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

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.

Pier Five Small Business Merch Pier Five Merch Introducing Pier Five’s first-ever merch drop! We’re on a mission to support the small businesses and creative entrepreneurs who make our community so vibrant. With every purchase, you’re helping fuel more events, programs, and opportunities for local talent to connect and grow. AND! All Pier Five merch is printed and decorated in Toronto with local small businesses so your dollars are going right back into the small business community. Get ready to rep Pier Five’s motto, “We’re BIG on small business,” and show your support for the local hustle. Quick View WBOSB Hat (Pre-Order) Price C$48.00 Add to Cart Quick View WBOSB Hoodie (Pre-Order) Price C$95.00 Add to Cart View The Lookbook 1/1

Events Recaps of the latest Pier Five events designed to bring creatives and entrepreneurs closer together. Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Mastercard x Pier Five's 2024/25 Priceless Experience Pier Five’s 2024 End-of-Year Celebration Celebrating Creativity and Community at the OOAK Show '24 Pier Five Community Dinner Vol. 2 - Financial Foundations Toronto Community Court Day Recap: A Slam Dunk Success Community Court Day MTL: Pier Five x PUMA x Ball Her Way x Double Dribble Pier Five Community Dinner: Volume 1 Pier Five x PUMA: Mental Health Strength Day - A Triumph of Community and Wellness Pier Five’s 2023 Food Drive: Supporting Community and Fighting Food Insecurity Pier Five x PUMA: Community Court Day 2023

Creators Grant About the project Since day one, Pier Five has striven to inspire and educate its community by sharing insightful conversations with, and the works of, its favourite designers, creators, entrepreneurs and subject matter experts. This year, we are excited to take this a step further with the launch of the Pier Five Creators Grant , a financial grant and mentorship opportunity that will be presented to an emerging creative, selected by both Pier Five and its community. To raise funds for this grant, we have collaborated with eight incredible creatives on a capsule collection of limited edition products, from reworked and handmade apparel to home goods and original art works. Before launching the collection, we will spend some time telling the stories of the eight masterminds behind the works and you can read more about them below. The collection will launch for a limited time in early July and all proceeds from the sales will go towards the financial grant which creatives (worldwide) can apply for in August (more on the applications coming soon). Timeline We are excited to have you along for the journey as we continue to grow this incredible community of designers, artists, entrepreneurs, creators and many others around the world and hope that you can learn something new and maybe even cop something cool along the way! - Jeff + Julian Meet The Designers Click on a designer to learn more. View the Lookbook Shop the Collection (CLOSED)

Tory Van Thompson Where: New York, NY What: Designer Tory Van Thompson, aka the workwear-master has been a household name in the world of New York designers for many years. With a decade of experience working with clothing under his belt, Tory has done a little bit of everything, from graphics to Japanese selvedge and now reworking Dickies and vintage denim to create unique silhouettes that you can't find anywhere else. We came across his work a while back and were very excited to get him involved in this project. Following up from our team jackets made last December, we knew Tory would be the perfect person to finish off the fit with his reworked 2Tone Dickies pants using the iconic 'Lincoln Green' colourway. Why are you excited to be a part of the grant project? This project is very unique and not like anything that I have been a part of before. I am excited to be able to help offer young creatives opportunities that I never had when I was coming up as a designer. It doesn't always take a lot to support others. Every bit helps and I know how much of a difference that can make for someone so I had to take advantage of the chance to be a part of this. Can you tell us about the pieces that you've made for the grant? The pairs I made for the grant are done using my original 2Tone shape which swaps out the back of the pants for a secondary colourway. I wanted to keep it simple. We used the Dickies 'Lincoln Green' colourway as the base since that's the Pier Five brand colour and matched it with a classic black to make these pants really stand out but also be subtle at the same time. You can rock these all summer long and also have them as your go-to in the fall and winter. See All Designers Lookbook (Coming Soon) Shop (Coming Soon)

Creators Grant About the project Since day one, Pier Five has striven to inspire and educate its community by sharing insightful conversations with, and the works of, its favourite designers, creators, entrepreneurs and subject matter experts. This year, we are excited to take this a step further with the launch of the Pier Five Creators Grant , a financial grant and mentorship opportunity that will be presented to an emerging creative, selected by both Pier Five and its community. To raise funds for this grant, we have collaborated with eight incredible creatives on a capsule collection of limited edition products, from reworked and handmade apparel to home goods and original art works. Before launching the collection, we will spend some time telling the stories of the eight masterminds behind the works and you can read more about them below. The collection will launch for a limited time in early July and all proceeds from the sales will go towards the financial grant which creatives (worldwide) can apply for in August (more on the applications coming soon). Timeline We are excited to have you along for the journey as we continue to grow this incredible community of designers, artists, entrepreneurs, creators and many others around the world and hope that you can learn something new and maybe even cop something cool along the way! - Jeff + Julian Meet The Designers Click on a designer to learn more. Congratulations Nick Vo of Nick's Jewellery! Learn more about Nick Shop the Collection (Closed) View The Lookbook

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!

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

Getting To Know Hotpot Variety Amongst all of the creative businesses that launched during Covid, one of our favourites has to be Hotpot Variety founded by Toronto crocheter Jess Papp. What started as a fun hobby has since turned into a full time brand that has caught the attention of fashion enthusiasts, influencers, designers and retailer buyers around the country. As she takes the headwear game by storm with her unique crocheted hats, we caught up with Jess to chat about her recent growth, taking Hotpot Variety full time, getting into a major retailer, where she hopes to take the brand over the years and much more. Take a listen to some of Jess' quotes and read through below to learn more about Jess and Hotpot Variety. On taking Hotpot full time… "As of this fall, I’m officially doing this full time. When I started Hotpot Variety, I realized that was my passion. I was like, maybe I should focus my energy and efforts into something I love doing instead of working in a 9 to 5 job and coming out of it like “what did I just do all day?” Put Your Work Out There You never know what might come of it! So Holts DM’d you? That’s how the deal came around? Ya, I got a message from the buyer like “hey, who do I reach out to about partnership options?”. I only had 500 followers on Instagram and not a lot of my work was on my feed so I thought maybe they’re just contacting me about a pop-up or something. We had the call and they’re like, “do you have a line sheet? We want to stock your hats in our store.” and I’m like “Ya, I have a line sheet” while I’m googling what a line sheet is [laughs] and then they sent over my contract and my hats were going to be stocked in Holt Renfrew. It was crazy. On collaborations… I’m doing this by myself so I’m trying to make sure I’m not saying yes too much or biting off more than I can chew. Every project is different. It’s important to make sure that you understand what the scope of the partnership looks like and make sure you’re both aligned into something that’s going to be great for both sides. On dealing with burnout… Make sure that you’re listening to your body. If I’m tired, I need to sleep. If I’m hungry, I eat. If you can’t focus, you can’t be productive. Don’t stress about the things you can’t control and focus on one thing at a time. What do you want 60 year old Jessica to look back on and be proud of? I'm a first generation Canadian. My mom immigrated here from Vietnam. My family fled from their country to build something for us and give us more opportunity. I want to look back when I’m 60 and know that I built something out of an opportunity that my family has given me and be something inspiring to people going through the same thing and hopefully building some sort of an empire where I can support other people’s interests and talents. Checkout Hotpot Variety's Instagram for news on their upcoming releases and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more out there.

A Conversation With Obra.Jay Jonathan Rodriguez is the creator behind Obra.Jay, a creative outlet focused on vintage sneakers, fashion & DIY streetwear with a quickly growing, international audience. Coming off the recent release of his 1.0 Obra.Jay sneaker, Jon is making a big splash in the game and when he's not designing, collecting vintage kicks or vetting IG fit-pics, Jon is also a wedding photographer and barista in his home town of Albuquerque, NM. @obra.jay As a leader in fit-pic curation, what are 5 of the hottest poses right now for a great pic? The leg cross Hands together or crossed arms with a nice slouch Leg up with foot on the side of the wall The “candid” walk pose Straight up model shot with the face mask. A big one during these times! What are your top 5 sneaker silhouettes of all-time? Jordan 1 Air Force 1 Nike Dunk (High or Low - both are perfect) Converse Chuck Taylor High (Old model) New Balance 990 (any version!) Once COVID lightens up and we can travel again, where would you love to travel to? I'd love to spend a summer in New York. Just do the NY thing! I also have some friends living in Madrid, Spain so I'd love to get out there to see them. Iceland is beautiful. I'd love to shoot some landscapes out there. The Swiss alps would be sweet too and then of course, I'd love to go to Japan to experience the fashion, food and sneaker culture out there! If you could only have 5 shoes for the rest of your life, what would they be? Jordan 1 1985 'Neutral Grey' Nike Dunk High 'Neutral Grey' (with a blueish tint) Any grey New Balance model Nike Air Force 1 w/ the green Swoosh Jordan 1 1985 'Black/White' Lastly, we know the culture's changing all the time but what are 5 trends you love or hate in sneaker culture right now? I LOVE that the faded/worn look is in. Vintage tees, worn shoes and painter pants. I HATE the resell market. I'm a part of it but hate that I have to be. I HATE bots (but can't say I haven't tried checking it out. I LOVE the bootleg Jordans trend. It's such a fun way to mix things up. I LOVE & HATE the popularity of dunks. Love it because I love dunks. hate it because prices are going crazy! For more on Obra.Jay, check out his Instagram and keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more.

Ball Talk With Albert Nguyen of Double Dribble After decades of creative work for many of Canada's coolest brands and designers, it's inevitable that the urge to one day do your own thing will eventually kick in. But how do you do it right and when is the right time? For Montreal based designer and artist Albert Nguyen who has worked on clients like Raised By Wolves, Nike, SSENSE, 88Rising, The Bay and many others, that urge set in via his love for street culture and basketball and you know we had to jump in for the story! Albert is no stranger to Pier Five - check out his first interview here - and it was great to catch up with him to learn about his new brand and first full independent venture, Double Dribble. Check out the conversation below. Photo Credits: Photo + Direction: @jgandshi ( @time_of_the_sun x @commedesbatards ) Hair and Makeup: @axelkamali @belovedbiaziza Models: @goldeneisha @ismabrass_n54 Hey Albert - great to have you back! You've worked on so many cool projects in the past. What drove you to start your own as Double Dribble? For a long time I just really loved being the ideas guy and the designer for clients that I really respected and admired. A lot of creatives that I know will work freelance and their own thing at the same time but to be honest, having my own thing never really occurred to me or didn't make sense. I love clothing and design but I never wanted my own namesake label. Double Dribble was first conceived through a t-shirt I worked on for The Letterbet for the 2019/2020 NBA Season but never really built out after that. This year I just started thinking about doing my own thing more and I liked the vibe of that t-shirt and how it didn't take itself too seriously. For me to start something on my own, it couldn't be too serious, in a way, or I wouldn't enjoy it. So, what exactly is Double Dribble now? A clothing brand? Something more? It's definitely a clothing brand first but I do want to do more with it soon. The clothing is just an entry point but I really want Double Dribble to become this basketball led community initiative with pickup runs in Montreal - and maybe other cities afterwards - as well as fundraisers, programming for women and children through basketball and I'm also working on a book! Very cool! How do you feel the basketball scene in Montreal is right now? There's definitely room to improve! I see a much bigger basketball scene in Toronto or Vancouver. Soccer is like what basketball is in those cities here in Montreal but a lot of people out here play. Not a lot of parks have basketball hoops here so that's one barrier. Canada is becoming such a big basketball country now so I want Montreal to be a part of that. So starting with clothing, what is the design inspiration behind the products? Although I don't personally skateboard, I'm really inspired by skateboard culture and how it has become so engrained into pop culture so, naturally, that had an influence on this. I wanted this to feel like a skate brand for basketball and keep things fun and lighthearted. Most of the graphics are inspired by old sport logos from the 90's and early 2000's. I kept it rather simple for the initial launch and I plan on bringing in more graphics and different pieces down the line. I don't want to be that brand that only makes a few of their pieces and nobody can get it. I want everyone to purchase Double dribble and be excited to rock it. How often do you plan on releasing new products? So instead of regular drops or following a fashion calendar, I'm going to follow the basketball calendar. I launched when the NBA season started, I'll have a drop for All-Star Weekend in February, a drop for playoffs, the finals, etc. I think it's a fun and unique way to do things and really keeps the focus on basketball. My biggest thing for releases though is I want the brand to be accessible. I don't want to be a cool guy brand. I don't want to be that brand that only makes a few of their pieces and nobody can get it. I want everyone to purchase Double dribble and be excited to rock it. Are you still playing basketball these days? I'm not - and it kills me. I had a bad injury not too long ago that stopped me from playing which is so hard for me. Basketball was everything for me from the moment I can remember. I played so much, it was engrained in my fashion choices, it led to the people I became best friends with and it inspired so much of my work. Now I hope to at least be able to use Double Dribble to create an avenue for others to play and meet through the sport. That's too bad! You make a good point about basketball being such a strong channel to bring people together. That's so true! Absolutely! Sports in general are so great for that. Basketball especially from all industries. It connected fashion to sports through Jordan and Nike, it connected with skateboarding, it connected with music. It's also influencing how I build my team and work with people. I treat it like putting together a starting five. I think about what I'm good at and where I'm lacking and then bring in my guards, my shooters, my centers etc who can help me create something killer and operate like a well oiled machine. That's a great analogy. We're excited to see what you and your "team" accomplish soon! What would you say is the long term goal for Double Dribble? I just want it to bring more basketball into the community here and continue to build greater communities all over the world one day. That might be through clothing, charity work, books, or other stuff. I'm still early to this and figuring it out but I love basketball and would be happy to see Double Dribble share that love with more people I love. Follow Double Dribble on Instagram for updates on their new drops and some of the best basketball content and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations with creatives like Albert coming soon!