Stories Read the latest thoughts from Pier Five and its guests. Business (84) 84 posts Art & Design (65) 65 posts Streetwear (63) 63 posts Sneakers (43) 43 posts Wellness (30) 30 posts Food (21) 21 posts Activism (19) 19 posts Sports (19) 19 posts Photography (16) 16 posts Music (12) 12 posts Small Business Activation Grant Runner Up: Yueh Tung Restaurant Jun 22 Small Business Activation Grant Runner Up: Stimmie Jun 22 Small Business Activation Grant Winner: Grays Jun 22 Pier Five’s Mental Health Mixer: A Space to Reset, Reflect, and Connect Jun 4 The November Roundup Nov 29, 2021 The October Roundup Oct 30, 2021 The September Roundup Sep 30, 2021 The August Roundup Aug 31, 2021 The July Roundup Jul 30, 2021 The June Roundup Jun 29, 2021

David 'LeBicar' Bicari Where: Montreal, QC What: Visual Artist / Painter David Bicari, aka LeBicar, is a Montreal based visual artist who "works in black and white and draws flowers for a living". Lebicar has been a friend of Pier Five for over a year since meeting in Montreal last summer where a 1-hour studio visit turned into an entire day of eating, drinking, exploring art around the city and partying at the Mural Festival concert. Read more about that here . We are big fans of David's simple and playful line drawings and are excited to have his original works as a part of the grant collection. Why are you excited to be a part of the grant project? I think the grant is a great way to create opportunities for the younger generation of creatives. I am really excited to be a role model to some and any time that I can use my efforts to help empower or lift others, I am all for it. Hopefully this can help shine some light on other young artist and give them the tools they need to grow. Can you tell us about the pieces that you've made for the grant? The series I made for this project is about collaboration and giving back. You can see a big flower with a smaller one on the side. It's a little like the big and little brother relationship. I also made a design for the prints featuring Bloom, my little character, watering a plant. It's the idea of growth and giving someone the chance to evolve and live out their dreams. See All Designers Lookbook (Coming Soon) Shop (Coming Soon)

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

Guests On Earth Guests On Earth Who: Liz Drayton & Jackie Prince Where: Toronto, ON Instagram Website How would you use the $10,000 CAD fund for your business? See All Winners

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.

The October Roundup Welcome to Pier Five monthly round ups, a look back at some of the people, brands & things that caught our eye this month that we thought you should know about. Ruru Baked x Adidas Canada To celebrate Adidas’ Confirmed app launch in Canada, Toronto-based small batch custard ice cream maker Ruru Baked partnered with Adidas to create an exclusive new flavour. If you know Ruru Baked, you know their flavours are unique & delicious and the Adidas Confirmed flavour sounds just as amazing. White chocolate ice cream coloured with butterfly pea powder, lemon thyme cake and lemon glaze. Our mouths are watering! Jordan Brand Joins Makeway If you haven’t heard of Makeway, then listen close! Makeway is Canada’s first standalone sneaker boutique by women, for women. They’ve created a space for women to connect, celebrate & build community through sneaker & streetwear culture, and this month, they made a huge announcement with the launch of Jordan Brand at the shop. To celebrate the launch, Makeway re-released the Jordan 1 Low Shattered Backboards and had a live raffle party with their community; the right way to sell sneakers. Congratulations to the Makeway team! Ostrya FW21 Launch Founded in 2019, Ostrya handcrafts high-performance technical outerwear designed for protection, looking good and comfort. The Montreal-based outdoor brand specializes in sustainably sourced garments that combine materials with the latest innovations in the outdoor industry. This month, Ostrya launched their Fall/Winter ‘21 collection which consisted of earth-toned down-filled parkas, water-resistant rain jackets, warm fleece pullovers & sustainably sourced duck canvas pants. Their collection is no joke and we think they’ve found the formula for combining technical features with minimalist styling that can weather all elements. Check out the full collection on their website here . Hotpot Variety’s New Site We all know bucket hats have been a huge vibe lately. Now, imagine the classic bucket style we love done in colourful hand-crocheted knits! Toronto-based creative Jessica Prapp is doing just that under her newly launched brand, Hotpot Variety. A brand new site - which hosts a very cool design matching the vibe of the hats - opened this month to make it easier for all of you to view her creations and add them to your headwear collection. Our favourite colourways are the “ Snakey Snake ” & the “ Sour Patched ”. Go check out her online store and cop a hat before they’re gone. Vincent Tsang x The Letter Bet Multi-disciplinary artist and designer Vincent Tsang releases his first reproduction of his handmade ceramics with Montreal art gallery & boutique Letter Bet. Together they produced one of Vincent’s signature characters into a sculpture form; made with a sandstone and resin mixture to create a rough texture to the eye yet a smooth texture to the touch. These will look awesome on anyone's coffee table, or even as a book weight so make sure to act fast as they’ve only made 50 pieces and news of a restock after they’re gone is uncertain. Cop yours before they sell out on the Letter Bet's online store here . Stay tuned to The Roundup series to discover the coolest new people, brands and releases each month and keep it locked to all of Pier Five for stories and interviews with our favourite designers, entrepreneurs, creators and more.

Mastercard and Pier Five are working together to empower small businesses. Mastercard and Pier Five are working together to empower small businesses. Since 2022, Pier Five and Mastercard have worked together to empower small business owners across Canada. Together, they’ve launched the annual Small Business Fund. Now in its 3rd year, Mastercard is providing $100,000 CAD in funding to women-owned small businesses. Through this initiative, along with networking events and educational content, both brands remain committed to supporting and uplifting small business owners across all industries. Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund Mastercard and Pier Five launched the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund to help close the gender funding gap in Canada. Women owned small businesses in Canada receive 150% less funding than male owned small businesses and through the fund, Mastercard & Pier Five have worked to identify high-potential recipients, with Mastercard distributing $10,000 CAD in funding to each recipient. In addition to funding, recipients are given access to resources and a Priceless experience with mentors and business experts! Small businesses like yours are the foundation of our local communities, and we’re here to help you do more. At Pier Five, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and leveraging the power of our people, resources and network to be a force for good in the communities that we serve. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Discover Past Recipients 2024 2023 2022 Fund Recipients 2024 ImaginAble Solutions Lianna Genovese Remix Snacks Isabelle Lam Shawish Market Amanda Bernard Mahara Mindfulness Sheba Zaidi & Genevive Savundranayagam Paintillio Jess Devenport & Lyssa Kayra LESLEY HAMPTON Lesley Hampton Bruized Monique Chan & Justice Walz BocoBoco Lauren Rochat Folds Wear Nina Kharey The Magpie Cakery Libby Brewer-Dulac & Maggie Frith Fund Recipients 2023 Joni Linda Biggs Loba Kate Bouchard Spice Girl Chai Rebecca Pereira Dandylion Carolyn Chen Zing Jannine Rane Inoki Bathhouse Helen Yin Guests On Earth Jackie Prince Cubed Style Christine, Candace & Camille Oliver U Grow Girl Crystal Wood & Leha Marshall Colour The Trails Judith Kasiama Fund Recipients 2022 Barbet Andrea Grand Aaniin Retail Inc. Chelsee Pettit Rise Arts Co. Shivani Sen Apricotton Jess Miao & Chloe Beaudoin Parkerview Brews Kombucha Amy Kaban Priceless Experiences Mastercard and Pier Five offer in-person programming for small business owners to help them connect and learn from one another, as well as small business mentors and experts. From founders dinners to roundtable discussions, our goal is to build long lasting relationships and empower a community of energetic and ambitious entrepreneurs. Read about the 2024 Priceless Experience here. To learn more about how to get involved in Pier Five & Mastercard small business programming, join our mailing list and follow us on Instagram at @pier.five and @mastercardca .

Pier Five Social Media Lead (Part Time, Toronto) About Us Pier Five is a dynamic community-driven brand and platform that fosters and uplifts creative entrepreneurs and small business owners. From our content and funding to engaging events and our athletics club, we bring together small businesses, creatives, and entrepreneurs with a shared passion for innovation and collaboration. We’re looking for a skilled Social Media Lead to take our digital presence to the next level. If you have a knack for storytelling, an eye for design, and a strategic mindset, join us in shaping Pier Five's online community and brand identity. We are looking for a team player who is communicative and not afraid to ask questions or share ideas with us; someone who is willing to grow with Pier Five, elevate our content and continuously add value as a key member of our team. Role & Responsibilities As a Social Media Lead, you will be responsible for developing and executing creative strategies to grow Pier Five’s online presence. You’ll manage day-to-day social media activities, create content (strong emphasis on video), engage with our community, and collaborate with our team to ensure our platforms reflect Pier Five’s values, voice, and vision. This is a part-time role with an expected workload of approximately 10-15 hours per week with potential increases to hours for events & special programming. Strategy Development Design and implement a social media strategy aligned with Pier Five’s goals. Build out content formats and series that are on trend while also resonating with our community of small business owners. Analyze trends, target audiences, and platform algorithms to optimize engagement and reach. Content Creation & Management Create, curate and schedule visually appealing and engaging content (videos, posts, stories, reels etc.) Prepare storyboards, moodboards and scripts for content planning sessions. Write compelling captions that embody Pier Five’s brand voice. Collaborate with the Pier Five team (Co-Founders, photographers/videographers) to create high quality assets for content. Be available to be on site at shoots and events to collaborate on creative direction and content capture. Community Management Foster meaningful interactions with followers by responding to comments and messages. Monitor online conversations and engage with relevant content to expand brand visibility. Analytics & Reporting Track and analyze social media metrics (engagement, reach, conversions). Leverage analytics and reporting to inform on actionable content insights and improvements. Trendspotting Stay updated on emerging trends, tools and best practices in social media. Suggest and experiment with new formats or platforms to enhance Pier Five’s digital footprint. Qualifications Proven experience as a Social Media Strategist, Manager, Lead or similar role. Strong knowledge of major platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Youtube Shorts, LinkedIn, etc.) and their algorithms. Exceptional storytelling, copywriting, and editing skills. Proficiency in design/editing tools like Canva, Kapwing, Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent. Data-driven mindset with the ability to translate insights into actions. Passion for building online communities and connecting with diverse audiences. What We Offer A creative and collaborative work environment. Opportunities to influence and grow a brand at the intersection of creative impact and community. Great way to meet like-minded individuals and grow your network of creatives, entrepreneurs and small business owners. Flexible work arrangements. Salary: $1,250 - $1,650 per month depending on experience. How to Apply Submit your resume and examples of social media accounts or campaigns you’ve managed to community@pier-five.com . Please subject your email with Application: Social Media Lead - [Your Name] . Tell us why you’re excited about joining Pier Five (cover letter is optional), how you can help elevate our online presence and be part of our journey to inspire, connect and create for the creative entrepreneur and small business community.

Never Too Comfortable With Louis-Martin Tremblay We hear all the time that growth is imminent once you step outside of your comfort zone. This is very much the case for Montreal based product designer Louis-Martin Tremblay. By never spending too long in a comfortable place and always exploring and experimenting, Louis has created an incredibly diverse journey for himself. His past involves television, the skateboard industry, global footwear brands, his own blog and flourishing design studio and now one of the best new trail running brands in North America, all solidifying himself as a force to be reckoned with in the footwear design space. We got the opportunity to sit down with Louis to discuss his beginnings, how he approaches the design process, his new role as Head of Design norda™, tips for aspiring designers and so much more. Read the full interview below to learn more about Louis’ incredible story and make sure to check out our Introduction to norda™ story afterwards for more on this groundbreaking brand. Hey Louis! So great to be chatting. To kick things off, for those who may not be as familiar, can you tell us a little about yourself? My name is Louis-Martin Tremblay Lawrence and I am a product designer working out of Montréal, Canada. I specialize in footwear design, but have also done menswear clothing, accessories and graphic design to a certain extent along my career. I am passionate about nature and like to spend as much time surrounded by it as I can. This curiosity toward mother nature has been a constant source of inspiration and elevation as it is inexhaustible. You’ve built quite a strong portfolio of work over the years. How did you get your start in product design? When I finished high school, I wanted to be an illustrator and loved travelling. I was really into rave culture in the UK and punk and skateboarding and was travelling to experience all of this. After a short time in the cartoon space doing kids shows, I got to work with Underworld Skateboard shop back in Montreal designing for their boards and then started doing accessories/clothing design for brands. I was always very driven by the creativity of it all and being able to experiment with new styles. After some time with Underworld, someone called me up to see if I wanted to try designing skate shoes. I did it as a private label job but wasn’t learning much and felt stagnant in my illustrating. While I was doing that I started a blog called KOMFORTZONE, posting about important trends I was seeing in the footwear space. About a year in, people were referencing the blog a lot and I started getting calls from some big companies to consult. This led to a job at Aldo on the women’s shoe side which I loved. This was like a “footwear university” for me. I was learning so much. I moved to the men's side about two years later which focused on mostly dress shoes and felt less creative so I began to think about my next move. Shortly after that I left Aldo and started my own design studio Atelier LMTL . After a couple big jobs with shops like Off the Hook in Montreal and brands like Aimé Leon Dore in New York, things started to really pick up for me and new clients started coming in quickly which was amazing. I loved working with brands on different footwear designs. It gave me everything I was looking for; products, fashion, related to culture, mixed material, etc. I also love working on shoes because you can get a good sense of what they’ll look like before trying them on which you can’t see with clothing. Footwear is more architectural in that sense. Photo: Atelier LMTL Such an interesting journey! Over the last year and a bit now you’ve taken on a role as Head of Design at norda™. How did that opportunity come about? Just before the pandemic, Nick (Co-Founder, norda™) reached out to me about a project. It wasn’t norda™ but more of a client sourcing job. We started working together more and on a trip to Italy for that work, Nick told me about his idea for norda™ and I was very excited about it. About a month after that conversation, right as the pandemic was picking up, Nick reached out and said he wanted to do it for real and I was in between client work with Atelier LMTL so the timing was good and so I said yes. It’s crazy to see how that early conversation has developed now. norda™ isn’t like any other sneaker brand. What was it like working on a hyper-technical trail running shoe and what was the hardest part of designing the norda™ 001? Fortunately, I came into this project with some understanding from a consumer end and was thinking a lot about what was missing from stores. I have been running for years and as mentioned earlier, I am an outdoors person, therefore, familiar with a lot of the technologies used in the industry. This being said, nobody had achieved a seamless upper using Dyneema. Nick gathered a round table of specialists in order to figure out what was needed. With the experience of everyone it was just a matter of time and trial before something concrete would come out and the factory team played a crucial role in achieving this. My personal challenge was to balance the possibilities and the limitations while keeping the design DNA of the norda ™ 001. Always good to have a strong team to work with, especially when working with new designs and materials. From a start to finish approach, what are the steps of your design process like? I tend to keep the practice very flexible due to the reason that every client, brand or project, is unique. The design process starts with a conversation, or I should say with an open ear. Listening to their purpose, why do they exist or why do they want to exist. This leads to the research to understand the market, the scene, the culture we are talking to and what connects them to their product, the object. Afterwards, inspiring images and texts get collected to create a bank or reference. Obviously there is a period of drawing and sketching. If possible, right after I like to let go of it all for a while. This pause gives room for everything to settle down, leaving what’s needed floating atop. From there the products start to take life. Really interesting! You mentioned before the design DNA of norda™. Can you speak more on this? We were looking at how we could meet lifestyle footwear DNA with the sportswear side and achieve a good balance that doesn’t exist with a lot of the other big brands. Many big brands are heavily focused on the sportswear side with exaggerated technical details but I wanted to make something with a more vintage feel and be able to hide the tech within the lifestyle elements. We can definitely see this in the norda™ 001. Super technical but not too eccentric looking. What were some of the design inspirations for the shoe? I am often inspired by cars and was influenced by Porsche for norda™. The lines on a Porsche emit a sense of speed but it’s subtle. On the outside, everything is simple and clean but once you open the hood you see all of the tech. I wanted the norda™ 001 to be like this; able to perform but doesn’t have to look like it. In hand, the shoe is simple but once you’re wearing it, you can feel all of the technology in your step. For the outsole, which I think makes the shoe most of the time (Nike Air, Adidas Boost, etc), I wanted to bring in an organic relationship with the ground. I used the formation of the Canadian Shield, the largest and strongest pre-Cambrian rock formation on earth, to design the outsole and wrapped it up the heel which I think is a unique touch. Do you have a favourite feature on the norda™ 001? I don’t think there is one feature standing out for me. Like a painting you can appreciate the colours, the gesture or the composition, but it’s the whole that makes the experience complete. But having to choose, the outsole plate element of the Canadian Shield and its repetition on the collar as a 3M hit, I find, gives the 001 something very unique and organic. Agreed! Besides norda™, you’ve also designed on a number of very cool projects through Atelier LMTL, every one of them being quite different from the others but all, for the most part, being in the sneaker category. Are there any other categories you might like to explore with Atelier LMTL? Football cleats. I would definitely take on that challenge, especially from an outsole point of view. The cleats give a unique form and many possibilities to play with. This being said, I think menswear is on the top of the list. This category needs some attention and creativity to respond to what men need in a modern and functional way. We’d love to see what you come up with for all of it. Switching gears here a bit now. The footwear design space is one that many aspire to be a part of but it can definitely look intimidating from the outside. What tips would you give to someone who is looking to get into footwear design as a career? Get busy, stay curious. Take jobs with purpose, like learning from someone or understanding the basics of the industry. From there, move up, down, sideways, but when you become stagnant, move to keep learning and growing. Design is specific and in order to sharpen it you will need to understand all aspects of the industry like manufacturing, marketing, merchandising and many more. Understanding culture is also a key ingredient. Cultures come with a set of beliefs, unknown rules and a visual language. This last one cannot be underestimated. That is excellent advice and definitely even applicable to those not looking at the footwear space, especially in regards to the comfort zone advice. Definitely! Once you’re in different spots, you should always continue to ask questions and speak to people to learn and then the minute you feel you’ve learned something, move on. It’s also important to have checkpoints in the moment to help you understand what you’re trying to achieve, where you’re at and what the future may look like for you. Absolutely. Getting a bit more personal for the last question. What are your top 5 sneaker designs of all time, excluding norda™ and anything else you’ve worked on? Mmm, I don’t even own 5 sneakers right now [laughs]. I am with them all the time for work but I have never considered making a list or collecting them. This being said, court sneakers like the Tretorn Nylite have patterns I really like for their unique and curated look. I am also very into menswear classics like the original P204 from Padmore and Barnes. They have been some of my favourites since childhood. I also am wearing the Keen Uneek sandal a lot and will always love Clarks. I could name others, but it would be mostly on the aesthetic as I have been deceived often by either the fit, the comfort or the quality. A great list nonetheless! For more on norda™, check out our Introduction to norda™ story and make sure to follow norda™ and Atelier LMTL on Instagram for more exciting work and updates. Also, don’t forget to keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more.

Embracing Your Community With Sarah Sukumaran of Lilith NYC The realities of starting any business always have two things in common. The first is you can't predict your path. There will always be unknowns. The second is that no matter where that path might take you, anything is possible. Sarah Sukumaran, NYC-based tech exec turned sneaker designer and now founder of Lilith NYC has embraced that wholeheartedly and has some great antidotes for anyone looking to turn their creative passions into a business. The learnings that she has acquired over the years with traditional tech roles, a predictive analytics gig at Nike - a natural fit for a sneaker-loving software product director - to now the life of an entrepreneur, have set her up for years of success and are something we could all benefit from. Scroll down for some gems from the conversation with Sarah. Hi Sarah! You're a big advocate of embracing your community. How did that play a part in getting Lilith off the ground? It's amazing. When you put out in the universe that you're doing something, people will naturally gravitate towards you and start making those connections wherever they can. Lean into that. When I started vocalizing and putting it out there that I was starting a footwear company, people all of a sudden had these connections for me and that's how all of my contacts, angel investors and other people I now work with, have come about. What's it like going from the tech world to now being recognized as a sneaker designer and brand owner? I worked in tech and I thought that was my life. I was ready to become a DevOps engineer and I really thought that's where my career was headed. So now, it's so nice to explore this creative side that I didn't know I had. I really love colour theory and working with materials. When I'm in Portugal, going to the leather supplier and looking at the suede that we're going to go with, or looking at the colour swatches; I have such a strong passion for that. People now refer to me as a creative and I'm still getting used to embracing it because I still am this nerdy tech person but now I'm a creative too which is pretty cool. Any advice to someone who was in your position looking to start their own brand while working a 9-5? I am a big proponent of not quitting your job and working on your side hustle when you're getting a nice check at your current employer. The only reason I quit [Nike] was because it was a clear conflict of interest working for a footwear brand and starting my own. If I was working as a tech company I would definitely have done this as a side hustle and just kept collecting a check. You need to be able to financially support yourself or have savings to be able to take that leap on your dream. Work full time and spend more hours after each day building your startup. There are so many little things you can do to get your startup off the ground, especially in footwear. You can source the factory on the internet and spend $200 to get a sample made. Everything is possible. You just need to take those small steps and making it work doesn't have to involve quitting your job and going bankrupt throughout the process. Lilith has done a bunch of pop-ups and is in a few retailers. Is expanding that a big goal of yours? I think for any brand, you always need to have a multi-channel experience. In year one, we started getting approached by retailers but I just felt like I wasn't ready. However, I realize now how important that is and we're definitely working on getting into more and more doors and doing more pop ups. Online is great but getting people to try on the shoes, especially at my price point it key. Just like any portfolio, you need a diversified approach as an entrepreneur. So true! Lastly, has been one of your biggest learnings since starting Lilith? Shifting away from traditional seeding and actually using your customers as the influencer, that's been an interesting shift and learning for me. I was wasting time seeding people who would post once and never wear the shoe again. Now, I'll surprise a customer who's bought two or three pairs and be like, here's a free shoe because I know that they're going to wear the hell out of it and that's probably better marketing at the end of the day. They're the ones who post the authentic photos, wear the shoes and get complimented in person and get way more excited! They're their own ambassadors to the brand. I love it and they love it. Make sure to follow Lilith for news on their pop-ups and releases and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations with creative entrepreneurs like Sarah!

Small Business Activation Grant Runner Up: Yueh Tung Restaurant Introducing Yueh Tung Restaurant, the runner up recipient of the Pier Five & Intak Printing Activation Grant! Owners: Jeanette & Joanna Liu Location: Toronto, ON Discover Yueh Tung online: Website // Instagram About Yueh Tung Restaurant Yueh Tung is Canada’s oldest Hakka Chinese restaurant, serving Toronto since 1986 from the heart of Old Chinatown. Recently, Jeanette & Joanna's parents officially handed the business over to them and they've stepped in during one of the most difficult economic climates to try to carry forward everything their parents built. They introduced Toronto city to delicacies like Chili Chicken and Manchurian Chicken and worked tirelessly for decades. Now, as second-generation owners, Jeanette & Joanna are working to preserve this legacy, reintroduce Yueh Tung to the public, and sharing the untold story of their family and culture through food, design, and storytelling. What is your vision with the grant funds and support from Pier Five & Intak Printing? Our vision with the grant funds and support from Pier Five & Intak Printing is to host a special dinner experience that brings together local customers, media, and municipal leaders to celebrate the history and heritage of Toronto’s Old Chinatown. This event will help spark renewed awareness and pride in the neighborhood we’ve been part of for decades. In addition, the grant will support a refresh of Yueh-Tung’s branding, from menus to signage, to better reflect our family story and the vibrant Chinatown community we represent. It’s an opportunity to honour our roots while inviting a new generation to connect with the culture, food, and history that define who we are. How will this grant help you realize your long term goals? This activation is a key step in our long-term vision to preserve and grow Yueh Tung, not just as a restaurant, but as a cultural landmark. We want to create a cohesive brand experience that clearly communicates who we are, where we come from, and why this place matters. The grant will allow us to reintroduce Yueh Tung to a new generation while reconnecting with longtime customers who may not know we're still here. It will help stabilize our business, strengthen community recognition, and lay the foundation for a sustainable future so we can continue sharing Hakka food, honour our parents’ legacy, and ensure this story lives on in our city. Photos supplied by Yueh Tung Restaurant, BlogTo & TorontoLife Learn more about the Pier Five & Intak Printing Activation Grant and discover the other recipients here .

July Guest Picks: Books with Jay Yoo of Bolstr Guest: Jay Yoo , founder of Bolstr AntiFragile by Nicholas Taleb Nassim "Counterintuitive insights on the nature of all things. Why nature is our greatest teacher of evolution? It gains from chaos. Humans don't work like that as we accept comfortable positions in life (taking advice from expert "Fragilistas" that make us fragile (although it may not appear that way). Like your doctor, who is the third leading cause of death in America. Ideas on preparing forward by building optionality into your life (dismissing expert news) allow us to benefit from inevitable "black swan" events that are unpredictable and catastrophic to most." Who Owns the Future by Jaron Lenier "All about rebuilding the middle class by humanizing the digital economy. A critical and credible take on creating commerce for all vs. redistributing wealth. The book was written in 2011, and much of what Jaron predicted is coming true. Specifically, how a free digital economy is destroying jobs as new centers of power (Google, Facebook, Snapchat, et al.) make money on our use of their ecosystems and are socially engineering us to stay in them. But what makes their systems valuable does not get an equitable stake (you and me). He lays it all out on how to get paid for making any content (as long as others are viewing it). It's entirely possible with the blockchain, which makes crypto ever more relevant. Importantly, the idea that our world can be automated via tech is a farse; without human influence, it will have no soul. Sorry, Ray Kurzweill and the whole singularity movement. No thanks." A Short History of Progress by Richard Wright "Where are we going? This is the central theme of the book. It's an incredibly illuminating book on impending doom and how man destroys everything. He goes through the history of humans from prehistoric times until the present and how we have destroyed the planet and the lives of millions (approaching billions), all in the pursuit of progress. He examines several civilizations from Neanderthals, Easter Island (an important microcosm), Sumerians, Romans, and Egyptians. Each crippled their existence by overproducing, exhausting resources, and then waging war to expand and gain more. There are no everlasting examples of civilizations, and they all fall victim to their progress. It took 3 million years to go from a stone arrowhead to smelted iron, but only 3,000 years to go from smelt to a nuclear bomb. Where are we going?" Big Bang by Simon Singh "The Origins of The Universe. One of my favorite books that walks through the history of science. I love learning about the cosmos and space but am more interested in how humans figured it out. It's a fascinating account of science's struggle to overcome dogma and human's persistence for truth. But, as important, are the pitfalls of incumbency (egos that stifled scientific progress), to which Einstein both abhorred and fell victim. Incredibly interesting and great for anyone who would like to know the Big Bang theory in layman's terms." 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson "Life is a bitch. Historical, spiritual, and personal antidotes for leading a life of purpose and ultimate happiness. It's more than a self-help book; it's a serious eye-opener on building a relationship with oneself, others, and the world in times of immediate gratification. Fun is fleeting, and joy is work; I welcome this confrontation with what more I can do to be and influence "good."" 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.