Toronto Is Fashion

Hudson’s Bay and Student Price Card Partner

Marc and Richard — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 14:26:45 +0000

Hudson’s Bay and Student Price Card (SPC) have teamed up to provide exclusive benefits to SPC’s student members, marking a first-of-its-kind partnership in Canada. SPC, known for its top Coalition Loyalty Program, connects students aged 14 to 24 with brands that cater to their preferences.

Benefits for SPC members from Hudson’s Bay include:

15% Back In Points Value: SPC members can link their SPC and Hudson’s Bay Rewards accounts, allowing them to receive 15% of their Hudson’s Bay purchases back in rewards points, equivalent to 30 times the base points. Points can be redeemed for savings.
Monthly In-Store Discounts: Hudson’s Bay offers exclusive in-store discounts to SPC members each month, enhancing their budget while shopping for fashion and more.

For details about this partnership and its benefits, visit www.spccard.ca/hudsonsbay.

YTV x Retrokid’s ’35 Years of Weird’ Collection Drops

Marc and Richard — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 04:34:10 +0000

To celebrate YTV’s 35th anniversary, you can now explore an exclusive collection of nostalgic apparel featuring beloved childhood shows like “Stickin’ Around” and “Nanalan,” as well as a limited edition print showcasing every YTV logo from 1988 to today. The YTV x Retrokid ’35 Years of Weird’ Collection is set to launch tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.

Steve Gaskin, Co-founder of Retrokid, expressed his excitement about commemorating 35 years of “weird” moments on YTV with one of their most extensive collections yet, which captures the essence of multiple generations’ childhood memories.

This new collection follows the remarkable success of Retrokid’s first collaboration with YTV, the ‘Keep It Weird’ Collection, launched in November 2021. This line was designed with millennial Canadians in mind, offering a nostalgic trip down memory lane to the beloved TV shows of their youth. The overwhelming positive response on Retrokid’s social media platforms during the campaign underscored the deep connection that Canadians have with the YTV brand.

As Canada’s pioneering network dedicated to children, YTV continues to embrace its role as a trailblazer in family-friendly humor. YTV is known for its unique style, characterized by whimsical language, irreverent humor, and spontaneous acts of kindness, establishing itself as the top destination for all things unexpected fun year after year.

The YTV x Retrokid clothing line was made possible through the collaboration with Nelvana, a division of Corus Entertainment, which serves as the licensing agent for both YTV and Retrokid.

The ’35 Years of Weird’ collection by YTV and Retrokid is exclusively available on retrokid.ca, and it can be shipped to customers in both Canada and the United States. Fans can explore and purchase the entire collection after 9 p.m. Eastern Time on October 26th.

LensCrafters Announces Launch of New Contemporary Flagship In Toronto

Marc and Richard — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:45:15 +0000

LensCrafters, a big eyewear brand in North America, just announced the opening of its first flagship store in Canada. It’s set to open on July 21st in Toronto on 33 Bloor Street East. The store will be in the fancy shopping district, Yorkville and will make LensCrafters even more popular for its exclusive eyewear and trusted eye care in the area. They already opened two flagship stores in New York City in 2020 and two more in San Francisco in 2021 and Palo Alto last year.

The new flagship store will be really cool with advanced digital technology and modern design. They’ll have lots of fancy eyeglass brands like Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, and Prada. Customers will also get to use some cool tools in the store, like trying on glasses virtually using mirrors.

The boss of LensCrafters, Alfonso Cerullo, said they’re excited about the new store in Toronto. He thinks it’ll be a top place to get great eyewear and eyecare. The store will show off all the best glasses they have and use cool technology to make it a fun shopping experience.

LensCrafters wants to be the go-to place for eyewear, and the new store in Toronto is part of their plan to get there. With all the high-tech stuff and great eyeglass brands, it sounds like a cool place to check out if you need new glasses.

Grey Goose® Vodka Teams Up With Frankie Collective

Marc and Richard — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 18:22:12 +0000

GREY GOOSE Vodka and Frankie Collective, a fashion brand owned by women in Canada, have teamed up to make a special collection of clothes. This collection is a preview for an outdoor event that GREY GOOSE is hosting, which is inspired by the brand’s French background.

The clothes in this collection are made from materials that have been reused, which means they’re good for the environment. There are ten pieces in total, like a tennis skirt, a track jacket, shorts, a sporty dress, and a tote bag. They have a cool and casual style.

Kate Watson, who is in charge of GREY GOOSE Vodka, said that this collaboration combines easy and fashionable style with sustainable fashion. Both brands care about making things of good quality, being skillful, and using natural things that are considered luxurious. They’re excited to show the collection to Canadians and let them experience a taste of the French way of enjoying life through the Lawn Club event. They want people to come dressed nicely and have a great time.

The Lawn Club event starts on July 5th in Toronto. It brings a fun and elegant French game called Pétanque to different places in Canada. Pétanque is similar to lawn bowling or Bocce ball and is loved by people in France. Guests can reserve a spot to play Pétanque and then go to the Clubhouse to enjoy delicious GREY GOOSE Vodka cocktails and yummy crêpes made by a chef.

Sara Gourlay, the Creative Director at Frankie Collective, is very happy to work with GREY GOOSE Vodka for this special collection. The limited-edition clothes in this collection combine the timeless elegance of GREY GOOSE with Frankie Collective’s unique style of reusing materials. Each piece of clothing is made with care and shows the special qualities of both brands. The designs are both sporty and stylish, which is perfect for the summer season.

The new clothes will be shown for the first time at the special launch of GREY GOOSE Vodka’s Lawn Club in Toronto. People who see the collection can get ideas for what to wear to the upcoming events, which will be held in different big cities across Canada this summer.

Here are the event dates:

– Toronto: July 5-9, 2023
– Calgary: July 19-23, 2023
– Vancouver: August 1-7, 2023
– Montreal (Jardin Pétanque): August 23-27, 2023

You can find more information and get tickets at www.greygooselawnclub.ca. You can reserve a spot for you and your friends in teams of 2, 4, or 6 people. It costs about $45 per person, plus tax.

Photo: GREY GOOSE Vodka x Frankie Collective Capsule Collection (CNW Group/GREY GOOSE Vodka)

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The Hudson’s Bay Is Suing Yorkdale Mall Owners

Marc and Richard — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 05:04:09 +0000

The Hudson’s Bay has filed a lawsuit against the landlords of Toronto shopping malls including the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in North York and the Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga. The lawsuit alleges the failure to operate and maintain “first class shopping centres,” the department store stated that Oxford Properties Retail Holdings is in breach of their lease agreements and the contractual duty of good faith.

In a statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior Court, HBC alleges that Oxford Properties has refused to deliver suitable premises since reopening after COVID-19 shutdowns.

The claims have not been tested in court.

The Hudson’s Bay Company was also accused of failing to pay their rents since April. In a statement from Oxford Properties:

HBC has not paid rent since April 1 at most of our shopping centres across Canada, and seven months of recurring attempts to engage the company in a constructive dialogue were repeatedly ignored.

“Recently, HBC has begun to raise frivolous and self-serving complaints concerning the operations of multiple shopping centres in a transparently disingenuous attempt to retroactively justify its decision to stop paying rent.”

HBC claims that shopping centres such as Yorkdale Mall has failed or refused to adapt to the ongoing pandemic and does not provide an environment that the consumers view as safe or attractive. Their lawsuit hopes to delay any further rents being paid and rent forgiveness since April 2020.

Oxford, as well as Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust, filed lawsuits against HBC earlier this month alleging the department store hadn’t paid its bills at multiple locations since April. All allegations are still to be proven in the court of law.

INTERVIEW : Old Spice’s First Canadian Brand Ambassador, Simu Liu

Marc and Richard — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 17:05:10 +0000

TV’s hottest Asian-Canadian, Simu Liu, just got a whole lot sexier as he announces his new partnership with Old Spice as their first ever Canadian Brand Ambassador. Does this mean we get to see more of him with his shirt off? Yes, absolutely yes!

This week I got to interview Simu Liu, who plays the role of Jung on the popular CBC comedy ‘Kim’s Convenience’. We chatted about everything from the Toronto Raptors parade to masculinity to, of course, Old Spice – the manliest grooming brand on earth.

Hope you all enjoy this interview!

xoxo

-Grayce

—————————————————

Hi Simu,

Thanks for chatting with us today! You must be super busy with your filming schedule so I really appreciate your time. Congratulations on becoming the first ever Canadian Brand Ambassador for Old Spice! What do you plan to do with this new platform?

It was an incredible honour when they reached out. Personally I thought there could not be a better marriage between a brand and an ambassador. To show that people like me can be an ambassador for these brands is such an honour. Putting myself in situations where I can break stereotypes.

Old Spice wants to help men find their “scents” of adventure. Can you tell us about an adventure you’ve had recently?

The Toronto Raptors parade. It was nuts! Jeremy [Lin] who is a really good friend of mine knew how much this meant to me and somehow got me on the float. It was nuts! We all met at the OVO practice center and I was just having breakfast with these NBA players and then we all split off into our buses. The parade itself was so crazy – they had put out these barriers but people were jumping over them and onto the parade route so the police had to carve out a path for our buses. We were going slower than people walking. The real adventure began when I had to be at work later that day. When we got to Nathan Phillips Square, I made sure Jeremy’s family was all seated and then booked it out of there to get an Uber to work to film my scenes. Thankfully I made it there in time and gained the respect of my cast and crew for being part of the parade.

It was such a hot day! I bet you were happy to be wearing your Old Spice then!

Yes, totally!

This weekend, you’re hosting the first ever CCYAA Celebrity Classic for the Jeremy Lin foundation. How are you preparing to compete for this?

I had the vision to start something like this. Thanks to my partner, Clem, who runs CCYAA, we were able to put this together. In terms of practicing for the game, when Jeremy was here, his trainer and I were practicing and he showed me some moves. I look forward to busting out some moves, though whether I’ll be able to execute them like a pro is another story. Jeremy Lin’s trainer, by the way, is very good at basketball. He beat me 11-0 every time we played so I kept asking him to play so that I could score one point. I figure for me to be able to get even one point on him is like winning so when I finally did, it was the best feeling ever.

Who do you think will be your biggest competitors?

The way we have the teams constructed, I feel like it would be the Fung Bros! They are YouTubers who do food and lifestyle and they have some videos on basketball as well. I have it on good authority that they have some skills on the court.

Let’s talk about Old Spice Fresher Scent! How important is it to you to know that the products you use are made with real ingredients?

It’s really important that, we, as men start to embrace this attitude where we care about our bodies. It’s important that we’re more aware of how we take care of our skin and how we make sure we feel our best. Men should really be taking care of themselves the same as women do. Men should have access to products that make their skin feel great. The use of real ingredients just elevates the product into the stratosphere of where women’s products are today.

Are you wearing Old Spice now and if so, what scent are you wearing?

I just got out of the shower so I smell like my body wash [Old Spice] Volcano Charcoal and my deodorant is Timber with Sandalwood.

Is that your favourite scent?

This may sound cliché but I actually like all of them! There is one in particular that we’re releasing next month though – that one is my favourite. You’ll have to stay tuned!

Would you ever create your own scent?

You know, someone actually asked me that recently and I never thought about it until now. Though I think if I were to make my own scent, it would be a bunch of things combined together so I’ll just leave it to the professionals for now.

If you were to create one, what would inspire you?

If there was a fragrance that could remind you of your favourite place in the whole world that would definitely be it. I love Hawaii and the ocean breeze with a hint of citrus and palm trees. The smell of vacation.

Yum! It sounds like it needs some pina colada in there as well!

Oh yes, absolutely! I feel like anyone that doesn’t like the smell of pina coladas just hates fun.

It’s never about how desirable you are to women, it’s about how the products make you feel and how you feel to yourself.

Old Spice’s motto is “the manliest grooming brand on earth” – what does being manly mean to you?

Masculinity is a very loaded word. I want to clarify that masculinity does not need to mean chest puffing macho – we’re not trying to sell this image. It’s about being fun, having confidence in yourself. It’s never about how desirable you are to women, it’s about how the products make you feel and how you feel to yourself. How masculinity is perceived in the past is not working for us, masculinity should be about being vulnerable and self aware but doing it in a way that makes you feel good and not worrying too much.

Well those are all the questions I have for you, Simu! Thank you so much for chatting with us today – I’m so happy to see you doing well in your career. It’s so great to see Asian [Canadian] represented on television. Best of luck with the filming of season 4 of Kim’s Convenience!

Review: The Black/Nickel Dyson Supersonic

Marc and Richard — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 16:04:12 +0000

We got the chance to attend the launch of the new Dyson Supersonic in Black and Nickel. The blow dryer has been hailed as the Dyson Supersonic for men with its polished colours and comfortable design. With a powerful digital motor that is designed for fast drying, the Dyson Supersonic also has a microprocessor that can control the heating element to help prevent heat damage to your hair, scalp and maintain the hair’s natural shine.

The Supersonic comes with 3 attachments (a smoothing nozzle, a styling concentrator and a diffuser for curly hair) that stay on using a simple magnetic pull, so you don’t have to fumble trying to get your attachments on, and most important they stay in place during the drying process. When using the Supersonic, my hair drying time was cut in half and my hair didn’t feel frizzy and dry afterwards!

The new Black/Nickel colour gives the Supersonic a very sleek and smooth finish, which is a change from the usual, more colourful white, fuchsia and purple hair dryers that Dyson has released. When you first open the box, you can feel how lightweight the hair dryer is, since the motor is in the handle of the hairdryer, instead of the body, like conventional hair dryers.

I found that my old hair dyer was quite heavier since the motor was in the body of the dryer, but the motor in the Dyson Supersonic is in the handle! It makes drying your hair quick and easy, which can be hard if you are blow drying hair all day. The hair dryer and attachments look like they would take up a lot of space but are quite compact and light that they can be thrown in a carry-on bag or a gym bag. The only drawback is the price, which is higher compared to other hair dryers, but if you have issues with holding a hair dryer for long periods to get your hair extra dry, this is the perfect device for you!

Technology Highlights:
– Intelligent heat control: While conventional hair dryers can get too hot, the Dyson
Supersonic that measures air temperature 20 times a second to prevent extreme heat damage and protect natural shine.
– Fast, smooth and controlled airflow: It uses Dyson’s patented Air Multiplier technology with air flow travelling at 105mph for fast drying and styling.
– Light and balanced: The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is engineered with the motor in the handle that shifts its centre of gravity to feel balanced in the hand.
– Dyson engineered styling attachments: The Dyson Supersonic has four heat settings and three airflow modes that allow users to achieve a range of styles.

-The smoothing nozzle dries hair gently while also allowing users to style and dry at
the same time.
– The styling concentrator directs precise airflow to style one section at a time.
– The diffuser is designed to disperse air evenly and simulate natural drying for curly hair.

The Dyson Supersonic Black/Nickel will be available on DysonCanada.ca for $579.99. While the price point will seem high to some, this device is for those who are serious about their hair care and for those like us, who have replaced lower-priced hair dryers many times throughout the years!

WE MARGIELA: Canadian Premiere of Documentary

Marc and Richard — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 00:23:53 +0000

Toronto based fashion start-up Archival Toronto is hosting the Canadian premiere of ‘We Margiela.’ A documentary revealing the untold and intimate story of the enigmatic and singular fashion house Maison Martin Margiela, a widely influential fashion house that has inspired the likes of Helmut Lang, Marc Jacobs and Virgil Abloh, just in time for the legendary Maison’s 30th anniversary.

‘We Margiela’ is the first documentary to focus on the impactful Parisian designer.

The documentary premiered in 2017 to critical acclaim from renowned institutions like the MoMu in Antwerp and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York. It’s gained international coverage and highlights from numerous fashion publications, including Vogue, W magazine and AnotherMag, as a must-see fashion film. This premiere marks just the third screening in North America.

Archival Toronto wants to make contemporary fashion history accessible to Toronto to inspire a new generation of creatives to continue pushing boundaries and find their voice. “We want more events like these in Toronto, and we’re taking the initiative to make that happen,” says Carl Chiang, co-founder of Archival Toronto.

The Canadian premiere happens at the Fox Theatre, one of Toronto’s oldest independent cinemas, on November 10 at 16:00 – 18:00. Tickets are available at wemargielaca.eventbrite.ca for $14 with a limited student pricing of $12.

Will you visit the Hermès Carré Club

Marc and Richard — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 16:18:52 +0000

Hermès is hosting the arrival of the “Hermès Carré Club” in Toronto from Friday September 28 to Sunday, September 30, 2018. The Hermès Carré Club invites guests to a memorable experience of free-spirited exploration and collective joy. From the reception desk where guests check in and receive their membership card, to each point of engagement with the carré, this dynamic venue pays a multi-faceted, participatory tribute to the beloved silk square.

The configuration plays out as a function of size; a small setting will consist of the three principal programs, while an extra-large club can accommodate up to eleven active concepts. But no matter how many mètres carrés (square metres), the Carré Club will generate a steady source of creative output aimed at a transgenerational audience; think artist demonstrations, café gatherings, curator visits and more – all running day into night.

Conceived by Bali Barret, artistic director of the Hermès women’s universe, the Carré Club is effortlessly adaptable to local members’ interests, attracting all those with an appreciation for the carré. Whereas a Carré-OK singalong setup might feel de rigueur in one city, the Carré Disco and Carré Park skate ramp might pop up in another. Ultimately, this club experience will encourage the carré’s magical harmony of craftsmanship, art, heart and heritage as a meaningful and lasting symbol of expression.

The first three Carré components are the foundation of every Club. There are additional building blocks that shape each individual Hermès Carré Club’s unique configuration and personality:

Carré Click and Check: Guests arrive at the reception where they sign in to receive their membership card (Carré Check) and enter a photobooth where their official portrait will be enhanced with custom filters and graphics (Carré Click).

Carré Studio: The artistic epicentre. An on-site atelier will provide an authentic setting for carré designers and artisans to create. Members are welcome to interact and engage as this select group of talent create in real time.

Carré Café: Beyond a spot to sip or snack, the carré-enveloped café combines salon-style culture with cabaret-inspired entertainment.

Carré Mania: Hermès Carré Club capsule collection with limited edition scarves will be available at this members-only gift shop.

Hermès Carré Club
151 Bloor Street West
Friday, September 28 – Sunday, September 30, 2018
11am to 7pm
Open to the public; free admission

Sold Out : No Frills Launches Clothing Collection

Marc and Richard — Wed, 23 May 2018 15:52:33 +0000

Grocery retailer No-Frills launched a limited-edition, capsule clothing collection in May 2018 to a great response from shoppers. The collection, which featured 5 tops, sold out quickly. A reusable yellow Hauler bag was also available in limited quantities at the roughly 250 No Frills stores in Canada.

Marketed using the name “Hauler,” the company was focused on its most loyal shoppers with the new clothing offering and ran several ads to help promote the new collection (video below). While this collection is now officially sold out, the company and the Hauler website states that more pieces of the collection will be dropping soon.