Earning Your Place With Titi Finlay A year ago we got the chance to speak with Titi Finlay, the Social Media Manager for Laced UK, artist and content creator who was taking the sneaker scene by storm through her advocacy for more inclusivity in the sneaker industry. Between her bold quote posts like "Make Sneakers Gender Neutral" or "Sneakerhead is defined by passion, not gender." and her incredible sneaker paintings and fit pics, there has been lots to talk about and now with the recent partnership with Nike, we had to catch up again. Check out the conversation below to hear about how everything came together, how she feels about the current state of inclusivity in sneakers and what she's looking forward to, this year and beyond. Getting the Nike Call "It was so surreal! I actually cried after I got off the phone with them because they wanted to bring in my art and my creative side rather than just the message I was pushing in the community. My art and paintings and my print making and all the stuff like illustrations has all been something that I’ve always wanted to make my main career but never felt like I could do that. For Nike to recognize that and give me the platform and the tools to actually execute it was just so amazing." Titi On Imposter Syndrome "My imposter syndrome has been at an all-time high this year. I think just because I’m moving into a much higher role in my work and also being seen by more people on social. It’s almost like the more success you have ,the more you feel like you have to lose." (Listen further below) As it turns out, before the partnership, Titi has been helping the brands roll out more inclusive products and launches. "I personally had a few calls with the Nike design teams where the had me and a couple of other women actually feed in on the products coming out for next year. It's super empowering for all of us to know that we’re being heard now. Obviously things don’t happen overnight with brands." With all the excitement, comes over-indulgence. Listen to how Titi is approaching sneaker madness today. Would you ever NFT your work? "I thought about this a lot. I'm obsessed with learning about it but I still find it baffling. Some of the stuff is so terrible. I feel like I could make a lot of money if I did go into it but I think there’s also the whole conversation around the sustainability and energy usage of NFT's. There are some really cool concepts coming out so I’m definitely not opposed to it but I’m also still a bit sceptical. I don’t like do crypto right now but I'm excited to see where the space goes." So what's next? Keep an eye out for more of Titi's projects with Nike coming out in April and hopefully some gallery or exhibition events coming soon! ...oh and potentially a world tour ?!?! Make sure to follow Titi on Instagram for news on her upcoming drops, events and all the best sneaker content and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more out there.

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

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

A Conversation With Olivia Ho of The Give and Grow What is success if it is not shared with others? As a sports fanatic, houseplant enthusiast and advocate for female empowerment and growth, Olivia Ho has been on a mission to create change through what she loves. Noticing the barriers that existed for young females in sports, an activity which she thinks is imperative for developing confidence early on in children and teens, Olivia has set out to create new opportunities for Toronto’s female youth through community led initiatives and programs. We caught up with Olivia to discuss her work as a Sports Program Lead at MLSE Launchpad and to look back at a very successful first year running The Give and Grow, a women-led initiative building a community for women in Toronto. As someone with an inside lens into both big and small corporations working to make a change, Olivia is full of knowledge and advice that can help everyone work together to empower the next generation of leaders. Read our conversation with Olivia below and then head over to The Give and Grow’s instagram page to check out what they have coming up to celebrate the one year anniversary. @ohoxo // @thegiveandgrow Hey Olivia! For those who may not be familiar, tell us a bit about yourself and The Give and Grow. Hey guys! My name is Olivia Ho. I’m a cardiac sonographer at St. Mike’s Hospital in Toronto and a Sports Program Lead at MLSE Launchpad, leading sports programs for young women in the city. During last summer in the pandemic, with buzz starting around houseplants and as a way to stay creative, I started making basketball planters and it got the attention of some people on my socials. I started to think about how I could use the planters to bring together more people in the community and continue to empower young girls and that’s how The Give and Grow started. The Give and Grow, a pun on the basketball term “give and go”, is a women-led initiative centred around growth. We run workshops, many of which through Launchpad, to help young girls gain confidence and give them the tools they need to achieve their goals. A portion of all planters sold goes toward youth programming in Toronto and we’re working on expanding our programming and workshops to other cities in Canada and internationally. Through your work at MLSE and with The Give and Grow, you’re doing a ton of amazing work to create new opportunities for youth in the city. Why is this cause one that is so important to you? Growing up in a Filipino and Vietnamese household, basketball culture was huge for me and in my community. I always played in leagues but noticed early on that you’re always a bit of an outlier if you are a girl who is good at sports. I watched a lot of my female peers grow up without sports and it was hard to see the divide between how boys and girls were raised with sports. I also noticed all of the financial barriers that existed and wanted to create opportunities for as many people as I could through sport. This is really interesting and you’re definitely right in the observations you’ve made about youth upbringing with sports. How has Launchpad helped you achieve these goals? MLSE is great because they can help make amazing connections to enhance the programming run for the youth. Although they’re a big company, they really do care about helping smaller and less-privileged communities. In addition to the sports programming, they also run food programs and job training through Launchpad. All programming is free and we have an amazing team of staff that are representative of the groups of kids. We do this to help create a connection between everyone and so that the youth can see themselves in their leaders. You’ve said that The Give and Grow was never about basketball planters but they’ve clearly been a great outlet to bring women together and empower the next generation of leaders. Why do you think this has caught on as such a successful part of The Give and Grow experience? I’ve seen a few people do them before I did, including one of my friends who helped me learn to do them and it was very fun. House plants have become so popular and I think making the planters is a great activity to bring the community together. They also fit into the brand well under the idea of growth. Besides the workshops, what can people do to get involved in a cause they feel passionately about? Really immerse yourself in the space that you care about. Find people doing work for the cause and interact with them. Follow them on instagram, go to their events, send them a message etc. Reach out to people a ton and ask questions. Just go for it and don’t be afraid of rejection. You will start to connect with people with a shared vision, like I have, and that will be the building blocks for your involvement in change. Taking that leap isn’t always so easy. What are some ways you’d advise someone to help them get out of their comfort zone? Sometimes all you need is a prompt to understand how you are feeling. A big part of our workshops consist of activities to help people get out of their comfort zone. We have booklets with prompts to help get people talking and thinking about what is important to them, what their goals are, stories from their past, etc. These activities help show people that we’re not all so different from one another. You’ve partnered with some amazing people and organizations to help run workshops and create opportunities for women. What are some tips you’d give to anyone looking to find the right partners? Most importantly, make sure you truly understand who you are and what you want. Ask yourself what you are trying to achieve and that will help you evaluate new partnerships. Secondly, do your research on others to make sure that their brand and mission aligns with yours. Don’t let money or following size be the main factor in your decisions. If they are, it will be difficult to make decisions that fit with your goals. Also, don’t forget to do spot checks every now and then to ensure you’re still on track to achieve what you set out to achieve. That’s great advice. Is there a person or company that you would really love to partner with? I think the WNBA would be an amazing fit. I was lucky enough to work with the Toronto Raptors but doing something with females in basketball would be such a perfect partnership. That would be amazing! Who are 5 women or female led groups doing amazing work that people should know about? Dez and Steen from Patchwork Collective ( @patchwork.collective ). They were the first community partners that The Give and Grow worked with. They’re all about self discovery and creating a community for women. Emily Gilpin is a good friend and indigenous journalist out in British Columbia. She is the Managing Editor at Indiginews ( @indiginews ) and has done a great job documenting and raising awareness around everything that’s been happening with indigenous communities lately. Gaby Estrada is a coworker at Launchpad and the founder of Girls and Women in Motion ( @gwinmotion ), a program in Scarborough that focuses on engaging women and girls in physical activity. Kim & Shanelle, founder of The Villij ( @thevillig ). They run a fantastic online wellness platform that offers accessible workouts for women. Meghan Young is the founder of The Sad Collective ( @thesadcollective ), a community platform that offers workshops for youth and women and promotes mental health and wellness. We’ll definitely need to look into these! Lastly, if you could ask one thing to those who are reading this, what would it be? “Lift as you climb.” It’s important to remember that as you grow and become more successful, you need to continue to lift up others around you. The more we work together, the more successful we all will be and the higher we can climb. Check out Olivia and The Give and Grow and keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more.

Loving The Journey With Adam The Illustrator Photo courtesy of @jeremymarasigan , @shanikt & @recess.community As a creative, it's not always easy to know where the work you are putting in is leading to. For that reason, it's imperative that you love the journey. Adam Bosley, aka Adam The Illustrator has been on quite the journey for a decade as an illustrator, with many ups and downs, starts and stops and times of uncertainty but as he continues to climb, the thing keeping him in it is his love for the work. With new developments to his work and brand, Adam is a very exciting artist to watch and we got the chance to sit down with him to learn about the steps he's taken to get to where he is today, the secrets to his recent rapid growth and some of the new projects he has his mind on. Read the conversation below! Hey Adam! Thanks for chatting with us. Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do? Hey guys! My name is Adam and, many can probably guess from my Instagram name, I'm an illustrator [laughs]. I've messed with a bunch of styles throughout my time illustrating which started back around 2010 but my main style now that I'm really enjoying is fun, cute doodle characters. I post those as well as tutorials that teach my audience different tips and tricks for illustration. I'm also starting to explore animation myself so hopefully I'll be able to share more video coming soon. 2010 is a while back! How did you first get into illustrating? Ya it is! I never grew up as an artist and actually went to university in Nebraska for a track scholarship. I was fully focused on that and wasn't really enjoying the rest of school. I had done a few doodles here and there in classes and one day a teacher of mine actually recommended I explore graphic design further. I started looking around and found some artist that I liked who had made careers essentially out of doodling. I thought, maybe that was something I could do. When I graduated I got a design job at an agency doing work for other brands. Over time, I got disinterested in design work but started to really love illustrating and drawing and that led to some freelance gigs and small projects and eventually turned into a full time thing for me. Who were some of the first illustration clients you had? I had a few pretty dope ones. Lost & Found gave me a shot early which I'll always be grateful for. Those guys are the homies and I've done a few projects for them now. I also did some work for Collectif Nude designing posters for their events and some early designs for the ice cream shop Ruru Baked on a new logo which is now used for their merch and packaging. Through the evolution of your illustration, you've now landed on a pretty fun style that preaches positive and self worth. Why is that so important to you? Truthfully, it wasn't intentional like "I wan't to make positive drawings" but basically, one day during COVID I was doodling and I realized that it was a bit negative - it was a joke but still kind of negative - and decided I needed to change the tone. COVID was a shitty time for most people, including myself, so I wanted to put out some art that promoted something more uplifting. It was basic messages like "Take Your Time" or "You're Allowed To Make Mistakes" that I was telling myself and figured I'd put it into the work. People definitely reacted to it better! Throughout that time and even now, what keeps you motivated to create? The biggest thing for me is really just ensuring I'm drawing what I like. That's a big reason I'm focusing on my own work and scaling back the client work. Not that I don't like helping clients but doing things for me keeps it the most fun. I'm really focusing on building my brand these days and I'm enjoying it a lot. That's great to hear! What are some of the projects you're working towards? I want to work on more physical products like books and other home good/accessory type of products. I will probably also work on some new merch and more limited edition drops like premium prints. The biggest thing is I really want to have my own art show. I think I'm at the point where I'm ready to do it and the community would come out for it. Nothing too crazy but I think I could do some wood cutouts and paintings and would love to see them on a white gallery wall. That would be epic! Keep us posted on that. Speaking of community, you've built quite a large one over the last year. What do you think was the main reason behind the growth? Oh man, it's crazy! I've grown from around 25,000 to 177,000 followers in the last year which blows my mind. I think the tutorial content is the main reason for sure. Once I started making those tutorial reels for IG and TikTok, I saw a lot more people start to engage with my work. I think it's really all about finding new ways to provide value to your audience and that was definitely a big value add. That's a great point. Value is everything. For the last piece of value in the interview, any advice that you can share for the younger audiences looking to build their illustration career? For sure! The biggest thing that I mentioned before was make sure you're doing what you love. At the end of the day, if you're not really enjoying the work, you're not going to see it through. Creative work and growth takes time so you need to enjoy the journey. For client work, make sure to figure out your value. Most people undervalue creatives and will try to take advantage of young artists so make sure you know your value and stick to it. Lastly, it's a grind so just keep your head down and work. A career as an artist takes a lot of time and is definitely not an easy one, but if you like the work and put in the hours, success will come. Hope that helps! ✌️ Check out Adam's Instagram for design tutorials, uplifting illustrations and updates on merch and new projects and make sure to keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations just like this!

2022 Recipient: Rise Arts Co. Introducing Rise Arts Co., one of the five recipients of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2022! Who: Shivani Sen Where: Vancouver, BC Instagram / Website Founded in 2021 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Rise Arts Company strives to offer a fun, lively & professional training environment. Shivani is committed to providing world-class training by passionate and experienced faculty to constantly heighten not only Rise Arts Co's student’s skills, growth and love for the arts, but both soft and technical hard skills used in everyday life. A key goal at Rise is to provide a safe, welcoming and accepting space for all aspiring artists to step out of their comfort zones & be themselves! Although Rise is an arts company offering programs in both visual and performing arts, Shivani loves watching all Rise students grow with excellence as artists and most importantly, as people in her community. She hopes to provide a space where artists of all levels are able to find a creative outlet to pursue their passions for the arts. How will you use the $10,000 CAD for your business? The $10,000 fund has allowed me to bring on some incredible people who have formed the first ever, Rise Arts Co. team and faculty. These instructors will lead our programs which has allowed me to scale to more areas in the lower mainland. The fund has also helped lease my first space, which is our first Rise Arts studio. The future of small business in Canada is bright and growing!" Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2022 recipients here .

Good Fashion Starts With Function w/ Jay Yoo If you’re obsessed with fashion, gear and the culture surrounding it, you’ve probably established that group chat of like-minded friends that is constantly discussing all the latest fashion news and topics. Lately a hot topic for us has been the idea of not needing more products, but better products. Every day there are new brands and new releases popping up. Some of them are great but most are indistinguishable from the other five hundred “Gildan brands” or cheap ‘made in China’ accessory labels. It’s easier than ever to start a brand right now but does that necessarily mean you should jump right into it? We think maybe not and Jay Yoo, founder of functional small carry bag brand Bolstr , thinks the same. For over 20 years, Jay has been honing his craft carefully to blend function and style into products that don’t just look good, but solve a problem — a feat that is not done overnight. In the early 2000’s, Jay was frequently travelling for work and noticed a gap in apparel and gear for men in this niche. Since then, he has been on a spree of developing products that improve the day-to-day activity of style-conscious men. Jay first launched a techwear jacket line that was carried in Japanese retailers like BEAMS & Nepenthes and proved to be a pioneer in the space. Now we see players like Errolson Hugh’s Acronym whom Jay reveres as one of the “best makers of techwear and functional garments”. Jay later went on to be one of the first to create the ‘slim wallet’ for men, saving pocket space with the “less is more” mantra. In 2014 Jay launched Bolstr, a small, highly functional men’s bag that could be used as an intermediary between a backpack and an overstuffed pocket. In 2015, Art of Manliness wrote “We’re in a cultural place where men carry a medium to large bag, or whatever fits in their pockets, but nothing in between.” and GQ released a story called "Dude: Bulging Pockets Make Your Pants Look Terrible", confirming the need for a brand like Bolstr. While the Bolstr bag looks great, Jay doesn’t consider Bolstr a fashion brand. “I’ve seen so many people stuff their pockets to the max because backpacks aren’t cool anymore and there’s still a stigma around men carrying small bags and I want to change that.” Jay says. “It’s not about being another fashion bag brand. Those already exist but they focus on looks and not function” he continues. Jay also received some valuable advice from his friend and founder of Xhibition, Cleveland’s premier streetwear boutique, Robert Rosenthal. “Robert told me to stay away from the fashion angle with Bolstr because there are a million fashion bag brands out there and that’s not what Bolstr was made for. This bag is made to solve a problem and that’s what is important to show people.” Jay says. Nowadays, if you’re going to start a brand for the sake of making “cool clothes”, you’re going to have a hard time gaining the market share that you’ll need to be successful. We’re not here to stop anyone from getting out the sewing machine but it’s important to think about what else your brand can do for your customers and how your products stand apart from all the others. Jay spent over two years developing the first Bolstr small carry bag with this thinking. From the pockets to the closures and strap placements, Jay never rushed development, ensuring that the Bolstr outperformed all other small carry bags from a performance standpoint while also looking good. “I didn’t fuss too much about the design when I was developing the bag.” Jay told us. “First, I need to make the perfect bag from a functional use standpoint and then I can start coming in with fancy colours and materials.” Jay referenced the Nike Air Force 1 as an inspiration for him. Once you create the perfect silhouette, then you can start to mess around with different colourways and collaborations but not the other way around. Having a solution-oriented mindset will also help if you’re thinking about fundraising, something that many new designers require to get started. Jay saw early success through crowdsourcing platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo which describes as difficult but a great exercise to go through as you develop your brand. “Crowdsourcing is brutally honest. If your product isn’t unique or doesn’t solve a problem, you’ll find out very quickly and have a very hard time raising money.” Jay says. If you’re really good, there are even major companies that can help boost your campaigns and make you millions of dollars but they are very specific when it comes to choosing who they work with so your positioning statement and solution better be airtight. At Pier Five, we aim to inspire. If you want to create then, by all means, you should create but we also want you to succeed if your goal is to build a business. Think very hard about what gap your products can fill for others and if that gap is already filled, iterate until there is no better substitute and you’ll be set for life. Lastly, be passionate about what you’re trying to solve. For Jay, he hopes to put an end to what he refers to as the “overstuffed George Costanza pocket”. “You can’t easily access your things when you have them all shoved into your front pockets. I want to make it cool to carry those things in a nice bag because it’s so much more comfortable and will truly make your daily activities so much easier.” Jay is absolutely right! To learn more about Bolstr and back the newest campaign , head to their website and keep it locked to Pier Five for more stories and interviews with the best in fashion, art, business, sports, food & more.

Easy Going With Lorenzo Brunetti Of END. Clothing The active world of fashion collaborations is one that can be exciting at times and overwhelming at others and as a large player in that space, Lorenzo Brunetti who is a collaborations designer at END. Clothing, is always ensuring that he's putting his best foot forward. As someone with over a decade in the fashion industry, he has learned a thing or two about what makes a project important and when it comes to collabs, he has been behind some of the most notable in the streetwear space over the last few years. We got the chance to chat with Lorenzo about his journey to becoming END.'s collabs designer, his tips for those looking to get into the space, how his style influences his work and much more. Hi Lorenzo, this conversation feels like a long time coming! For those who don't know you or what you do, can you tell us about yourself? Hey guys, glad to be chatting with you both! Well, my name is Lorenzo Brunetti and I'm a collaborations designer for the British fashion retailer END. Clothing. I work between the buyers and marketers to put together collaborations, primarily in footwear but more and more apparel. I have been with END. for nearly 4 years and have worked in the design and fashion space my whole career, since about 15 years old, working various internships and jobs at brands like Churchs, G-Star Raw and Omar Afridi. As someone on the collaborations design team, what does your day look like? The day usually starts with emails, whether that's with internal buyer or marketing teams or collaborator partners. Once emails get cleared it's a lot of time spent on creative briefs for collaborations. With product like this, we're planning around a year in advance so these days it's a lot of briefs with brands for 2024 already. How do the collabs usually come about and how do you plan for these types of projects so far in advance? A lot of brands we have longstanding relationships with since the store has carried them for so long and we've done collabs with them before so that helps to start the conversations. We're always doing our best to predict trends in the future and often lean on our buyers too for this since they are always looking into the future so that's how we might land on a new brand to collaborate with, but we will focus on brands that are carried in the store. From a design standpoint for the project, we're all about trying to cover a wide range of products and price points so that there is something for every customer. This is one of the reasons that we are expanding collaborations beyond footwear a lot more and getting more into apparel, accessories and home goods. What do you think the key to a successful collaboration is? You definitely need to be easy going and open minded. A collaboration is like a marriage between two brands. If you're not open to the other's ideas and opinions and always just pushing how you think something should be, then it will never work well. The building of the concept and storytelling is also really important from a full launch and execution standpoint. The collaboration is not just about the product itself, it's about the campaign and the creatives that tell the story and ultimately sell the shoe. We spend a lot of time making sure the concept is on point before diving into the design and that always helps through to the end. That's a great point on concept and storytelling. It feels like a lot of collaborations these days are just money grabs without a lot of thought. Yes, unfortunately a lot of brands out there, big and small, simply just collaborate to put their logos beside each other and sell it as an exclusive drop and it's easy to see when there isn't really much thought put into the other pieces of the project. Definitely not to say that's most collabs but something that we're always making sure of at END. is that we can't ever look at a project and think that it was just a logo mashup. What advice would you give to someone younger who is looking to get a job like yours? Getting your foot in the door in the fashion industry is key to eventually get into the world of collaborations. This can be done with any brand at any level - internships can be a great place to start - but just being in a space where you can start understanding how branding is done and how product comes to life will really help. Building your network is also really important. Reach out to anyone who you think is doing something interesting for a chat. Even if they don't have an opportunity for you then, you never know what meeting that extra person could open up for you in the future. Now that you're a few years in, what would you say is one of your favourite projects that you've worked on? The first was the Reebok Beatnik that we did. I think the concept was really great and it played super well into the Beatnik with the hairy suede and faux fur lining. The Beatnik was also having a big moment then so it was great to see how much people were into it. I also think we did a great job on the Diadora Grappa and Limoncello pack. The shoes were great and the photoshoot was super fun, which I think, after COVID, everyone needed. Would you say that your personal style influences your designs? Definitely. Most of the stuff I own, besides my shoes, socks and underwear, is vintage so my closet acts like my own archive in a way. I love buying old Americana like some vintage Levi's or slogan tees. It's awesome to be able to pull pieces and reference interesting stitch patterns or details that you can't find in modern day products and use them as ideas for new collabs. Makes total sense! Lastly, what's what brand you haven't worked on yet but would love to? I'd love to work on Mephisto! Concepts did an awesome job with Mephisto on that vintage-inspired Apple shoe and I'd love to do my own spin with them. We carry a ton of their product so maybe one day! Check out Lorenzo's Instagram for more behind the scenes of his projects at END. Clothing and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations with creative leaders just like this!

Chasing Your Curiosity With Carolyn Chen of Dandylion The powers of curiosity are truly incredible! Carolyn Chen, founder of dog care brand Dandylion has learned this throughout her life as a serial entrepreneur with years in the beauty industry and now pet care industry. As she follows her passions and curiosities, she finds that doors continue to open, much of which by the people she meets along the way and the communities she builds with likeminded individuals. We got the chance to speak with Carolyn about her experience founding Dandylion and tapped into her tricks and advice for new entrepreneurs looking to turn their everyday passions into full-time businesses. Hi Carolyn, for those who aren’t familiar, can you tell us a little about yourself and Dandylion? My name is Carolyn Chen and I am the founder of Dandylion which is a community powered dog grooming brand on a mission to clean up and add transparency to the dog grooming industry. Dandylion launched just over a year ago and was inspired by my life as a parent to a dog with itchy and easily irritated skin, finding that there weren't a lot of products out there that were effective and transparent (like the products in human skincare/grooming) in terms of the ingredients in the solution. Where did the name come from? I wanted a name that captured the essence of a childlike carefree-ness to the world. One day I was listing to that song "Dandelions" by Ruth B and loved how the word captured that feeling. I also liked the play on words with “dandy” and “lion. It also helped with trademarking which, from my time founding other brands, I know is very important when it comes to picking a name. Speaking of other brands, we know you have some history founding beauty brands. How did that help inform the process for creating Dandylion? Yes, so I've had 4 years as a DTC beauty brand founder. It all starts with understanding the problem you are trying to solve for. For Dandylion, I was trying to solve the itchy skin issue for my dog, but I wanted to validate the idea to see if other dog parents experienced the same pain point. I started with 100 interviews with dog parents and then once I dialled in on the problem, I brought in a vet dermatologist and human skincare chemists to help develop a solution for dogs. It was important to have experts to bring the latest thinking from human formulation and understand how to best formulate for dogs. For example, the PH level of dog skin is different than human skin, which is something we learned from our vet dermatologist. Since its launch, Dandylion has seen hugely positive reception IRL and online. Can you speak to what you think was key to achieving this. A few things for sure. Asides from the product needing to perform well, we try to come up with innovative solutions and formats and involve our community ever step of the way. The community that we have built has been so integral in helping Dandylion grow so quickly. From support on social to friends and family helping me pack and ship boxes, everyone has really come together to help which I am so thankful for. Looking more at the product, from the packaging to the creative ads, everything seems very premium and almost high-end. Why was that important for you? I'm glad you see that! It took me a very long time to develop and I learned Adobe Illustrator on my own to design this [laughs] so thanks for noticing! My brand is really going to be for this next generation of dog parents so when I look at the brands they're consuming, I have to fit within that. I'm looking at brands like Glossier or Recess or Aesop which connect so well with millenials and Gen Z and that was how I drew inspiration for Dandylion. Dandylion comes in at a price of $22 per bottle whereas most brands come in around $8-$10. Has there been any difficulty entering the market as a more premium product? So far it's been well received but I think it all comes down to brand values which are: High quality ingredients Proven by experts and scientists Eco-conscious formula and packaging Better Value. Dandylion uses less product per application so you get more uses out of each bottle than the regular brands That's great to know and we definitely understand this. With the brand growing so quickly, what are you thinking about most as you scale? For us it's always about planning ahead and being prepared for things before we need them. So, thinking about things like supply and demand. If I have 10 orders per day now, what does it look like when I have 100 orders per day and what do the pieces around supply chain and operations look like then. the set up process to scale those operations so it's very important to look ahead. Another big thing for me is optimizing cash flow. So, finding ways to hold onto money longer, whether that is finding ways to pay suppliers later or finding ways to get money from customers sooner. If you can optimize for cash flow and plan ahead, you'll be in a great spot to grow. Those are 2 great pieces of advice! Before we let you go, what are some pieces of advice you'd give to any young entrepreneur that is looking to start their own business? The biggest thing is to follow your curiosity and see where that leads you. Try as many things as possible, fail fast and learn from it. I think this will give you a lot of new perspective that you can incorporate into any project that you're working on. I also think goal setting is very important but keep those goals flexible. It's great to have something to work towards but you want to ensure that if something changes, you can account for that. Lastly, surround yourself with people who uplift you and can make the process of starting something a lot more enjoyable! Make sure to check out Dandylion on Instagram for news on new products and community events and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations with inspirational founders just like this!

Putting In The Hours With Dan Climan We got a chance to speak with Montreal based painter, Dan Climan, about the journey of mastering his craft through nothing other than patience, focus and lots of hard work. With art integrated into his life in many ways but only a couple years under his belt as a full-time painter, Dan has already amassed an impressive following for his work and is one of the most humble guys we know. For him, it's all about putting yourself in a position to do what you truly love and committing more time to it than anyone else. Read through some of the best takes from the conversation with Dan below. On putting in the time... "I think the more confidence you have going into work, the better work you’re going to make." "Put your head down. Do the work. Just because it looks good or feels good, doesn’t mean you’re done. No matter what state I was in my life, whether it was design, or tattooing or painting, I know that I’ve gotten better and I know that I’ve only gotten better because I continued to do it." On painting stuff he doesn't like... "Those are the important days. I still painted. I still put in the hours." "The difference between somebody who's a professional and somebody who's on the come up is potentially just putting in the hours and doing the work? "I believe in the work so much that I’m not afraid to invest in myself" Tips On Buying Art "Only buy the art that you can’t live without. If it speaks to you and it feels a certain way, it's worth buying. I look back at art that I bought when I was younger...maybe I liked it because it was trendy at the time but I don't want to look at it in my living room anymore." "If the work is appealing to somebody who’s, like, five years old, and somebody who is sixty years old, there’s something nice that’s happening there. It’s like a universal language with shapes and colour in the content." How much money do you want to make? "As long as I can make enough to paint every day then I'm happy. Looking back to my 13 or 15 year old self, like if I could see where I’m at today, I’d be thrilled!" Be sure to follow Dan on Instagram for news on his upcoming shows, including his solo exhibit at Gallery Youn in Montreal, and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more out there.

A Conversation With Aran Raviandran of Get Fresh Company 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

2023 Recipient: Guests On Earth Introducing Guests On Earth, one of the ten recipients of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2023! Who: Jackie Prince Where: Toronto, ON Instagram / Website Guests on Earth is counter-worthy home care that feels like self-care, and cares for the planet. The brand launched their first products in 2022, an All-Purpose Cleaner, Foaming Hand Soap and Waffle Cleaning Cloths with the vision to build and lead in a new category of Home and Planetary Wellness. In only a year and half, Guests On Earth has won numerous awards, generated thousands of new customers and is selling in over 20 retailers across Ontario. Guests On Earth was also recently certified a B Corporation, meaning it meets the highest standards of social and environmental impact and is dedicated to creating a positive effect on the world beyond financial gain. How will you use the $10,000 CAD for your business? The funding would go towards the production and marketing of our new product launch in Q1 of 2024. We have some really incredible ideas on how to effectively bring our new launch to life and the funds would enable us to enhance our production capabilities. With this launch, we hope to cover more touchpoints in our customers’ homes allowing them to live their best “clean” life. What is your big goal for the future of the business? Our big goal is to develop a robust hospitality strategy for the brand. We want to get our products into vacation rentals, yoga studios, and restaurants. These are spaces where customers can become aware of the brand while trying our product. It would be a new channel for us and will take time to learn and build. We are currently testing the market with sampling but hospitality could be an incredible catalyst for mass sustainable expansion in the years to come. Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2023 recipients here .