Liz Beecroft is a practicing mental health therapist and licensed social worker residing in New York. She has grown a large following on social media through the crossing over of her therapy practice and passion for sneaker culture and basketball. Liz is also the founder of MENTL, a space that advocates and educates around matters of mental health and wellbeing. ​ @lizbcroft Mental health is super important and awareness around it has become increasingly high during a pandemic. As more people start to understand how much mental health matters, what are 5 mental wellness or self care routines people can try to help them through their day to day? Listen to your body and your mind. If you need to rest, rest. Try and get outside. Get fresh air and exercise. You'll build up endorphins which will help with your mood. Be mindful of what you’re putting in your body. Unhealthy food and drinks can leave lasting effects leading to depression. Mindfulness is key. It doesn't always have to be meditation but something that forces you to focus in that moment - ex baking or cleaning. Check in with your support system. Stay connected in the best ways you can with your friends and family. You’ve done a number of collaborations with some well known brands where the partnership was centred around mental health awareness & giving back. What do you think are 5 important things brands can/should do to advocate for these causes all year round? Keep in mind that mental health is 24/7-365. Don't just highlight it for the big mental health holidays to be relevant at that time. Start from within. Brands needs to practice what they preach. Employees need to be trained on how to identify symptoms and know when to take breaks. Brands also need to give resources to their employees to help them when they need it. Consult with professionals if you’re going to talk about mental health. There is right & wrong language that can be used and it's important for brands to be cognizant of that. Understand your resources. Have some component of giving back. Thing about what this is actually doing for mental health outside of just saying it's for mental health. Similar to the previous point but consider a giveback piece. Donate to a non-profit with the earnings. ​ What are your top 5 sneakers in your rotation right now and why? Reebok Question Mid. I'm from Pennsylvania and Allen Iverson is my all-time favourite. Reebok Answer 5. I remember buying that pair in a Mens 9 when I was younger. It was way too big but I didn't care. It was still super cool to me. Jordan 17. In 5th grade I was begging my parents for this pair from the Eastbay magazines. They got them for me in the summer but by the time school started I had already grown out of them [laughs]. Funny enough I got gifted a pair last Christmas so it was a really cool full circle moment. Adidas T-Mac 2 "All Star Pack". Love T-Mac and love these shoes. Jordan 1. It's a classic and there are so many good colourways. You’re no stranger to the court and we know basketball is a big part of your life. Who are your top 5 basketball players (dead or alive)? Allen Iverson Jason Kidd Dikembe Mutombo - I met him on a Disney cruise in 7th grade [laughs]. Shawn Kemp Michael Jordan - As an AI fan I didn't love Jordan growing up but he's gotta be in my top 5. ​ Mental health is sometimes seen as a touchy subject but you’ve made it a very accessible and inclusive topic for others by merging information with creative design and sneaker culture. Where do you find inspiration and what are 5 resources or tools that you look to to expand your knowledge? I look at who I am as a person. Mental health doesn't always have to be pink and green pastels (not hating on pastels!). I want my information sharing to reflect what I'm thinking. I linked up with Christian Gonzalez for MENTL. He understands me and mental health a lot and is super open about it and such a good help for me to get my thoughts out. The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) & colleagues in the space that have similar interests. Psycology Today Alyssa Petersel is awesome! She founded a great site called MyWellbeing which helps match patients with the right therapists. Non-profits like the JED Foundation are always inspiring and very great resources. ​ What are five brands that you think are doing great things for mental health and self care that you’d love to work with? Chintatown Market - They're awesome and I'd like to work with them to add credibility to their mental health work. Brain Dead. Such a great brand. They're awesome. Disney - they don't talk about mental health but I love Disney and think that’d be really cool New Balance And for #5, I have 6 more people who are all dope haha Jerry Lorenzo Salehe Bembury Jeff Staple Billy Eilish Lil Dicky Post Malone (his album is about leaving LA because it was superficial). Lots of mental health references in there!

Jazz Alba is a Toronto based graphic designer, known for his Simpsons style recreations of famous moments in pop culture and basketball. He caught the attention of many with his work covering the 2019 Toronto Raptors Championship Run and has since had his work featured by notable publishers like Complex and NiceKicks , in addition to collaborating with brands such as FootLocker and Puma. ​ @jazzalba.jpg Between a family, full time job and your work as a part-time designer, I imagine your schedule can get pretty busy. With the pressures of staying attentive and up to date on everything, what are 5 ways you stay organized and manage your time? Put everything in the calendar. This is super important for me to organize my meetings and I have a shared calendar with my family for appointments. Create a systemic way to organize folders. This one may not apply to everyone but as a graphic designer, this is really important be able to find things easily. I make sure to properly name every file and layer. Pen & Paper. It’s basic but often when I can't use my laptop, it's great to have a notepad and pen available. Tutorials. These are often overlooked but I'm always looking for ways to improve my sells and make me a more efficient worker. Take breaks. Have a breather. You need that to reset your focus to be more efficient. When I was drawing around the Raptors championship stuff, a reset every now and then was super helpful. ​ You’ve covered some of the greatest moments in sports and pop culture through your designs. What are your top 5 moments you’ve drawn and why?​ Raptors champs team on the couch - a nod to the start of every Simpsons episode. Anything Kawhi because everyone loved it! The Last Dance - a great mix of everyone tuning in to watch the show. Bianca Andreescu Rogers Cup win. This was a huge moment for Canada! NBA x Disney bubble . I love the characters and being able to represent the current state of basketball. Who are 5 people you haven’t drawn before that you admire? Can you draw them for this interview? Hmm... The drawings would take me some time but these are some people I definitely want to draw, if not already in the works! ​ Jamal Murray (and maybe just all of Canada basketball) The whole Denver Nuggets team is dope. I’d like to draw them. 1990 Toronto Raptors - The McGrady/Vince Carter Era was the best! Toronto Raptors coaching staff - people dont see them enough but they were a big part of the win. Jack Armstrong and Matt Devlin with the tagline “Helloooo” ​​ You’ve really set yourself apart by owning the classic Simpsons style but throughout the years you experimented with many different styles. What are 5 things you’d recommend to any artist looking to establish their own style and set themselves apart? Find your niche. I picked Simpsons + Sports (mostly Raptors) or sneakers. There's a great book called Feel Like An Artist which has a quote “don't wait until you know who you are to get started”. Finding a niche can take time but just try things out. Enjoy what you do and take a break if you’re not feeling it. Keep track of every idea. Save every image. Save all your thoughts. These small ideas could generate the big picture one day. Be consistent. If you keep changing your style, no one will know what you're about. “Just keep going”. Don't worry about the hate. Just do you if you like it. ​ Lastly, your work has inspired many and we’re curious to know, who are 5 artists that you are inspired by that others should check out? Matt Groenin (obviously!) - the creator of the Simpsons Kaws - he has done a lot with the Simpsons (Kimpsons) and uses colours really well. He also does a great job merging cultures like the classic bus ads. Andy Warhol Roy Lichtenstein Alexmdc ​ Also special shoutout to my cousin Bigseph who's a dope graffiti artist

Edgar Nunes, know by his Instagram page Vinyl Art Not A Toy is an art collector based in Miami. As a young kid, Edgar grew a strong interest for toys, collecting legos and then transitioned to vinyl toys in the early 2000's. Over time, Edgar became enthralled with the art of contemporary artists like Kaws, DFace, Ron English & Shepard Fairey and has now amassed one of the most impressive collections of vinyl art in the USA with over 700 pieces. ​ @vinyl_artnotatoy For those newer to the space, what are five things that differentiate vinyl art from toys? ​ This is actually hard to define and everyone's definition can vary. Toys inspire art. Art inspires toys. People classify pieces based on their past, their interests and their tastes. That being said, these are some points of differentiation that often apply.​​ Quality, materials & price. Vinyl art is made from premium vinyl as opposed to plastic found in toys. Vinyl art is heavier and feels more solid and usually comes at a higher price. As children we collect toys and mature to collecting vinyl art. This is often influenced by higher prices for vinyl art. Uniqueness. Vinyl art is created by an artist. There are characters that are thought out and developed. This makes them original and unique. Toys are more simple and designed for consumption by large corporations. Production quantity. Toys are mass produced and mass distributed. Vinyl art is often produced in limited quantities. Decision by authority: That which we find in galleries and museums is usually in the art class and not a toy. This is a much more subjective point but often influenced by the above 4 points. ​ Your page heavily focuses on Kaws, one of the most popular artists when it comes to vinyl art. For those who might be less familiar with his work, what are 5 things that make Kaws such a well regarded artist. Original and Authentic Work: Kaws in the 90s began to do graffiti on the streets, which contributed to Street Art in New York and other cities such as Paris, London, Berlin and Tokyo, intervening on billboards, phone booths and bus stops with his graffiti and characters. Created his own style and brand: During that time he created a distinctive art expression, a brand with his pseudonym "KAWS" and his signature XX's as eyes in all of his works. Strategic Alliances: The projects that he had in collaboration with others artists, designers and brands was strategic in creating his own brand known as OriginalFake in Tokyo, from 2006-2013. Through OriginalFake he produced a variety of items, such as clothes, objects and vinyl art, all with the iconic graphics and characters that characterized it. He thinks big and without limitations: Taking risks with his work to include other materials and formats, such as presenting his toys as large wood and bronze figures and inflatables which are exhibited in outdoor spaces and museums around the world. He harnesses the power of social media such as Instagram which contributed greatly to his art being known worldwide. This helped attract the attention of collectors and critics, and today we see the result, a living artist, achieving major recognition a way that not even KAWS could have imagined. ​Brands he's collaborated with: Realmad Hectic, Bounty Hunter, Kubrick, Bearbrick, MediconToy, Nigo, Bape, Neighborhoud, Blitz, Sorayama, Robert Lazzarini, Undercover, Wonderwall, Disney, Peanuts, All Right Reserved, Dior, UNIQLO, Sesame Street. Etc. ​ You seem to have a pretty substantial collection of vinyl art yourself. What are your top 5 pieces in your collection and why? ​ "Can I break this into three parts? [laughs]" ​ For most meaningful: The Rocky and Mugsy (vinyl) couple from 1994, produced by Loony Tunes, which I bought at the Warner Bros. Studio store on my first trip to NY. My first KAWS piece the “Passing Through Companion” (Black). I never imagined that this TOY would be the one that started this great addiction for Kaws Toys. It was a birthday present. “Boba Fett” from the KAWS Star Wars series. The level of detail achieved in the piece is amazing and it was a difficult piece to acquire due its popularity. Yoshitomo Nara. Pup Cup, 2003. and The Little Wanderer, 2003. Injection molded and rotomolded plastic. I love it because it differs in style with the whole collection of vinyl art and toys that I have. An custom 8” Dunny that I hand painted myself inspired by a trip I made to Alaska. The 5 best pieces in my collection if we talk about only Kaws are: Boba Fett Astroboy (Monochrome) Passing Though Companion (Black) Kaws Companion by Roberto Lazarrini Kaws Companion: Resting Place (Flayed) ​ The 5 best artists I have pieces for in my entire collection: Kaws Mark and Sven (Coarse) Huck Gee Jon-Paul Kaiser (Customizer and Creator) Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas ​ ​ With the rise in popularity of vinyl art, there have been more and more counterfeit (FAKE) products coming onto the market. What are 5 things people can look for to help them find authentic vinyl art? Pay attention to the artists and galleries. The best place to get art (and release information) is from the artist themselves or galleries exhibiting them. Information Gather! If you're buying from a third party site, make sure to get: Origin and quality/condition of the toy Year of production Pictures of all angles of the toy and the packaging Weight of the piece If not brand new - Information on its use Ask for help! Contact collectors or experts in collectibles for a second opinion. Know where to buy. Acquire vinyl art directly from specialized stores or galleries that deal in the Vinyl Toys industry. Be ready to invest. If you want to have an original piece of vinyl art you have to invest a little more money. Great pieces come at a price. ​ Who are 5 up and coming artists you have your eyes on that we should also check out? ​ I cant't stop at 5. These are some artists venturing into Vinyl material and they have presented some very interesting proposals: Arkiv @arkivvilmansa (Indonesia) Danil Yad @danil_yad Matt Gondek @gondekdraws Theodoru @Theodoru Fidia @fidia Javier Calleja @javicalleja Edgar Plans @edgarplans Mike Lee @immikelee Mark Whalen @mark__Whalen (Resin not vinyl) LY @ly_painter

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.

Daniel Navetta, aka The Air Vegan is Queen's man wearing many hats. He has built a more than impressive resume as co-founder and director for film studio Bryght Young Things, co-creator of the Business of Hype podcast and full-time advocate for responsibility and "sustainability" in fashion and footwear through his platforms The AIR VEGAN and FutureVVorld. Dan focuses much of his time researching and educating on ways government, businesses and consumers can be more earth friendly in their activities has developed unique POV and inspired audience through creative design and storytelling. ​ @theairvegan // @futurevvorld // @byt.nyc Besides using more recycled materials or reducing the shoebox footprint (Air Hippie single box), what are your 5 things brands are doing to become more sustainable that you think are really great? ​ This is a tricky question because of the term "sustainable". Put bluntly, the only way to be sustainable is to cease to exist. We have enough stuff. Period. If we look at how production is run, how the industry treats workers, how the brands promote mass consumption, nothing about this is truly sustainable. ​ However, I'm still excited about the space and there are things I think brands can do to be better such as: Using more scrap materials for products. Increase transparency into how brands are carbon scoring and make stronger commitments. Invest more into lab grown materials (biofabrication) Simpler construction. The Nike Presto was made to be one piece of fabric and use less glue. Considering how the product returns to the earth. Make product that is repairable and then biodegradable. ​ High consumption is obviously a big issue in sneaker culture. Besides limiting purchases, what are five things sneaker enthusiasts can do to be more responsible in their day-to-day lives?​ Shop local - This encompasses the localization of production, fair wages, more care and reduces carbon emissions from shipping. We’re in this vicious cycle of making things cheaply overseas and then we ship it a million times until it gets to the customer. I’d rather pay $250 to know this was made locally by someone who got a lunch break and who’s family has health insurance and it wasn’t shipped all over the world to get to me. Consider repairing and mending. Extending the life of our products is very important. Celebrate worn sneakers. Stop buying new things every week. Enjoy using what you have. Im trying to make it cool to own less shit. Donate gently used pairs with clear intentions of where they are going, and to whom. Use your digital platform to amplify environmental responsible and equitable practices in sneakers. Our social media platforms are a place where we can inspire others- let’s talk about workers rights, fair wages, materials transparency, and conscious consumption. Let’s make that hypeworthy. ​ We just released a great post on FutureVVorld about recycling clothing that also touches on these things that I think many will be into. ​ Between your full time job at BYT, Air Vegan, FutureVVorld and all your other creative endeavours, it’s hard to understand how you even find time to sleep! What are 5 tips on time management and organization that you can share? I believe in focused bursts of energy. If I need twenty minutes to finish something, it's phone down, music on, avoid distractions and get it done. I wake up very early. I crush my to-do list as early as possible. Harness momentum, if you’re feeling it, run with it. Theres a great book called FLOW by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi that's all about being in the zone that I recommend. Exercise and eat healthy. Those two things make me very focused. I want to get my work done so I can go for a run. Of all of it, sobriety is probably the most essential element. ​​ With the continued growth of podcasts and the emergence of social audio apps like clubhouse, audio content seems like it’s here to stay. Being the co-creator of the podcast series “Business of HYPE” for Hypebeast; what are 5 keys/pillars you see to building a successful audio-content platform? Interesting stories. This is obviously important. Respect the listener. Keep asking yourself "can this be more dynamic? " Channel people’s imaginations and initiate a spark for people. Consistency. Don't stop working. ​ You’re the Founder & Director of Bryght Young Things and have worked with a number of high profile clients. Looking back at your journey as a creative, and knowing what you know now, what are 5 pieces of advice you’d give to your younger self or a young creative today? Reach out to someone who you want to shadow. Work harder than you think you need to. Be honest at all times. Treat everyone with the same level of respect, regardless of position, experience, etc.. Don’t expect people to unlock your creativity for you, show them as early as possible and as often as possible. Create beyond the clients, it will inform the journey.

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!

Amanda & JP are the powers behind Post Design Collective, a space for artists, creators and of course lovers of vintage furniture to connect, collect and share stories. Both in the midst of completing their Masters in Architecture, Amanda & JP are passionate experts in the different eras of design which has complimented their business of buying and selling beautiful vintage furniture pieces from around the world. ​ @postdesigncollective Here's a question that has been on our mind for a while. A lot of us are living in small apartments downtown. What are 5 tips you would share to anyone looking to make the most out of a small living space? Declutter. Less is definitely more when it comes to organizing and decorating your space. Select a few enjoyable and meaningful pieces to you to fill your space. Ideally, everything that is out has a purpose. Lighting is key! Ceiling lights are great but filling your space with lamps and different levels and temperatures of light will allow you to go through your day with ease and will greatly open up your space. Plants are great! They bring life into your space and the pop of colour makes a space pop. “Light” furniture, whether it be light coloured, visually light (“light feeling”) or space saving can really help open up a room. With the growing popularity of vintage design, it’s not always easy to find amazing pieces at a good price but you two seem to have it figured out. What are 5 things you’ve learned overtime about searching for unique furniture pieces (at a reasonable price)? Hard to say, there really isn’t a formula to find, source, or curate items. Yes, we do have a collection, however this is only a small fraction of what is ever available, at any scale. If we had to give 5 pieces of advice it would be: Look everywhere. You never know where something will pop up. Be on Facebook, Kijiji, Instagram, Reddit, Blogs, etc. We've had some great finds pop up when we were least expecting. If you're interested in collecting vintage, like up to 70 year old vintage, be ready to deal with blemishes or breaks. People skip over pieces that are damaged but if you're willing to mend cracks, patch holes, reupholster, source a part, or get one remade, that's where the fun and the best finds are. Be ok missing out on items. Demand is higher than ever for this stuff and sometimes you don't get something you want. It's definitely one of the frustrating things about what we do, but that's ok. There will be more! If you like it, be ready to pay! Going off of our last point, demand is high and we often pay over asking price. Bidding wars happen so know your max and fight for it! Make sure you are going after pieces YOU like. We focus on quality, design and pieces that we love but we also know our style is constantly shifting. Focus on what you like and stay flexible and you'll have a lot of fun. ​ In sneaker culture right now, faux-vintage/aging is a big thing and it looks like that’s making its way to furniture as well. What are five ways to tell or things to look for to know if furniture is actually vintage / authentic? ​ We run into this question a lot, especially in our situation of day-day sourcing. We think there are 3 key things. The best overall message is to simply be knowledgeable with what you are purchasing. We as curators at Post Design do our best to learn as much about the piece before purchasing, listing, and then passing that knowledge down to the new owner, being 100% confident in all the pieces we sell. If we are not certain, we do not list as an authentic piece. Look for any signs indicating that it's an original, whether it be a stamp, label, sticker, Certificate of Authenticity, weld profiles, screws used (yes even this), weight of the item in some cases, thickness of ply and amount of layers, etc. And even then, unfortunately in some cases it is hard to authenticate. There are authentic pieces that are new, and still made by the original manufacturer, so that’s another thing to keep in mind (eg. Herman Miller, Ligne Roset, etc). This interesting dance of new production vs vintage production vs replica(tion) vs original is extremely interesting in itself, and is actually largely the topic of my (JP’s) Thesis. I could go on about specific nuances and how economic shifts and social behaviour has shaped these markets, along with controversial brands, pieces and designers. Maybe in another chat! ​ Who are five designers/makers anyone looking to get into vintage / mid century design should become familiar with? A loaded Question! We are going to include inspirational designers from the Bauhaus, Mid-Century, and Memphis era (that really influenced these movements), but also some newer, more contemporary designers/accounts that we enjoy. These designers were not just known for their designs, but rather how influential they were on the world of design, the production of furniture and the change in social perception of design. ​ Bauhaus: Marcel Breuer Mid-Century: Alvar Aalto / Eero Saarinen / Charles + Ray Eames Memphis: Etorre Sottsass / Memphis Group IG accounts to checkout: @chair.only (Catalog) @onlyonceshop (Vintage Catalog & Shop) @vitradesignmuseum (Vintage Catalog + Informative) @furniturearchive (Vintage Catalog) @furniturefolder (Vintage Catalog) (Bonus) Alexis Christodoulou (@teaalexis) (Designer, not vintage though) ​ If you could travel anywhere in the world to hunt for furniture (and shipping them back was not an issue haha), where are 5 places you’d go? Brazil. You know those huge puffy couches? They're called the Percival Couch. That's Brazil! Anywhere in Europe (Germany, France, Denmark, etc) of course! Japan. They have such an interesting culture when it comes to architechture. A wild fact: Many homes in Japan have only a 20-30 year lifespan and then they're torn down and rebuilt. When new ownership takes over, the building is worthless and all the value is in the land. Read more here. ​ Lastly, do you have a top five finds of all time? This always changes! Eames DCM Dining Chairs in Maple by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, Circa 1970 Danish Teak 4 Bay Wall Unit by Erik Buch Mr. Chair by George Mulhauser for Plycraft Tamara chair by Arrben Italy (chrome w patina leather) Rosewood Model 71 Dining Chairs by Niels Moller for J.L. Mobelfabrik (Set of 8)

Tara Miller is a Certified Nutritionist, Intuitive Eating Counsellor and Diet Recovery Coach, as well as an advocate of the Anti-Diet movement. Through her experiences in nutrition and healthy living, she founded Health Hut, one of Toronto's premier destinations for the best health and wellness products. Tara has taken a kinder approach towards promoting health, emphasizing the importance of pleasure, flexibility and autonomy in your individual journey. ​ @taramariemiller // @shophealthhut A lot of people see dieting as a way to become “healthier” or more “fit” but you are an anti-diet nutritionist. What are 5 common misconceptions or things people should understand before looking at dieting as a solution? Diets don’t work. We as humans are not hardwired for restriction. Diets interfere with our innate ability to feed and care for ourselves by ignoring our inner cues and desires. When we look outside ourselves for answers on how to eat, it is not an enjoyable or sustainable practice. Restriction increases our desire for “forbidden” or “off limit” foods. It also causes that “out of control” feeling that is just a reaction to deprivation, but often deemed a moral failing or lack of willpower. Diets come at a cost to other areas of our life like mental and emotional health. Dieting won’t make you more “healthy” or fit, especially since they can not be sustained. Eating more veggies can positively contribute to health, as well engaging in movement you enjoy will help improve fitness levels. Consider the actions that are more directly related to your goals, adding in rather than taking away, and listening to your body as you go. Besides the HH Blog, what are 5 books or blogs that have great information about nutrition and healthy living that people should check out? What are 5 easy things people can do at home to help with their mental health and wellness? Get to know yourself. Ask questions and get curious - what do you need more/less of? Replace your critical voice with a compassionate one (this gets easier with practice) Stop comparing yourself to others, embrace your uniqueness Try seeing the glass as half full Find pleasure in the mundane We of course have to ask, as a nutritionist, what are five of your favourite foods? Pizza with pineapple A leafy salad with radicchio, greens, lots of herbs tossed with a garlicky vinaigrette Cheese, crackers and olives Chocolate, banana and peanut butter smoothies Pasta (all types!)​ The story of selling products out of an old Ice Cream Hut is so fun! We know this might be tricky but can you break down, in 5 steps, how you made the big leap from Ice Cream Hut to Downtown Toronto shop? Slow and steady! We have made lots of small moves over the past ten years to get to where we are now. An AMAZING team of people Consistent hard work A supportive customer base and community Staying positive :) Small business shoutout time! What are 5 great lunch spots in Toronto that everyone should know about? Bar Isabel has a great fixed price lunch right now! Daily Dumpling Wonton Co is amazing. Their vegan dumplings are an HH staff favourite! You have to try their chilli oil, too. Barocco Nino for delicious pizza, Italian sandwiches and cannoli Sunshine Market makes great smoothies, veggie heavy wraps and sandwiches Harry Charbroiled - The Classic Jane burger is another staff fave

Aran Raviandran is the Creative Director and Strategist for Canadian streetwear brand Get Fresh Company. Aran is an expert in style and collaborations and has been at the frontlines of special projects with organizations like Puma, Remy Martin and The Toronto Raptors as well as the City of Toronto for the annual Caribana Block Party which brings over a million people into the city. ​ @aranvandelay // @getfreshcompany Aran great to chat again! Canada has been a melting pot for creatives and new brands lately. Who are 5 designers or brands that you're really excited about right now? So much great talent out there and I'm really feeling:​ Apply Pressure Adidem Asterisks Mr. Saturday Prescribed Shelter and Get Fresh Company (of course!) It seems like lately inspiration has been harder and harder to come by with the lockdown but where are 5 places in Toronto that you go to get inspired? ​ Honestly it’s hard to pin-point one single place, let alone 5 [laughs]. The city is so diverse and everywhere has something unique to offer from east to west. I will say any Hookah bar is a good start. I’ve done some of my best scheming’ there! ​ Even though we're not getting out much, fashion trends are definitely still coming and going? What are the trends you're really feeling these days? ​ Staying in has changed what I'm into for sure but I’ll forever love a comfortable fashion trend. No matter how fly it looks, If I don’t feel comfortable I don’t want it. We've been putting out some new sweats lately that are perfect! ​ What are 5 things that are key to building a brand in Toronto? ​ Have an end vision and don’t veer from it Only pivot when absolutely necessary - this doesn’t mean pivot on the vision, more so on how to get there. Build a strong team / network Listen to your customers, we live in a end user society. Truly love what you’re building or else it’s not going to happen. ​ Lastly, we've been seeing some unreal photoshoots from GFC and would love to know, what are 5 tips to a successful fashion photoshoot? Lint roller Give yourself more than enough time Prep your key shots ahead of time Create a pose board / vision board Have a good playlist ready to bump

Bunny & Taran Ghatrora are the founders of Blume, a Canadian self care and period products brand that is building a safe space for young women to "learn, grow and become their badass selves." Bunny & Taran are experts in fundraising and brand building and are recipients of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Award. ​ @blume // @bunny.ghatrora & @taran_smiles Whether for a teen or parents of a teen, what are 5 pieces of advice you’d give to young females as they embark on their journey with puberty? Remember that you're not going through this alone! Everyone has or will go through puberty and what you're experiencing is *normal*!! Keep doing the things that make you feel good, whether this be painting, running, playing sports or riding horses. If you have hobbies you love, keep doing them! Make time for self care! Prioritize it! Keep away from things that don't make you feel good. This could be friends that make you feel bad, social media or other. If it doesn't make you feel good, you don't need it! If you have questions about the changes your body is going through, ask a friend, family member, guardian, teacher, doctor or other adult you feel comfortable speaking to! ​ Many siblings are great friends but you have taken it one step further! What are 5 tips/tricks for running a business with your sibling? Communicate often & clearly. Sometimes it's easy to assume the other person *knows* what you're thinking, and sometimes that is totally the case (one of the benefits of running a biz with a sibling) BUT that's not always the case and can get you into trouble if you lean on short hand communication too often. Prioritize your meetings the same way you would with someone else on your team. Show up on time, be attentive, have an agenda, etc… Set time aside to hang as just siblings! Keep that time separate from work time. Always remember that you're on the same team when it comes the business. You always have each other's backs and you're both rowing in the same direction. Be mindful of the other person's schedule: Running a biz with a sibling can often feel like the two of you do *everything* together, so when/if ever one person has plans or is doing something else, or taking some much needed time off, be sure not to bombard them with work related questions. ​ You have raised some serious money for Blume over the years. What are 5 tips you'd share to someone looking to raise money for their startup? You have to raise money FULL TIME. Tightly pack your meetings into a concentrated period of time and devote all of your energy to this. You ideally will have a co-founder/employee who will keep things running while you're devoting your time to this. Otherwise, this can drag on and diminish your sense of urgency. Ask for a yes or a no! Investors will always say maybe, because they don't want to say no. They want to keep the conversation open and might change their mind. They want to see if someone else invests or something changes. But saying, kindly but firmly, that "I really need a decision from you so I can move on" forces people to make a decision. Create a sense of scarcity. Say up front that you have "X" amount committed (only if you have, of course!) and that there's only this much left in the round. Blume specifically was only looking to raise about 1.5K, and through creating the sense of scarcity, ended up raising more! Be very clear about what impact that money is going to have your business. i.e. "I am doing "X" amount of revenue now, and with this much invested, I'm going to do "Y" amount. It is going to come from these specific channels and my team is going to be this big." Don't just say "I'm going to use the money to grow my business", be hyper-specific! Find a lead investor. People are going to ask you who your lead is, and they want someone to take the lead and start the trend. Tier 1 or Tier 2 investor is best, but also make certain that there's value alignment, that you've checked their references and - if it makes sense for you - ensured that they have follow up capital.​​ What are 5 must-see/try spots when visiting Vancouver? Bike or rollerblade the seawall (a must!) Day trip to Whistler Whytecliff Park or Jericho Beach for a picnic and views! Earnest Ice Cream & Miku Sushi are both amazing Brunch at Jam Cafe! Last but not least, which one of you fits each of the 5 following categories? The Partier - Bunny The Dancer - Both The Clumsy one - Taran The Bookworm - Taran The Foodie. - Both

Tristan Banning is a leader in spreading culture. In 2008 he founded Sidewalk Hustle, a music podcast which has since transformed Canada's premier media platform for all things music, fashion, food and art. When he's not overseeing interviews with some of the worlds leading musicians and designers, Tristan is probably cooking up the next stellar fit pic or adding to his more tan impressive collection of rare Supreme accessories. ​ @tristanbanning // @sidewalkhustle From Ziplock bags to Oreos and ping pong paddles, you’re known to be an avid Supreme accessories collector. What are your top 5 Supreme accessories that you own or really want? LOL oh man! Well that all happened by accidentally tbh. I started collecting as kind of a reverse collector, meaning, I really like coffee, and I really like ramen (for example) so when I saw the supreme coffee mugs or the ramen noodle bowl I was like “I want that 😍😍”. So if I were to list my top 5 it would go like this (in no particular order): Honorable Mentions: Although phone cameras are essentially pocket-sized DSLR’s these days, you’re an advocate for film photography. What are 5 tips for anyone looking to shoot with film? Woof… good question. One reason I like film so much is that it’s not instant. In a world of instant gratification we want to take a picture, post it on social and get the likes right away. It spikes our endorphins and makes us happy but also makes us want more. You take a 100 pics and then pic which one you like the most from that and edit it or what have you. With film, you need to slow down. You need to consider framing, lighting and distance to subject. You need to hold still, you need to breathe. Then after that you need to wait to take the film in, develop it and then see if any of the pics worked. So you need to have confidence in yourself and what you’re doing. And sometimes it still doesn’t work out. But then at least you learned something. So my advice... Get a cheap film camera, a disposable from the local drug store and head out and shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Then learn from your shots. If you dig the process and the outcome you can start looking for “better” cameras on eBay or in film photography groups. Enjoy the ride. It’s a pretty fun journey if you’re down. In addition to Supreme, you’re a big sneaker collector. What are 5 sneakers you couldn’t ever live without? You know the funny thing is I love sneakers and as a result I guess I’m a collector. But I don’t really identify that way because I like to wear my sneakers. So I don’t buy or keep (if gifted) sneakers I won’t wear. So my favourites are… My Nike Air Max 1 bespoke’s I made at 21 Mercer NikeLab. They are literally 1 of 1 and are my dream shoe. Atmos Elephant Air Max Adidas Ultraboost v1 or Ultra 4D v1 Yeezy 700 Waverunner Rhude Vans Old skool / Converse chuck taylor Oxfords. BUT ALSO: Anything in a low with safari print. A classic white Air Force 1 The puma Thunder Spectra Jordan 1 Low 2020’s been a crazy year. What are your 5 favourite moments in pop-culture from this past year? To me, there were 4 that stole the show... I liked when Travis Scott performed in Fortnite not because it was an amazing performance or anything but because it changed the dichotomy on how we consume entertainment. Someone (Travis?) understood where his audience is. ​ Strangely the release of The Last Dance, The Michael Jordan documentary. For me it was cool to see the whole world, give or take, finally get to experience the magic that was Michael Jordan. To understand why he is part of the cultural lexicon. I am old, so I watched Michael play in his prime, so even I got to learn something that I didn’t know about. It was cool to see everyone talking about it together. I also really enjoyed when Post Malone did a live concert from his house that was all covers of Nirvana. For many this was probably the first time they actually heard Nirvana songs, plural. And it opened that music up to a new fan base. And it’s always nice to see artists re-interpret and interpret their influences. I also enjoyed when everyone all of a sudden started playing Animal Crossing, and you would see fashion brands making clothes for the game, record labels etc. Even my mom was playing. ​ Who have been your 5 favourite interviews that you’ve ever conducted? ​ In my travels and adventures I have had the chance to interview a lot of people who I respect and admire. Although I have personally taken a step away from the interviewing, I have found that I am still meeting and talking to people, a little less this year. But last year I was on a preview of an art exhibit in Brooklyn and in the preview I talked to the guy giving us the tour. He gave me a lot of insight into the art and we started talking. I came back the next day to get a tattoo from a well know Brooklyn artist, and while getting the tattoo we talked about how he ended up here. It was a fascinating story that really delved into his experience but also the experience of many around him. It was great. While he was working on my tattoo a member of the band Blink 180 showed up, I also talked to artist Shepard Fairey. So while those aren’t interviews I have had the privilege of talking to and meeting some incredible people. ​ When I was interviewing: Travis Scott (7 years ago) Bloc Party Foals Felipe Pantone (Artist) Tinashe Mayer Hawthorne Cut Copy Finally, this is an important one for us, what are 5 tips for conducting a great interview? ...maybe we should have asked this first [laughs]. ​ Ha! Easy. Do a little research (which you did) Actively listen Actively respond. That will make for a good interview. HOWEVER, the real trick is, if possible, try to get in there and do a little small talk with the person to help break the ice and make it more conversational. Like how a comedian as someone “warm up the room” first. Or an opening act at a concert. Do your best to make a personal connection.

Sean Go is a Toronto raised content creator with a passion for sneakers, basketball and photography; a perfect trio for the modern Torontonian. Sean's sneaker photography has been featured on a number of publications and his YouTube channel is one of the go-to's for in depth sneaker reviews. ​ @sgo8 We see new kicks on your channel all the time. What are the top 5 in your rotation right now? ​ If we're talking about what I'm actually wearing these days I'd go with Black Cement 3, New Balance 992 Grey, Nike Air Max 1 Anniversary White/Red, Collegium Destroyer High "Avio" and the Nike Dunk Low "Brazil". Top 5 favourites of all time would be White Cement 3, Concord 11, Chicago 1, Infrared Air Max 90 and White Cement 4 probably. ​ Your known for taking some of the best and most unique sneaker pics on insta. What tips can you give for someone looking to up their sneaker pic game? Lighting is key. Play around with different types of lighting to be comfortable shooting in various conditions (sunny, cloudy, indoors with flash, etc.) Environment plays a huge part in the photo. Learning to utilize backgrounds and props to add to the flavour of the photo really allows your photos to stand out. Develop a "style". Consistency is huge, as it allows people to see your personality and flare through your photos. While a nice camera is great, learning to edit your photos is half the battle. I personally use Adobe Lightroom and finish it up with Photoshop, but whatever program you feel most comfortable with, play around with it and see how it can elevate your shots. Have fun! Do it for the passion and the genuine love of it, and keep shooting for the right reasons. While many know you for your IG posts, you have nearly 3x the following on YouTube. What are 5 things you love or hate about YouTube? YouTube's a great way to express yourself and generate income in a way that photographs on Instagram don't allow. You can find videos on pretty much anything you want to see or learn about. The audience-base is very supportive and shows you a ton of love if they appreciate your work. BUT! It's much more of a challenging and time consuming medium than Instagram. The anonymity of it allows for a lot of troll comments that you have to learn to ignore. ​ So with all that being said, who are your 5 favourite sneaker YouTubers right now? Seth Fowler Hes Kicks Foamer Simpson Rose Anvil WearTesters