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

Behind The Curtain With Nicko Bruno Everyone’s got something to say but far fewer can actually back it up. This feeling is one that Nicko Bruno, founder of Adidem Asterisks, a Toronto based upscale brand that aims to connect music and fashion through elevated products and events, thinks about constantly. As someone who grew up addicted to fashion and its surrounding cultures, Nicko was quick to develop tastes and opinions but understood the importance of educating himself of what goes on behind the scenes to ensure that he could both develop a stronger appreciation for the works of others and also be able to speak his mind without being hypocritical. We got the chance to catch up with Nicko after the first of AA’s many pop-ups lined up for the season and talk about how he developed his always-curious mentality, how that helps him foster a strong team, what goes on behind the scenes at Adidem Asterisks and what they have in the works for 2022. Hey Nicko! Things are booming for you right now with all of the events and upcoming drops. How are you feeling? Oh man [laughs]. I’m not chilling as much as I thought I’d be able to. Things are really busy right now but it’s great. With each event, there’s always prep and post work we need to do and then it’s on to the next thing. I was doing a ton of follow ups and thanking sponsors and everything this morning and then I’m heading to a design meeting afterwards. Love to hear that there’s so much happening. What are the design meetings looking like right now? So before each meeting we decide what type of item we want to make and we all pull references so that we can go into the meeting ready to brainstorm. Miguel who runs our design team then helps coordinate the conversations and design planning. We’ll get into technical drawing and thinking about patterns, cuts, etc. What’s dope is that everyone is on Adobe illustrator sharing designs and stuff right there and we’re all going back and forth with ideas. The goal is for everyone to make five unique designs and then we all bring them together and vote. Adidem Asterisks F/W '22 Preview How do you choose which products to work on? We have a set of questions that we always ask ourselves before diving into any product like what purpose does the product serve and is it consumer facing or a brand building product? For example, a basic vest might be consumer facing and a more wild experimental piece is meant to build the brand up since it might be more memorable. We’ll also go deeper into things like “what song does the product sound like?” and thinking about the kind of vibe that the product evokes. Speaking of vibes, this is one thing that AA is not short on within its products. In addition to music which we know is a big inspiration, where do the design inspirations and ethos for the brand come from? I came into all of this as a consumer first. I’ve spent my whole life really putting a lot of thought into my outfits and understanding what looks nice. Hip-hop, basketball and street and pop culture all obviously play a big part in my inspirations but it’s really always evolving as I grow. The designs will change over time based on what we’re feeling and learning about but no matter what, the main focus is always to create great products that add value to our customers and the brand. Blog: Adidem Asterisks We heard that you have a pretty wild story about starting the brand. Can you share how that all started with your partner, X? Before I got started with X I was always super into this stuff. I remember doing an exchange program outside of Paris for school and that’s what really showed me how many opportunities and possibilities there were in this industry if you go and find them. I ended up failing out of my program because I skipped so much class to go into Paris to go to events. I remember when my mom called me and said I was going to get kicked out if I skipped more class and I literally booked a ticket right in front of her. It was my birthday and Paris fashion week. I didn’t care about school then at all I had to go [laughs] to the shows. I was doing anything I could to be a part of things, learn and build relationships. I was super driven and still am. After that, X, who I’ve been friends with forever, designed some tees for a project of his. I was going to China and he asked me to take the shirts out there and shoot them. I didn’t know anyone out there but was on a mission to get it done. I found two people at a nightclub, got them to shoot with me and it turned out pretty well. The experience was dope and I told X like “yo, let’s do this for real.” After these experiences, I knew this is what I needed to be doing and that drive hasn’t stopped. And besides shooting, you’ve learned how to do everything now like pattern making and tech packs for the brand, right? One hundred percent. I’m a firm believer that you can’t have strong opinions on stuff if you don’t know how to do it yourself. Sure, I can think things are nice or not but I can’t talk s**t or criticize if I don’t know what goes into it and haven’t done it myself. If I want to make a brand that is better than all of the others, I can’t just have ideas. I need to know how to execute. Even if I’m not making the tech packs all the time or if I’m bringing in a team to help, knowing how to do it, pump out designs and speak that language goes a long way with everyone. It allows us to do so much better work. So true! How big is the team now? It’s pretty big now which is crazy. A lot of these people were some of my oldest friends and they are all so hopeful. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this. These people keep me motivated and help me get stuff done. When there are times I’m not feeling into things, these guys bring me back up. We have also recently brought on some interns too which is a dope opportunity because it allows us to create opportunities for these super creative young people. It also helps me learn a ton about running a team which I am really appreciative of. That’s awesome. Not a lot of brands at your level are bringing in interns or opening that door for young creatives. What do you look for when hiring an intern? The biggest thing is I want them to show interest in us and take initiative. If they work hard and show that they want it, we’re going to give them every opportunity that we can. I also want to find people who know things that I don’t. Overtime, I’ll hopefully learn it because I want to know everything if I’m leading the team but that doesn’t mean I can do this alone. I heard a quote once that was “A CEO should know how to do everyone’s job, even the janitor” and I think that really resonated with me. That’s a great line. Before we let you go, what is on the roadmap for the brand and at the top of the list for things you want to accomplish? Right now nobody is getting paid and all of the money is going back into the brand so my number one goal is to pay everyone soon. Even if it’s just a little, everyone deserves it and I want to make that happen soon. I also want to hit one million in sales in 2022. I think we can do it. From a creative standpoint, I want to give the whole brand a facelift. Summer ‘22 is going to be nuts. It’s the first time we have the full team designing the collection and the storytelling is really strong so I’m pumped for that. Our brand next year is going to be insane and we’re going to keep pushing it because we’re all obsessed with new stuff. I almost get tired of things by the time they’re out but I know this new season coming up is going to be wild and will be the setting off point for the brand. Stay tuned for that! If you’re in Toronto, make sure to check out the Adidem Asterisks pop-up at Nomad until December 16th and follow the AA Instagram for more news on upcoming releases. Keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more.

2022 Recipient: Barbet Introducing Barbet, one of the five recipients of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2022! Who: Andrea Grand & Katie Fielding Where: Toronto, ON Instagram / Website Barbet was born out of a real need by sisters Andrea & Katie. When Barbet co-founder, Katie, who has epilepsy suffered from a seizure in March of 2020, she decided to go 0% ABV for a period of time. She didn't miss drinking, but she did miss the connection and feeling of inclusivity that came along with it. All the good times when friends came together to share a drink didn't have the same sparkle because the zero-alcohol options at the time lacked the same magic as their alcoholic counterparts. With a pop or a soda you would have at the kids table, the options out there weren't aimed at the modern human. Barbet is a sparkling water brand that aims to put alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on a level playing field. With a strong attention to flavour, design, brand values and charitable donations to local causes, Barbet is a big-time brand to watch in the non-abv drink space. How has the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund helped you? With the fund, we've been able to be out in market doing samplings in stores. Having those 1 to 1 interactions with your customers is extremely important but also very expensive so that opportunity has been a game changer for us. "I think the biggest thing that small business owners need is access; access to capital and access to information. The idea that you're going to know everything that is going to come with running a small business is a naive one. Being able to have an experience like this where we can tap into mentors who are there to help guide us and enable us to create our own path has been so impactful." "We think the future of small businesses in Canada is creative and promising!" Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2022 recipients here.

Celebrating Creativity and Community at the OOAK Show '24 On Sunday, November 24, Pier Five hosted a vibrant Community Day at Toronto’s One of a Kind Show (OOAK Winter), bringing together small business owners, artisans, and creatives for an unforgettable day of inspiration and connection. The event kicked off with a warm welcome and complimentary small bites, setting the stage for a day of exploration and networking. Attendees had the chance to discover hundreds of talented vendors and thousands of unique, handcrafted goods across art, fashion, home decor, and gourmet treats. A highlight of the day was Pier Five’s engaging panel discussion, Crafting a Unique Value Proposition: Standing Out in a Saturated Market, which explored how brands can differentiate themselves by understanding their audience, leveraging storytelling, and turning their uniqueness into a competitive edge. Olivia Ho, founder of The Give and Grow, shared her journey of blending sports and social impact through innovative products and workshops with global brands like Nike and the Raptors. Jackie Prince, founder of Guests On Earth, discussed creating sustainable household products, her success as a Pier Five x Mastercard Small Business Fund recipient, and launching her brand in Erewhon. Attendees left inspired with actionable strategies to elevate their brands. We love creating opportunities to unite entrepreneurs and makers, and this community day was no exception. It was a celebration of craftsmanship, collaboration, and the entrepreneurial spirit that makes our community so special. Here’s to continuing to support local creators and fostering meaningful connections through events like these! 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.

Behind The Brand With Gerard Cleal of norda After helping so many others launch their projects, from Opening Ceremony, Belstaff, Little Burgundy & Call It Spring, it was only a matter of time before Gerard Cleal would dive into his own venture. As the Creative Director for norda, Gerard would finally face the opportunity to bring his decades of experience into building the brand identity for trail running’s newest, most advanced and most inclusive footwear brand. From the look and feel to the voice and mission, Gerard has helped develop a brand identity for norda that approaches the sport and all of its athletes differently than any of its competitors, which has positioned norda as a major player within months of the launch. We were fortunate enough to speak with Gerard about how he approached the creative direction for norda, how they treat runners differently than any other brand, tips for new brand builders and of course, what it’s like to be the non-runner at a company of runners. Hey Gerard! Thanks for making the time today to chat. Can you walk us through the process of developing the norda brand identity? What were some of the key things to focus on to develop a brand identity for norda that would stand out from its competitors? Hey guys! Excited to chat. So, here it is. Traditionally, running brands have been built around performance and speed only. There’s sometimes an exclusionary factor to this in which the brands group you into the elite runners bucket or the beginner bucket. If you’re elite, you get the tech. If you’re not, then they give you a lifestyle “runner” without any of the tech or best features. We wanted to get away from that. While we are built on highly technical, next generation materials - and we’re very proud of this - we celebrate every runner equally, whether you’ve just hit your first 5k or you’re an ultra runner. For norda, it’s less about how fast you can run and more about what your running journey looks like, regardless of how far. This led to the question we like to ask; “What do you run for?” We built our customer triad to help us ensure that we were meeting the needs of all runners through our brand identity. There are the elite performance runners, the intermediate runners and the beginner runners or those just hanging out in the lifestyle space (me). norda has to be for all three of these groups but also be able to support people moving up or down the triad. Authenticity was also huge in everything that we built. This was the first opportunity we had to really decide how we wanted to wear our heart on our sleeves. We wanted to be supportive and empower everyone with great products. Our focus is on buying better, not more and about making people feel like they were buying into something that would make them feel something special. It’s not just about putting a flashy logo on the shoe. It’s much more than that and we don’t want our customers to just be walking billboards for norda. Can you talk about the visual identity of the brand? How did you land on the logo, fonts, etc? Speed and performance have generally been synonymous with italics in branding as it denotes movement . We wanted to take a slightly different approach. I am a huge fan of Scandinavian and Nordic design. They have a tendency to sit back more and focus on material and connection to their landscape , culture and history. It’s never overt and obvious. I love this approach and is a cornerstone to why I think branding should always get out of the way. This is what we wanted for norda. The word “still” has really sat with me throughout my design career. We didn’t need the brand to evoke speed or movement. The materials and Louis’s design of the shoe would tell that story and we didn’t need anything to distract from that; the result: a beautiful sense of stillness living throughout. With regards to the typeface, we wanted to explore a more mid-century look, inspired from the original identities of brands we love. That said, Helvetica Now from Monotype which is a new, re-drawn take on Helvetica became our default. Helvetica has been around for ages and is used by a ton of brands like The North Face and even Off-White. In effort to promote a ‘quieter’ presence we went all lowercase and kept it all super simple. Score one for Dieter Rams! For the logo, we wanted to go old school. We’re all huge fans of heritage style sportswear brands like Rapha and Tracksmith. We landed on the shield that is inspired by our own Canadian Shield and that is shifted like a tectonic plate. There’s a strength to a shield, even a disrupted one, that just feels right - it’s really a love letter to this country. -. The norda site was a pivotal moment for the brand and its storytelling. What was it like working with an agency like LG2 to develop the digital experience for norda? LG2 is an incredible agency. They are very client oriented and having the connection between Nick (norda) and Stuart (LG2) helped kick things off really well. We had a bunch of ideas before working with them which I know can make things tricky for agencies sometimes but they weren’t afraid to push back and did so very respectfully which made for a great working relationship. They really cared about the outcome of the project and that led to effective push and pull from both ends. They were committed to creating the absolute best site that they could and we were all very happy with the result. What are 5 things that are important to keep in mind when formulating a brand identity? Firstly, it’s important to define brand and brand identity because they are very different concepts. The brand (logo, wordmark, colours) is really a small piece. The brand identity is the mammoth. That’s the customer, the tone of voice, the identity, the feeling that it gives to customers. That stuff is like the iceberg below the water that isn’t seen but is massively important. Be disciplined. Think about how you connect all of the dots. It’s ok to have different modules within the brand but be disciplined on how they all relate back to each other. Strip away as much as you can and get rid of what isn’t important. I always say to be intentional about what you’re doing and this definitely goes for branding as well. Like I said earlier, branding should always get out of the way. Having more doesn’t make it better. Be curious. Inspiration is going to be everywhere so don’t be afraid to be inspired by what you see and what you make of it. There’s nothing that you’ll ever see that is going to be original. That’s ok. You’ll put your own stamp on what you make to make it your own. That’s what is important. Love those tips! Lastly, we have to ask, what is it like being the “non-runner” on a team of running enthusiasts? I love it. I think you need an outsider on the team to advocate for that newer or non-runner if you’re going to be for everyone. We have this joke with our “What do you run for?” slogan. I run for coffee [laughs]. For more on the norda™ team, check out our Introduction to norda™ and interview with the brand's Head of Design, Louis-Martin Tremblay. Make sure to keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more.

July Guest Picks: Home with Sylvia Hoang Guest: Sylvia Hoang, founder of Studio S 1. Bearbrick Figurines "Bearbrick is for everyone that loves art, fashion and culture. From their "basic" designs to limited edition collaborations, this is a conversation starter and essential piece to elevate your space." 2. Virgil Abloh's Markerad Clock "With Virgil's iconic quotation marks, this clock is a clean and minimalist design that does not include numbers yet it challenges the notion of function vs. art with this homeware design." 3. Hype Books & Magazines "Get inspired everyday by having a copy or two of any streetwear related hardcovers in your home. When not in use, it's a perfect coffee table set up for the next reader." 4. Murakami Plush Pillows "These are more than just flowers. They will brighten up your space and comfort you, with this iconic motif by Murakami nodding towards the history of Japanese culture and art." 5. Studio S Swoosh Incense Holder "This is a functional art piece, inspired by the swoosh, that could either be used just as decor or to relax your aura with incense sticks." Check out all of our guest picks for July here and stay tuned to Pier Five for more stories and interviews with the coolest people around.

2023 Recipient: Spice Girl Chai Introducing Spice Girl Chai, one of the ten recipients of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2023! Who: Rebecca Pereira Where: Toronto, ON Instagram / Website After noticing that commercially available chai products lacked the depth of flavour and overall spice that she was looking for, Rebecca Pereira worked with her mother to create their own Chai concentrate in-house. With the recipe’s success, Rebecca launched Spice Girl Chai in 2021, and has landed her Chai concentrate into over a dozen restaurants and retailers in Toronto, numerous high-volume trade shows and in the hands of over 100,000 customers. The brand, rooted in Rebecca’s culture and Indian traditions, has seen major success through specialty collaborations and samplings. She makes enjoying authentic chai at home as easy as brewing a cup of coffee. How will you use the $10,000 CAD for your business? One of the biggest challenges is keeping up with demand from existing and new retail and restaurant partners interested in bulk orders. With all of our product created at a shared commercial kitchen, we are limited in the volume that we can produce. The $10,000 will help us work with a co-packer facility to produce ten times the volume that we can daily. This will allow us to quickly expand our distribution, exponentially increase revenue and give me time to focus on other parts of the business like marketing and sales that have taken a back seat. What is your big goal for the future of the business? My long-term dream is to establish our very own facility for producing our Chai Concentrate and upcoming canned Chai drinks. We have significant revenue projections to hit in the next five years that would allow us to open this facility and build a team of incredible women who love Chai as much as I do. One of those women who I would love to bring on full-time is my dedicated mother, who has been with me every step of this entrepreneurial journey. It's a bold goal, but my unwavering dedication makes it an achievable one. Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2023 recipients here.

Job listing for Pier Five social video editor role Social Video Editor (Part Time, Remote) About the Role Pier Five is looking for a Junior Social Video Editor to help us scale one of our fastest-growing content series: founder interviews featuring Canada's most inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives. This is a part-time position. We're looking for someone who can commit to consistent weekly editing while growing alongside the company. As Pier Five continues to expand, there will be opportunities to take on more responsibility, contribute creatively, and potentially grow into a larger role. While editing skills are the most important skill for this role, we are also interested in finding someone who is driven, reliable, excited about storytelling, and eager to contribute ideas. If you're constantly studying social content, noticing trends, and thinking about how videos can perform better, we'd love to work with you. This is an opportunity to join a small team with real momentum and help shape the content of one of Canada's fastest-growing communities for entrepreneurs and creatives. What You'll Be Editing Each month, you'll edit: 6 Founder Interview Series 7-9 short-form videos per interview Approximately 42-54 social videos per month See examples on our Instagram. Each interview will be filmed in structured, individual questions, with every answer becoming its own social-first video. Editing Style We're creating content built for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. You'll be responsible for: Creating engaging 45-60 second edits Maintaining a clean, fast-paced editing style Following Pier Five's editing templates and brand style Making each founder's story feel authentic and engaging Looking for opportunities to improve pacing, hooks, captions, and overall performance We welcome editors who bring creative ideas to the table and are excited to continuously improve our content. Workflow Jeff and Julian (Pier Five founders) will: Schedule and film all interviews Upload organized footage to Google Drive Label each interview by question/segment The editor will: Edit each interview Upload first drafts to Google Drive Incorporate one round of feedback Deliver organized final files in the Founder Finals folder Pier Five founders will: Design reel covers Upload and publish content across social platforms Time Commitment Approximately 4 hours per interview series (including revisions) Approximately 24 hours per month Typically 1-2 interview series per week (6 interviews/month) Turnaround Expectations First drafts are due within 2 business days of receiving footage. If multiple interviews are filmed back-to-back, timelines may be adjusted in advance. Team Communication Weekly 30-minute planning check-in with Jeff (CMO) Ongoing communication via Google Drive and messaging Compensation $120 CAD per completed Founder Interview Series Expected volume: 6 interview series per month (7-9 short-form videos per interview) Expected monthly compensation: $720 CAD As Pier Five continues to grow, there will be opportunities to take on additional responsibilities and creative ownership. Compensation will be reviewed based on performance, contribution, and role expansion. Who We're Looking For You don't need years of agency experience or advanced motion graphics skills. We're looking for someone who is: Passionate about social media and short-form storytelling Organized and dependable Comfortable receiving and applying feedback Curious about what makes content perform Excited to contribute creative ideas, not just execute edits Interested in growing with an early-stage company If you're looking for a role where you can make an impact, build your portfolio, and help shape the future of a growing media brand, we'd love to hear from you. Location (Remote) This is a remote, part-time role open to candidates across Canada. While our team is based in Toronto and occasionally gets together for team socials or events, being located in Toronto is not a requirement. How to Apply If this sounds like the kind of opportunity you're looking for, we'd love to hear from you. Please email your application to community@pier-five.com with the subject line "Social Editor Role: [Full Name] " and include: A brief introduction about yourself Your resume (optional if your experience is better represented through your work) A portfolio, editing reel, or examples of short-form content you've created Links to any relevant social media accounts or personal projects you'd like us to see In your email, tell us why you're interested in joining Pier Five and how you think you could help us create better content for entrepreneurs and creatives.

The Tale Of A Sneakerhead Who Found Running A couple months ago I had a sneakerhead epiphany. I have too many shoes. This happened around the time I secured one of my grails, the Nike Air Max 90 ‘Bacon’ and then only wore them twice in the preceding month. I waited a full year (since the rumored 2020 release) for this shoe, got them out of luck, and then only wore them twice! Why was this? Well, only one reason. I have too many shoes. Since I've always been a bit of a collector, having a lot of things never bothered me much. The issue with sneakers is how much less each pair gets worn as I continue to buy more pairs. I grew up loving the cycle of beating a new pair of sneakers down and then replacing them only once my toes stuck through the front. Nowadays, I can’t remember the last time I’ve actually worn a pair into the ground and yet the new pairs keep on coming in. I can tie my sneaker consumption habit to a few causes. The first is that I’m a big nerd for design. The technology keeps on getting better and the fact that I do get to wear something, albeit minimally per pair, that I consider almost like art, is awesome. Secondly, I love the hunt which is a huge part of sneaker collecting. Lastly there’s a bunch of other reasons that I’m not as proud of like “hype made me do it” and the occasional “flip”. Yes, I admit that I occasionally resell sneakers, but all of these factors are what has fuelled the obsession that I, along with many others, have for sneakers. So, what does this have to do with running as mentioned in the title? Well, around the same time I was questioning all my decisions regarding footwear, I was also getting more into running. I learned that if I transferred all of my obsessive characteristics to running, I was instantly more fulfilled. The design and tech aspects were obviously there, it was a new hunt for a product I had no idea about and I could regain that satisfaction of really wearing my shoes like they were meant to be worn. It also got me outside way more and made me feel healthier and happier. Running was my ultimate saving grace as a “struggling” sneakerhead and I am riding that wave like no other. The thing with running though, is that while it’s a simple activity at its core, it can be intimidating. It took some time to learn and get into the right groove to really start loving it. So, in hopes of helping other sneakerheads (or anyone for that matter, but this story be most relevant to sneakerheads) who may be interested in exploring this culture that I’ve recently become obsessed with, I reached out to other more experienced runners to share their knowledge on the sport, community and gear. The Guests: Mario LoConte Mario is a co-founder of vintage convention ThriftCon and streetwear label Station. He is a big time runner and is a part of a running team with 48forchange, a non-profit that raises funds for underprivileged and marginalized communities through run challenges. His team is currently sponsored by ON Running. Jes Woods Jes is a running legend! Day-to-day, Jes is a Nike Running coach in New York and also serves as a trainer and coach for Brooklyn Track Club and Chaski Endurance as well as manages a Mile High Run Club location. Jes recently came second in a solo-run, three-hundred mile race from Los Angeles to Las Vegas which she completed in under six days. Daniel Navetta Dan, also known through his social media as The Air Vegan, is an NYC based director and content creator. He is the founder of video production company BRYGHT YOUNG THINGS and fashion sustainability platform news FutureVVorld. Dan is an avid runner and vegan sneaker collector and brings a fresh perspective to the sport and culture. Q1: Why do you like running & how does it make you feel? Mario: Firstly, running is a great way to explore your own city and see it in a different light. I also think that it's fairly easy to progress, but in your progress, the ceiling just keeps moving up and up, so it's a great way to stay motivated. The thing that I might appreciate most about running however is the fact that it isn't enjoyable sometimes. It's hard, it hurts and it makes you want to quit, but you find ways to push through, and I think that ultimately translates to other areas of your life. Jes: How much time do we have? [laughs]. Running makes me feel accomplished. There’s goal setting and working hard to achieve that goal but at the same time, running doesn't always have to be that serious. It’s also a social thing that I get to enjoy with my friends. If you're doing it right, running can be and should be enjoyable. Daniel: I like running because it gives me a break from the outside world. There is a state of "flow" that has become easier to achieve during my runs, and that's the feeling I find myself seeking. When everything is clicking, there is a euphoria and bliss that I don't access in other areas of my life. I also love the community aspect of it. Q2: Are you a collector of running shoes? Mario: I see my running shoes as work boots. I get a new pair and I instantly start setting mileage goals for them - 350-500 - and wonder how fast I can get there. I want them to be completely spent by the end of those miles and I want them to look like it too. Daniel: I wouldn't say that I collect running shoes, because all of my running sneakers get used. I think there's definitely more "collectible" running sneakers than ever before, but I seek them out to put miles on them. Jes: I genuinely don't consider myself cool enough to collect lifestyle sneakers, so my collection is very much running sneakers focused with a dash of lifestyle. Oh, and maybe the Bad Bunny Crocs too! Q3: Many are shifting spending from hype to more technical footwear. Have you seen your behaviour shift like this at all over the last year? If yes, why do you think this is? Daniel: Yes. I think everyone has suddenly discovered a greater appreciation for the outdoors and a small shift away from “hype for the sake of hype”. I'm grateful that I learned this lesson years ago, because I've spent my free time and expendable income on travel and experience as opposed to coveting a bunch of sneakers that sit in storage. Jes: Yes! Thank goodness technical gear is now considered fashion because it's the only thing I'm wearing 99% of the time. Hopefully this shift sticks around for some time. Mario: I would say so. I am starting to think more about the actual composition and construction of all of my clothing and see others doing so as well. I’m making an effort to be more mindful with my purchases and surround myself with more functional, timeless products to cut down on my own waste and consumption. What are you wearing on the road? Mario Shoes: ON Running Cloudflow Apparel: ON Running Lightweight Shorts, Performance T, Performance Long T Jes Shoes: Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Apparel: Jordan Track Cargo Pants, Nike Trail Gear Daniel Shoes: ZoomX Vaporfly Next% Apparel: District Vision Air-Wear Longsleeve, Satisfy Running Gear, Nike NSRL Transform Jacket What are you listening to on the road? Mario: If it's a short distance run I’ll throw on some rap or a random metal playlist (which I never listen to) because it's nice to just have some wild music playing in the background that I can push to. For longer runs, I’ll do something more mellow:, rap, pop, 90s/00s stuff. I'll even throw on a podcast every once in a while to try and learn something while I run. Jes: Here we go! The Greatest Showman soundtrack. On repeat. Over and over again. Sometimes for upwards of 9 hours (on a 50 mile run). Daniel: Wild story - For the first marathon I ran, there was a rule against headphones, so I had to run in silence...that was quite an experience. Nowadays, I listen to everything from the DJ Premiere/RZA Verzus playlist, to "War on Drugs", to the NY Times "The Daily" podcast, to books like, "Power of Now" and "Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself". I'm always trying to dial in the right mood, for the right day, to achieve the perfect run. Final Thoughts from Pier Five The purpose of this story was not to tell you all to stop buying shoes. I can’t honestly say that I am going to stop and I am not the right person to tell you to. If you do want to learn how you can think about your consumption more responsibly, Daniel’s FutureVVorld is an amazing platform for this. Ultimately, this story was meant to inspire you to try something new. For me, it was running but there are a million activities that exist that we can bring our compulsive sneakerhead characteristics to that can make you happier. Finally, if you made it this far and you’re still no more excited to try something new, then all I can say is the next time you overpay for some kicks on StockX, at least wear the damn shoes more than twice a month! For more on Mario, Jes & Dan, check out their IG and keep it locked to Pier Five for more stories and interviews with the best in fashion, art, business, sports, food & more. Mario: @imnotmars Jes: @jeslynnyc Dan: @theairvegan

Pier Five Creators Grant Lookbook Photographer: Mark Gallardo Location: Crayon Studios, Toronto View the Collection (Soon) Creators Grant Home

Cereal Artist Where: Toronto, ON What: Designer / Artist Vivian Huang is a Toronto-based artist, inspired by sneakers and streetwear, who creates fun and functional accessories and garments using sneaker parts and other interesting materials. Vivian was one of Pier Five's first guests on the platform in 2021 and so it only felt right that she be a part of the Pier Five Creators Grant. We are lucky enough to have two amazing items from Cereal Artist for this collection, including one of her staple card holders and a never before seen side bag made from a Croc clog. Read the Pier Five interview with Cereal Artist here . Why are you excited to be a part of the grant project? I think it's great that Pier Five is creating opportunities to showcase local creatives and use that to also create opportunities for emerging artists. I am always excited to get involved with the community and this project gave me an opportunity to think out of the box on some new product concepts as well which I was excited about. Can you tell us about the pieces that you've made for the grant? For the Pier Five grant, I really wanted to create something new and unique that hasn't really been done before. For the main piece, I chose Crocs because I've never worked with that brand before and I thought it would be fun to turn it into a bag which looks great but is not what it's actually made for at all. For me, it's all about being fun and getting creative. The Card Holder is something I've done before but I always love using new sneakers and materials and the Puma Suede in green was a perfect fit for the collection. See All Designers Lookbook (Coming Soon) Shop (Coming Soon)