrepreneurs and creatives just like this!

Writing History With Sam Le Roy of Hartcopy Holding on to the past isn't always a good thing, but in the case of Sam Le Roy and Hartcopy, it couldn't be cooler! As one of Instagram's best new(ish) sneaker pages, storytelling around the coolest pairs of new and old sneakers from around the world, Hartcopy has taken the world by storm with its ethos of embracing traditional print for the digital consumer. We got the chance to speak with Hartcopy's Creative Lead, Sam Le Roy, about what got him involved in "The New Print", where he thinks sneaker culture is going, what it's like diving head first into new creative projects and the importance of confidence to get yourself into your dream position. Read and listen below for the convesation! Getting Started. Hey Sam! Thanks so much for chatting with us. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got involved with Tim and Hartcopy? So before I got started with Hartcopy I was writing for another publication call Sabukaru - great read by the way. I found Hartcopy pretty early on when it launched and then I saw Tim post on Facebook that he had started the page. I sent him a message like "Hey I'm a writer. Can we work on this together?" I wasn't expecting money or anything. Luckily Tim saw my message and I think because of my experiences at Sabukaru, he gave me a shot. This was around March or April of 2020. Damn, just like that? All about shooting your shot! My entire creative journey is all from sending that DM. All opportunities that I've had have been because if sent that message to the right person. I just found a lot of people online and now I can call them friends. Definitely don't be afraid to shoot your shot! (Listen to more below) The Execution. Hartcopy has published nearly 1,400 posts now in not that much time. Firstly, how do you choose what to write about? The biggest thing for Hartcopy is looking into the past and telling the stories of older pairs and silhouettes. A lot of people really fell in love with Hartcopy from our coverage of older grail pairs, older dunks and Jordan sneakers but we really just cover whatever we think is cool. It's really an extension of our own tastes so as long as we think it's cool then we'll post about it. Second question. How do you find the time to do all of this AND pursue a full time career? Luckily, we have a pretty good formula now for creating the content so it doesn't take that long. What is starting to take a lot of time is all of the other partnerships and projects that we are starting to do. I actually just gave my notice this week and will be doing Hartcopy full time now, which is really exciting! Oh wow! What was the thought process like behind that decision? I think it was inevitable at some point for this to happen. I have so many plans for Hartcopy in the future but they would never become a reality if I didn't take the jump now and try it. I had a moment at the Foot Patrol event where I knew that not capitalizing on this would be a massive waste. (Listen to more below) The First Book Signing. Just recently Hartcopy launched its first ever physical print sneaker book with a killer launch event at Foot Patrol in London. What was that like getting to connect with people over Hartcopy in person after being a digital first platform since the beginning? Seeing that many people come together for a product that we made was incredible. It was an amazing feeling and I definitely want to see that again. There's something really charming about bringing people together for a physical product. We've gone through so many followers and likes on Instagram but I can't visualize that. Meeting people in person creates a feeling that I really can't describe. (Photos: Foot Patrol) What's Next? I'm planning books two, three, four and five. Book two is going to be more focused around people than product, but obviously still connected to products. Book three I can't speak about it yet because it's going to be completely out of nowhere [laughs] and I wan't it to be a surprise. Looking forward, now that I'm full time, I want to also be doing things like merchandise like clothing releases in addition to the book releases. I really want to have people getting Hartcopy in hand and a big focus for me is to keep it affordable. We have a lot of things in the works as well that I can't speak about yet but just know we're going to be very busy! And lastly... a reminder from Sam to wear your shoes! Make sure to keep up with Sam and Hartcopy on Instagram for all the best sneaker content and news on their upcoming projects and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more out there.

Loba Loba Who: Kate Bouchard Where: Vancouver, BC Instagram Website How would you use the $10,000 CAD fund for your business? See All Winners

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 !

A Conversation With Cal Green of Raised By Wolves For over a decade, from Canada’s capital city of Ottawa to Montreal and back again, Cal Green has been at the forefront of the nation’s streetwear scene. As a trained graphic designer who felt uninspired by traditional design roles, Cal found happiness in entrepreneurialism, linking up with long-time friend Pete Williams to start the famed streetwear brand Raised by Wolves, and put Canada on the streetwear map. We got the chance to speak with Cal about navigating through the last year as an entrepreneur, supporting his community, putting together a cohesive collection that can speak to the masses and tips for the new generation of designers. As fellow Canadians, speaking with Cal was an absolute pleasure and we know the reading won’t be any different. Hey Cal! Thanks so much for taking some time to chat with us. The first thing we want to talk about is production. One of the core pillars of Raised by Wolves is the “Made In Canada” mantra. Why has producing in Canada been so important to you and Pete for the brand? When we started the brand, our collections were quite small and finding local suppliers seemed like the easiest way to get things made. We had no idea where to start looking overseas so we found a local screen printer to do our tees. After that we got a connection to a knitting mill and so on and so forth. Our production network in Canada grew over time and has become one of the cornerstones of the brand. While it wasn’t a consideration at the start, we grew to really value supporting domestic production and the local economy. Ensuring factory workers are paid fairly in a safe space and that we’re minimizing our environmental impact by avoiding shipping overseas is super important to us. We know that producing clothing isn’t a sustainable practice but doing it locally is at least a step in the right direction. We also try to use as much existing or deadstock materials as possible. Do you think that being Canadian played to either an advantage or a disadvantage during the development and growth of the brand? When we started there weren’t many Canadian brands around yet. I think it helped define us for sure. Ultimately I wouldn’t say it was advantageous or not but it helped shape the brand internally because we were so separated from the industry. We had to learn everything on our own by observing what was going on in places like New York and LA where there were strong streetwear subcultures at the time. Fall/Winter '21 Details Raised by Wolves has worked hard to uplift local communities, especially during covid. Why has this been so big for the brand? It has always been important for us to have a strong local presence and community support. We gained traction early on by throwing club nights and events, so we began to build in the community that way. With covid, our business basically ground to a halt when all of our factories closed. We knew that other businesses were going to have a hard time. We started a series called RBW Support Local to highlight Canadian artists and small businesses in our community doing great things. It was a lot of fun and we saw a number of other businesses coming together to do similar things. I think covid forced a lot of people to get creative and step out of their comfort zones while helping one another. We also used that brief pause as an opportunity to publish Braised by Wolves , a digital cookbook featuring recipes from local restaurants, to raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank. It is still available online and has raised just over $13,500 at the time of writing this. Definitely agreed! Speaking of RBW Support Local, who are some up and coming Canadian brands or artists that you think are doing great things right now and deserve a shoutout? Oh man, there are so many people killing it right now. Jeremy Karl - Amazing designer who always impresses with his ability to seamlessly mesh military, luxury and tech. Most recent work includes Arc’teryx System_A and NOCTA. Excited to see what’s next. Colin Meredith - Incredibly talented and inspiring designer making techwear/gear by hand from scrap materials. Has done everything from work for Louis Vuitton to making an entire collection with products from Dollarama. Tam Vu - All around great dude and Beast Bowler. His eponymous label and art biz is one of the most exciting projects that I’m watching right now. Courtney of @idorugsnow - The most fun! The giant burning cop car rug Court made for us is dropping soon. Penny of @torontodenimrepair - Love this project! Garment repair is super important and undervalued, in my opinion. There is no better way to make something your own than to wear the shit out of it, fix it and keep wearing it. Would love to see more of this in general, not just with denim. My friend Katie grew up around sewing/the garment industry and recently discovered her love of quilting .. and she’s a natural! Keep an eye out for some RBW work ;) Julien Arphi, the designer behind atelier DNHN , is doing some really amazing upcycled work. He makes ball caps, apparel and accessories from scratch in his Montreal studio. When I say scratch, I mean he is literally making the visors and sweatbands. Over the years, RBW has graduated from a couple tees and hats to large collections and collabs and now Fall/Winter ‘21. Can you break down your process for developing this recent collection? In terms of designing a collection, I start with the season. Fall/Winter or Spring/Summer. That helps determine the weight of the fabrics I’m using, what kind of garments or accessories I’m going to make. I tend to design for Canadian seasons, although that’s not necessarily the most practical approach for customers in warmer climates. After that, I’ll sort of build a skeleton collection, really it’s just written down - what product categories do you need to design for, headwear, outerwear, bottoms, etc. Depending on the season and my interests at the time of designing, I’ll come up with a broad product type, like “polar fleece half-zip” and do a bunch of research on that particular product. I ask myself what are my favourite versions of this product. Vintage Patagonia? Is there a military reference? A sportswear reference? I’ll make an image folder for each product, save a ton of images and break my favourite pieces down. I like this zipper. I don’t like these pockets. It’s a bit like creating a Frankenstein product. I nerd out about the smallest details. And then you have to ask yourself how can I make this mine? How can I change the fabric in a way that’s unexpected, but still references workwear or whatever you’re doing. How will it be branded? This is more or less how I approach the design of each particular product, but then you also need to take a step back and look at the collection as a whole. Is it cohesive? Does it make sense? I honestly don’t know how other people do it, but this makes sense in my head. Coming up with specific products can be challenging enough, but finding the manufacturer who can actually bring these products to life, the way you envision them, is another beast altogether. Many manufacturers have a niche and are good at producing a specific type of product. Finding the right manufacturer can be a challenge, but worth the effort when you do. Fall/Winter '21. Shot by William . Modelled by Kevin . Rug by Courtney . You and Pete have been working together all the way back to the very early 2000’s and built some incredible things together. What are some tips you’d share for fostering a strong business partnership that can last for decades? Pete and I met in middle school and started hanging out in high school. We have a lot of shared interests and values which brought us together. Good communication is super important. Being aware of your individual strengths and weaknesses. Make sure that you’re both putting in equal efforts. I think these are some of the things that form the basis of a strong partnership. Photo: Pete (left) & Cal (right) from wayyyy back. What is some advice you’d give to new designers trying to turn their passion into a business? You have to do it for yourself and because you’re passionate about it. Don’t do it because you think it’s going to please others. Don’t let a lack of information stop you from trying to make stuff. Do your research, teach yourself, refine your craft. Take risks, but know when to play it safe or say no. Lastly, what are you working on these days that you’re excited about? We have a bunch of exciting collabs in the works. Some footwear, headwear and amazing accessories. Not going to share more than that, but they’ll start rolling out soon! I’m also really excited to introduce our upcoming alpha/beta line we’ve been developing with Julien Arphi. This collection will consist of one-of-one or super limited runs of upcycled/recycled apparel and home wares made by independent artists, sewists and designers. The focus is on using our samples, defects, returns and overstock fabric/trims as well as military surplus, vintage denim, etc. alpha/beta is a reference to the hierarchy or pecking order in a wolf pack. alpha products get to eat first so to speak. They get access to premium materials, are more experimental, one-of-one pieces. beta products reference alpha, but are more accessible and produced in limited runs. delta products are accessories, made of scrap materials from the entire process. The pandemic made us realize just how much material we have accumulated over the years. We’ve never destroyed anything, as is unfortunately commonplace in the industry, so it was important for us to challenge ourselves to use these materials to create new products. I hope to see more of this kind of thing throughout the industry. Photos: Materials and wash tests for alpha/beta line. Make sure to check out Raised By Wolves Fall/Winter '21 collection out now on the brand's website and follow their instagram for updates on the alpha/beta drop and more great releases coming soon. As always, keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more.

2024 Recipient: Lesley Hampton Explore the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund Introducing Lesley Hampton, one of the ten recipients of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2024! Founder: Lesley Hampton Location: Toronto, ON Discover Lesley Hampton online: Website // Instagram About Lesley Hampton Lesley Hampton is a luxury fashion brand that blends Indigenous artistry with contemporary design, celebrating cultural heritage while emphasizing mental wellness and body neutrality. The brand has four key pillars: direct-to-consumer, custom design services, corporate partnerships, and wholesale. Lesley Hampton offers both ready-to-wear pieces and bespoke designs tailored for clients seeking unique, ethically made fashion, while its corporate collaborations promote Indigenous representation across industries. With wholesale stockists in New York, Toronto, and Seattle, the brand is expanding its reach and visibility. Additionally, Lesley Hampton's founder contributes to the brand’s success through public speaking, modelling, styling, and event coordination, building strong relationships within the fashion community. How will the fund make an impact with your business? With the $10,000 from the Mastercard x Pier Five Fund, I plan to expand my team to support the growth of Lesley Hampton, especially as I work to introduce a more accessible mid-tier collection. The funds will allow me to hire an operations manager, a customer service representative, and a marketing specialist, all of whom will play key roles in refining our processes, enhancing customer relationships, and increasing awareness of our new offerings. This team expansion will help streamline our operations and improve our capacity to produce and market a collection that retains the luxury quality of my designs but is more affordable for a broader audience. By enhancing our supply chain and marketing efforts, I can ensure that we maintain the integrity of my brand while introducing Indigenous-designed fashion at a more accessible price point. This new line will further our mission to amplify Indigenous representation in fashion and reach more customers who connect with our values of inclusivity, cultural pride, and mental wellness. What is your long term goal for the company? Over the next 3-5 years, my goal for Lesley Hampton is to establish the brand as a leading voice in Canadian and Indigenous fashion, with a strong focus on representation and inclusivity. I aim to showcase at major international fashion weeks, starting with New York Fashion Week, and become one of the first Indigenous designers to headline a solo show. Alongside this, I plan to invest in community initiatives to support the next generation of Indigenous designers and foster collaborations to amplify our collective voices. Ultimately, I want to create a lasting legacy that promotes inclusivity, mental wellness, and cultural pride in the fashion industry. Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2024 recipients here .