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from left nathan stevens kyle kofsky mai ismail
Letter from the Editor words: kyle kofsky photos: alex browne
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If you want to be somebody, if you want to go somewhere. You better wake up and pay attention. - Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence
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he time is now. Are you taking things seriously? Embracing your purpose is not an easy task. So when you do you, should celebrate and be lauded. You are ready. We never doubted you. Trust.
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ur city is poised for your contribution. Allow us to highlight the high hats and get in rhythm. As music is to lyrics, your effort is to your achievement. The right
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tools and resources make this all real. Nothing will stand in our way. You are essential. We are prepared.
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cross all industries, the common thread is success. We will take care of providing acceptance and acknowledgement on a regular basis, allowing the serious ones, a.k.a. “the PRODUCT” to continue to kick ass. P
Kyle Kofsky Editor In Chief
Isabelle savard
Reece mccrone
Deputy Editor
Production Manager
Letter from the Editor
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A Working Artist
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Eat Me
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The Porn Stands Alone
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A Big Deal
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No, You’re Upside Down
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I’ll Take Both
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ricky kruger
Alex Browne
Alex Mathers
Director of Photography
Lead Designer
nathan stevens
Mai Ismail
Accounts & Distribution
Creative Director
carolee custus
Juan Mendez
Style Director
Director of Publicity
Melissa Allen
Ana Opulencia
Lead Writer
Copy Editor
anthony tsavdaris
foundproductions.ca
shaun proulx
Assistant Directors
Jill Lerner Joe Swallow
Kim Lum-DanSon Max Power
Senior Photographers
Contributing Photographers
Cristina Arce Tara McWatters Chantal Ryanne
Paul Steward Mark Tym Isaac Zelumka
Senior Writers
Jonathan Broderick
Joe Clement
wil mclean
sebastian
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oliver pigott
Above and Beyond
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Atomic Authenticity
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The Pursuit of Beauty
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Take a Lesson
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BOXX Star
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sar ah & april rutk a
Contributing Writers
Olga Kwak Tim Luther elsa mack lisa parker
alice anderson morgan blake Lauren Cullen cassidy dane Hair & Makeup
erin busey charle dilnot michelle emiliani livia luna Published by PRODUCT in Publishing 104-302 Carlaw Ave. Toronto, Ontario - M4M 3L1
michael morra Natalie Shemuel michelle silverstein melis stevens Printed by OP Media www.producttoronto.com 416 . 364 . 5753 info@producttoronto.com
lawrence blairs
nordem hirst
jimmy chiale
sandr a milligan
A Working Artist words: tim luther photos: tara mcwatters
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icky Kruger has built a reputation in the Toronto art scene with hard, black lines and vibrant colours. “I can’t imagine what life would look like without colour,” he says as he sits in his front yard in the sun, brushing a bright yellow onto his canvas. “Painting in your front yard is the best thing you can do,” he explains. He then points out three of his neighbours who have already commissioned his works. “I’m really enjoying being able to live off [of] my art.”
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icky began his career four years ago in Argentina. “[I wanted] somewhere fresh where I wasn’t distracted,” he revealed. Ricky found success after exhibiting his work
in a couple of shows. His striking paintings soon caught the eye of an Argentinian patron who commissioned Ricky to paint full-time. He describes it as a “surreal” and “ridiculous” experience. Since, travel has become a core aspect of Ricky’s inspiration and creative process. He is about to leave again for Tortola in the British Virgin Islands to sketch, gather ideas, and of course, bask in the sun.
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ne day, Ricky drew a Wonder Woman painting for a friend. The painting garnered so much attention such that Ricky decided to draw a few more super heroes, in his signature style. Eventually, he had enough in his portfolio and someone suggested that
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he show his work at comic book conventions. “I wasn’t an extreme fan and I didn’t know nearly as much as I needed to,” he says. Despite Ricky’s reservations, he rented a large booth in the middle of Toronto’s 2011 Fan Expo. “I got a very quick carouse,” says Ricky “[but] everyone loved the paintings.” Ricky received fifteen commissions at Fan Expo. He says, “it’s great fun helping fans solidify their comic book characters in art.” He has just begun his biggest Avengers painting yet and plans to continue showing his works at comic conventions.
“I love Toronto,” he says, “no matter where I go, I always want to come back.” He says this city has the greatest summers he’s ever seen, as well as the nicest people. When asked about the best spots in the city, Ricky found it hard to narrow down his choices. At first reply, he says, “I’ve lived in every quadrant of the city and the east end is the best.” After some prodding, Ricky suggests Merchants of Green Coffee. He describes it as a large dance party with coffee, “I don’t even drink coffee, except when I’m there, but I try to go there at least every other day.”
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lthough Ricky has found fame in the comic book community, he has mastered an aesthetic that surfaces in his other work. Recently, he was commissioned to paint a mural of the Toronto city skyline.
icky Kruger creates beautiful vibrant works of art full of excitement and joy. To be sure, he is the artist to track down, if you wish to let a little bit of colour spill P onto your life.
Eat Me words: ana opulencia photos: paul steward
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t age 30, Anthony Tsavdaris is living out his teenage fantasy. Murray’s Sandwich Emporium is its manifestation. Not unlike the process he employs in crafting such delectable comfort fare, Tony describes the various influences he slapped together to realize his boyhood dream: was 15 or 16 and I knew I wanted to open a sandwich shop. I’ve never worked in a restaurant. Well, I worked at Pizza Hut for like, two days, but that was it. But my parents owned a business... I have a B.A. in Communications from the University of Windsor. I worked in advertising for five or six years, and that’s where I really learned to swallow my pride and learn [about] customer service. I definitely would have had way too much pride to do this, [otherwise].
ony plays down the method to his madness in the kitchen in explaining how he flips such fantastic sandwiches. Enthusiatically he replied, “I just grab whatever’s in the fridge. But everything we make here is fresh and made-to-order. Like today, we ran out of cucumbers, so I had to run to the store and get more.”
own-home cooking and a humble, homeboy attitude have swept Tony and his business off the ground. blogTO plans to include a particularly venerable Murray’s sandwich on one of its legitimate top 10 lists. Moreover, The Food Network has approached Tony for an upcoming feature in January 2013 on its TV show, You Gotta Eat Here!
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urray’s is “sandwiched” between busy storefronts along Toronto’s Queen West strip. That Tony’s fledgling food joint - having just opened in November 2010 - is thriving on Queen St. West is evidence enough of his entrepreneurial genius. And the key seems to be Tony’s authentic commitment to fostering relationships with his customers - many of whom are, genuinely, his friends.
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n fact, the profusely apologetic resto owner had to pause this PRODUCT interview to pop into the kitchen to whip up a stack of sandwiches for a catering order that came in unexpectedly. “My friend just opened a tattoo shop down the street, and she called me saying, ‘Hey, do you think you could send us a bunch of sandwiches real quick?’ So yeah, I’m all about helping my friends.”
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ith his buns flying off the grill, I asked Tony what he does with whatever time he has to spare these days. Tony replied, “I love to go on scooter rides. I have a Honda Ruckus and I’ve been to Hawaii, LA, and New York on it. And well, you read the menu, right? Murray really is a wiener dog. I got him four years ago in Peterborough. So yeah, I spend time at home with Murray.” On where he likes to hang out locally: “Here [at Murray’s]. Having a beer. Hanging out with my friends after work.”
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hen asked for a final thought about the savoury sandwiches on his menu, which includes several meatless options, such as THE GiMME THE KEYS GRiLLED CHEESE and THE NUTORiOUS/MAMMA JAMMA, Tony said slyly, “A lot of people ask me, ‘So do you have burgers?’ And I tell ‘em, ‘Yeah, we do. A burger is still a P sandwich, right?!’”
The Porn Stands Alone words: lisa parker photos: alex browne
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upinder Wraich, Sam Coyle, Brittany Barkat, and Madison Walsh are four up-and-coming young actors who aren’t afraid of taking charge, raising eyebrows, and making you laugh. If you’re a Torontonian “in the know”, you may have seen the trailer for their yet-to-be released web series, Pornstar, all over social media. When you think of “pornstars” and the pornography industry in general, what first comes to mind? Well, these actors hope to shatter any preconceptions one might have about the industry, with this mockumentary-style take on a still-taboo subject - all while making the viewer laugh until their sides ache.
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rom an early age, growing up in Southern Ontario, each of the young women harbored a love of the performing arts. Eventually, their paths would cross, align, and give rise to this hotly-anticipated project. After graduating from high school, Coyle and Walsh went to New York individually to study acting. It was in “the Big Apple” where the two met and a friendship was formed. Barkat, incidentally, also studied in New York City. Meanwhile, Wraich studied Communications in Ottawa, where she became “hooked” on acting.
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hen asked about how the idea for the mockumentary came upon them, Coyle shared a personal story about having watched a New York City play where women talked about their sexuality.
“It was funny. Even the awful parts,” Coyle said of the piece, admiring a particular actress’s ability to find humour in dark situations. “I thought it was a cool concept - to be able to feel the hilarity and vulnerability in humanity,” she added. The four women met in an acting class in Toronto; and they quickly teamed up to create an eight-episode web series that delves into the behind-the-scene lives of four adult video actresses. What started out as a college project is now filming under the girls’ company, Found Productions.
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hile the web series pokes fun at the industry, these actors take the subject matter seriously. They devoted months to intensive research, learning as much as they could about the adult film industry and the people in it – for better or worse. “When you make a comedy on such a dark subject, it’s really hard,” says Barkat. The more their knowledge about the pornography industry (and women’s role in it) grew, the more determined they became to portray characters that are, yes, flawed, but also warm, funny, and well-rounded. Besides, Barkat says, “sex is funny.”
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he women of Pornstar aim to complete their funding efforts and fine-tune the script before they begin full production in a few months. Until then, their guerrilla-like promotional efforts are generatP ing a buzz all over the city.
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A BIG Deal words: morgan blake photos: alex browne
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n a cloudy fall day in Toronto, Shaun Proulx’s voice emanates an enthusiasm for life that could brighten anyone’s mood. “If I was going to live a creative life, it’s going to be online,” Proulx decided when he left his lucrative and successful finance career over a decade ago to pursue his dream of running his own web media company “Everything I do has got to be online,” he added.
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hile working in the ultra-stressful and ultimately unfufilling world of finance, Proulx had an epiphany: “If you could do what you hated the most, and still be successful, what would happen if you do what you love, for yourself?” And with that, left his corporate job in search of a brighter path, building his own business in a field he is passionate about.
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n that path, he wrote for a variety of publications such as The Globe and Mail, Xtra!, Toronto.com and hosted a radio show on PROUD FM before founding his website www.ShaunProulxMedia.com which serves as the online hub for all of his projects and properties. Among the digital publications you will find on his website, his blog, Himbo!, and his hit reality web series, The Shaun Proulx Show, are staples and fan favourites.
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relatively new component of the Shaun Proulx empire are his series of workshops. Friends, fans, and acquaintances who were curious about the law of
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oon, Proulx will be able to add “book author” to the SPM portfolio. After a lifetime of wild experiences, and three years of writing, Proulx is set to release his book, Himbo! Sex, Drugs, Celebrities, the Law of Attraction and other Adventures, this December. In a series of blog-style personal essays, the book will cover the good, the bad, and the incredible of Proulx’s experiences. From his past drug addictions and recovery, to his
attraction, and how Proulx applied it with great success to his own life, convinced him to speak at various events, so that he could pass on the life experience, knowledge and wisdom he’s gained on his journey. Thoroughly passionate about helping others achieve their own bliss, Proulx recognizes that “if you’re miserable, you’re not nearly close to getting what you want,” and so Proulx teaches the importance of finding your own personal happiness. On leaving a typical Shaun Proulx workshop, “we’re all high as kites me, most of all,” he says of the natural rush that not only the workshop students, but also Proulx himself feel after the uplifting sessions.
collection of celebrity interviews and sex advice columns, it promises to be a page-turner. When asked what will entice people who’ve been following his writing for years to pick up the book, Proulx hints at the book revealing something he’s never disclosed publicly before and that the December release date isn’t accidental. For those who want their own copy of Himbo!, it will be available on his website, in December 2012. 17
clothing: gotstyle
shoes: town shoes
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long with his upcoming book launch, the website ShaunProulxMedia.com is in the midst of a re-design, and if that’s not enough to keep Proulx on his toes, he’s also creating another web series called, Shaun and
Friends, a talk show featuring notable Canadians, who happen to be his friends. We at PRODUCT will be sure to tune in to the show because any friend of Shaun Proulx is a friend of ours. P
No, YOU’RE upside down words: cassidy dane photos: max power
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he fitness industry has always been a staple in Toronto’s culture. Even through its shifts and transitions, fitness maintains immense significance within our society and in how we feel about ourselves. This is what drew Wil McLean to open up his very own boutique-style fitness space, which he named “Redgate Bodyworks”.
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cLean has taken hold of the industry’s entrepreneurial freedom and created an identity for himself and his new formula of Interval Training, to which he refers as a “new animal” within the industry and within the body. It’s a fresh stimulus that excites the mind and physically confuses the muscles.
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s he continuously develops new “recipes” of exercise, McLean aims to transform each client into a student, and each student into their own teacher, so they can acquire the tools necessary to become self-sufficient. This is the heart of what McLean stands for -
“promoting a sustained fitness lifestyle that one can incorporate into their everyday lives” McLean does not want his students to become reliant, rather, encouraging them to hone their skills and move forward on their own. Separate and removed from the typical gym culture where there’s an obvious drive to nail profit-making down to a science, McLean is in it for the love of transforming people’s way of perceiving fitness.
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edgate Bodyworks, with its signature red door is situated the heart of Queen West inside McLean’s two-storey home. With monkey bars and balance balls, this space offers an alternative to the cookie-cutter gym atmosphere and mundane routine that exhaust most. Redgate has been flourishing with business solely through word of mouth, showing the power that a good trainer and determined students can have - that is, the cumulative power of entrepreneurial spirit and individual work ethic. P 21
I’ll Take Both words: melissa allen photos: alex browne
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hen the opportunity to interview Oliver and Sebastian Pigott came up, I jumped at the chance. Nay, I stepped over everyone else and snatched the assignment away from every other PRODUCT writer who showed interest. As soon as I “sat down” with them via conference call, their passion and verve blared across the speakers. I was legitimately impressed.
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liver and Sebastian are truly children of the world. At ages five (Sebastian) and eight (Oliver), they lived in Portugal. After sojourns in London, England and Los Angeles, California, eventually, the brothers found their way back to their native Toronto. But it was in Portugal that Oliver picked up his first musical instrument – his father’s blues harmonica, on which he taught himself to play his favorites from his dad’s vinyl
collection. And oh yeah, the boy could sing. His rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow at a local event was a testament of his vocal talent. At the age of 10, Sebastian got his first guitar and was mesmerized. Soon after, the brothers were witnessed playing karaoke gigs at a local bar and performing with a cover band.
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hen asked when they knew that music was something they wanted to pursue professionally, Oliver said, “I knew I wasn’t going to university and Sebastian pursued acting passionately.” Sebastian added, “[Oliver] wanted to be a rock and roll star when he was seven. I wanted to be a baseball player or [go into] acting. I’m grateful life led me down the right road and that I had the courage to follow my hunch, my muse.”
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he right road indeed. In 2008, while Oliver was living in London, he was swayed by Sebastian to return to Toronto so the pair could try out for the final season of Canadian Idol, where they both subsequently landed in the Top Ten. They went on to release their first album, Pigottry, in 2009. It was a compilation of songs that the brothers had written over the years, introducing new fans to their music. When asked about the differences between their first album and their hotoff-the-press sophomore release, Age of
Peace, the brothers explained with ease. While Pigottry was very DIY (do-it-yourself ), Age of Peace was recorded in one of the top studios in Canada, with a full band that rehearsed and recorded together. More importantly, “the first album had no songs that we wrote together because the project didn’t exist in its current form,” according to Oliver, who also pointed out that the idea of starting a band together didn’t germinate until their success on Canadian Idol. “This record is a real Pigott Brothers record,” affirmed Sebastian.
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hat is a real Pigott Brothers record? As a matter of fact, the Pigotts have something substantive to offer to their worldwide network of fans. There are messages of peace, hope, and healing embedded in their music and lyrics. The Pigott Brothers are, in deed, humanitarians and forces of change. Oliver is outspoken about his vehement opposition to bullying. Sebastian has participated in a political panel in Toronto called, Youth Nation. The brothers perform at local charity events and rallies. One of their deeply inspirational songs, Walk You to the Water, was recently used in an advert by Renascent - Canada’s leading alcohol and drug treatment centre. And so, what more is there to say but that with their grace, gratitude, and love of life, the Pigott Brothers are as good as it gets in this city - and around the globe. P
clothing: topman at the bay shoes: town shoes
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Above and Beyond words: alice anderson photos: cristina arce
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pril and Sarah Rutka stand at the helm of a charitable organization called, Holiday Helpers. They spearheaded the non-profit in 1996, assisting their local community in Brampton, Ontario to provide holiday decorations, clothing, and gifts for a family who had lost their home in a fire. Today, the Rutkas and their Holiday Helpers touch the lives of over 250 families in the Greater Toronto Area. April inspired Sarah to give aid to that first family sixteen years ago; and it has had a butterfly effect.
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pril explains, “We’ve always celebrated [the holidays]. My friend worked a lot with the Salvation Army. One day, she called me to tell me about a family whose house had burned down, and it was just before Christmas. This was pre-email days, so she just
picked up the phone and called a bunch of people.” Sarah, still in high school at the time, eagerly pitched in to help as soon as April told her about what had happened.
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he sisters recognize that a family who has lost their home has lost more than just material things. They’ve lost the promise of hope that the holidays bring. Grateful for all of the good things in their own lives, year after year, Sarah and April extend more than a helping hand to families who’ve been stripped off more than “the necessities”.
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bove and beyond their exemplary display of charity and goodwill, April and Sarah bestow the city of Toronto with the gift of teaching its people with a most important lesson. The essence of the holiday
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season radiates through them. It is their legacy to “pay it forward”. Sarah says it well, “We are just so lucky. It really is a commitment to try to do something good. Many of us would love to just sit on the couch and watch movies on our spare time. You really have to make an effort.” Sarah elaborates that she and April learned to appreciate the holiday season from their mom. “She always made a big deal out of it. She’d bake, get everyone together…and she still does, to this day.”
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he Rutka women are a powerhouse of family values. April, Sarah, and their younger sister, Aimee (who is a teacher) are as tight-knit as they come. April and Sarah even play in a local hockey league together. Sarah is a forward and April is on defense. Sarah is also passing on her admirable traits to her own children, Lily and Josh. “Lily is four now, and she’s all about her holiday presents. So we are trying to teach her that
it’s not just about getting gifts. It’s about giving to other people too.”
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pril encourages community involvement and explains that Holiday Helpers accepts both donor money and time. Decorations, clothing, wish list gifts for kids, and gift certificates for holiday dinner are delivered directly to a family’s doorstep. “People love the shopping part. They love how [Holiday Helpers] makes [helping families] personal.” The charity even tailors specific giving opportunities for local businesses who want to participate. Some of the most active company sponsors include TD Canada, RBC Capital Markets, and Teleflex Medical.
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RODUCT magazine urges you to live out the Rutkas’s legacy. Appreciate the privileges afforded by our great city. Reach out with a collective hand and embrace a P family in need this holiday season.
Atomic Authenticity words: lauren cullen photos: tara mcwatters
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awrence Blairs’s Atomic Design is not just a shop, but a destination - the kind of place that one must frequent. The more time spent in Blairs’s design hub, the more it becomes clear that a repeat visit is necessary. Because one can never truly catch a glimpse of all there is to see in just one stop.
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hile Atomic is bursting with art objects and statement pieces for the home that look like they came out of the office of Don Draper, the small studio store does not feel cluttered or overwhelming.
Rather, Atomic is like a delicious gallery exhibition offering the best of ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s design. White walls and well-lit showcases allow for everything in the store to be displayed impeccably, highlighting the primary and solid colours of each rare find and accentuating the clean lines and form that are so characteristic of mid-century and modernist design. Everything in the store feels special, unique, and effortless. The vast collection includes functional and beautifully-designed pieces that vary in size, price, and purpose.
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ach of his pieces is carefully curated and restored to pristine condition by Blairs himself. As an educator and authority on modernist design, he relishes the opportunity to gab with fellow collectors and enthusiasts, although he is quite humble and never asserts his expertise. While clearly passionate and well versed in the history of design, he is also incredibly friendly.
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lairs welcomed me warmly into the store with mug of tea, as I gushed over the very cool, Hockey Night in Canada table designed by Douglas Coupland. Lawrence revealed to me that Coupland himself does not even own one of these gems, for they are the most sought-after of the series. This is what makes Atomic such a dreamy place - what you see is the real deal and as authentic as it gets.
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his is a testament to Blairs’s infatuation for high-end art objects, clearly setting his store apart from other design shops in the neighbourhood. A collector of Scandinavian art glass for over 20 years, Blairs is also a certified gemologist and the offspring of a goldsmith – the glittery thread connecting him to the world of art and design. This is precisely why collectors have been flocking to Atomic for over five years. His penchant for beautiful, high quality objects is precisely what keeps collectors as well as novice design enthusiasts like myself coming back for more. Blairs has undoubtedly become a fixture in Toronto’s design community.
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hether you’re a teak freak, a plastics junkie, or simply looking for a unique lighting fixture, Blairs will certainly inspire a lust for design that you may not have known to exist within you.
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The Pursuit of Beauty words: jonathan broderick photos: paul steward
model : rama luksiarto
clothing: nordem hirst
shoes: town shoes
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ver the past few decades, we’ve witnessed men’s wear evolve into a more tailored aesthetic. Our pants are sitting a little bit higher and our shirts are fitting a little bit smaller – all in celebration of a new silhouette. The Slim Fit shirt has become a staple in just about every man’s closet but the quest to find a slim fit shirt that honestly compliments the male figure is
ongoing. That is, until we sat down with the Toronto-based visionary behind Nordem Hirst, Kallvis Gents. At just 24 years old, Kallvis manages to awe us with his innovation. In re-examining the Slim Fit shirt, he has boldly accepted the challenge to dress the magnificent men in our city. His mission is simple: save the world, one shirt at a time.
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allvis’s career debut came shortly after graduating from George Brown College, with a unisex collection at Fashion Art Toronto [FAT] under the label, HUMAN NATURE. The label is meant as a commentary on our innate pursuit for beauty. Kallvis explains, “I care about beauty. I care about dressing people. I like [it] when people look good. HUMAN NATURE was my artistic expression - my pursuit for beauty. We all want to live more beautifully.”
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t is this philosophy that propelled him to specifically focus on men’s wear. As a slim man himself, Kallvis relates to the struggle to find a shirt with a good fit. This allowed him to reconsider his brand and cater to the
gap in men’s fashion. Gents’s re-branding began with a simple game of word association. “I started with words like luxury, shirt, fit, tailor, modern, slim, athletic, and every day. I picked the two words - modern shirt - and I had the idea to rearrange the letters. Nordem Hirst is an anagram of modern shirt.” Gents wanted the brand to sound very North American and present a sense of luxury.
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eyond brand development, Kallvis’s product delivers. He enthusiastically states that he sets himself apart from the crowd through his creative process and great technical skills. But when asked about his line of shirts, he falls silent. Eventually, he proposes that each shirt speaks for itself. 37
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e parallels the complexity of putting a shirt together with engineering. It is this unique point of view that has allowed him to perfect the Slim Fit Shirt. His process involved re-cutting the shirt more than ten times, then test-fitting it on at least ten models to get the most accurate depiction of style and fit. He describes the shirt as the “bread and butter” of any outfit and prides himself in daring to achieve the best silhouette.
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allvis embraces other aspects of men’s wear. He is currently working on men’s ties and is also “engineering” a few suits. And while his specialty lies in his eye for detail and signature classics, he is eager to present more contemporary designs in his next collection - exploring colour, in particular. We should all be on the lookout for what Kallvis will do next in his pursuit for beauty. Gents may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but we believe he makes P a most suitable hero and a perfect gentleman.
Take a Lesson words: kim lum-danson photos: mark tym
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ailing all the way from Paris, France, Jimmy Chiale has rooted his art movement in the heart of downtown on our Queen West strip. Located in a boutique store known as Proper Reserve, Chiale’s canvases are displayed among designer clothing, flat rim caps, bags, and swag.
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hiale also runs a barber shop in the back of Reserve, where he offers cool cuts and
close shaves. With a painter executing, you can imagine how meticulous the results.
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oronto adores Chiale. His art decorates popular restaurants and galleries, building the confidence he needs to progress. He states, “I am grateful to Toronto. This city has made me realize that I could become something. And I now have goals to travel to New York, L.A, Spain – to reach the world.”
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hiale discovered he had an urge to draw when he was only 4 years old. Copying Disney characters and comic book super heroes, he mimicked the straight lines and mastered this skill before he was 10. These days, Chiale is too distracted by abstract, preferring to “destroy forms and reshape things, surrounding bright colours with black ink.” Fascinated by “round dots and shapes” and inspired by “fish, birds and dragons,” Chiale describes the black ink as a symbol of his darkness. He explains, “my paintings are a reflection of my life and a mirror for others. What I see will be different from what you see and this depends on your personality, experiences in life, and mood.” How one interprets a piece depends upon all of this.
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hiale’s pieces are an immediate reaction to his environment. He infuses the energy of people and the hustle of the city into them. This can be seen through his detailing, with busy layered sections exposing pockets of extreme concentration and depth, almost creating a three-dimensional feeling. There’s a passion and purpose in each of his paintings. Chiale admits he likes to provoke feeling and emphasize his emotions through imaginary shapes and mixtures of colour. Sometimes his expressions are of anger and sadness - at other times, happiness or mixed. But despite all of the twists, turns, contrasting colours, and weaving bold lines, they all tie in together beautifully to present a stimulating sight. The view is an imprint of Chiale’s identity at a particular moment in time.
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hiale feels compelled to paint daily to filter what he sees and therefore starts one or two paintings every day. He now experiments with different techniques, mediums and surfaces. He paints indoor and outdoor murals, skateboards, long boards, shoes, and clothes. With a blank surface, there is no limit to Chiale’s reach. And I’m proud to say his movement began in the heart of Toronto.
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BOXX Star words: elsa mack photos: paul steward & isaac zelumka
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’m on the set of a photo shoot filled with lithe, ethereally-beautiful models and ballet dancers. One in particular stands out to me - not just because she’s still in her “day” clothes, but because it appears that she is helping out with hair and make-up. Her face is full of concentration as she expertly wields a powder brush. Occasionally, she takes a step back to either admire the effect or to assess if more or less is needed.
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few minutes later, a PRODUCT staffer points out this model/dancer to me and says, “That’s Sandra Milligan, owner of the luxury make-up line, boxx cosmetics. You’ll be interviewing her later.” At first, I found it foolishly funny that I should mistake the renowned
make-up artist and owner of a new cosmetics company for a model or ballet dancer. On second thought, I realized that Milligan is a sheer reflection of the typical boxx customer - strong, beautiful, fresh, and multi-faceted.
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uring our chat, I discovered that Milligan has been in the beauty industry for 16 years and was one of the first people in Canada to braid hair extensions. She had been in a serious car accident that prompted her to wear extensions herself, after much of her hair was cut off. “I felt instantly transformed and instantly inspired to feel good about myself again…I liked how that made me feel and I wanted to be able to do that for other women,” disclosed Milligan.
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ballerinas: nadine drouin
- antonelle martinelli
selene guerroro trujillo -kate husier alexandra macdonald
head pieces
&
- sarah wolff
dresses: jaleesa rae peters makeup : boxx cosmetics
jewellery : armed
T
hrough working with women, she began to recognize their needs and wants. She would hear clients complaining about being weighed down by their over-stuffed cosmetics bags. An idea for a new, streamlined make-up line was formed. “I designed compacts that give consumers a different view of how they purchase make-up. They can choose what they want and put it in their compact,” explains Milligan. Another element that is often missing in make-up is proper skin care. But Milligan’s products are infused with ingredients that nourish the skin and smooth out texture.
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or the woman “on-the-go”, Milligan recommends a basic palette: one or two colours of cream corrector, a lip colour that could double as a cheek colour, a lip shine, a neutral eye shadow to add brightness to the eye, and a contour eye shadow for a night look. Put all of these together, and anyone can feel confident and able to quickly pull off either a polished daytime look, or a glamorous night-time look – with a P little help from a beautifully slim, customized, boxx compact.
LHN IS AN EXCITING, NEW CONCEPT WITH A REVOLUTIONARY RANGE OF PRODUCTS THAT WILL MAKE YOU LOOK AND FEEL GREAT. WE’RE LOOKING FOR MODELS TO TRAVEL THE WORLD WITH US. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
IN 2013 THE WORLD WILL WEAR LESS
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