toronto
Renata Kaveh is a seasoned Toronto-based fashion photographer, set designer and art director. Her portfolio is stacked with shoots for likes of Elle Canada and Forbes, creatively capturing faces like Stacey McKenzie and MIA. This year Globe Style advisor ranked Renata among Toronto’s best dressed, proving that her fashion expertise transcends beyond the lens.
Read MoreBambii is one of Toronto’s most viable new DJ exports. Her online posts and Instagram stories are just as unpredictable as her choices behind the boards but on both platforms, she comes off as effortlessly authentic and well-rounded. Bambii has been tapped to create mixes for Thump, The Fader and NEEDS&WANTS and has toured internationally, both as a solo act and as Mykki Blanco’s DJ. Between tour stops, Bambii throws her own parties, which serve as safe spaces for POC and LGBT folks.
With a growing following nearing 10k followers, Bambii receives over 700 likes per post, on average, with an engagement rate of 7.5%. Whether she’s jamming in an Uber or capturing the scene at one of her shows, her videos garner over 2k views.
Read MoreItalian-bred, Melbourne-born and Toronto-based stylist and self-described ‘fashion psychic’. Her international upbringing and travel-heavy lifestyle has given her a wider scope of trends and deeper consciousness of fashion production. As a #whomadeyourclothes enthusiast, ethical sourcing and sustainability are non-negotiables in her styling work and in her own line of unisex army jackets and accessories, Albano.
Read MoreShaquille Gilbert is a writer and model based in Toronto. Since migrating from Montreal, he has made strides in journalism and fashion, with ambitions to merge both industries by eventually highlighting queer people of colour in the arts.
Read MoreWhere are you from?
I am an earthy mixed Latina born and raised in Toronto. My father was Chilean and my mom is from Napoli.
What do you do?
I am currently a program creator and facilitator at a City of Toronto Youth Space. We are a non-traditional space where youth can attend programs that range from employment etiquette to producing beats.
What is your dream creative project?
Lately I have become obsessed with the sun, light and shadows so my dream creative project would definitely be a collection of photos I took of the sun and the way light is reflected on and off certain objects throughout the course of a day. I would love to have a series of both photos and film. I guess what’s stopping me is my lack of knowledge of film but that’s stupid because I still feel inspired by the imperfect quality of the photos I take on my undying iPhone 6s.
If your life were a movie, what would be on its soundtrack?
I am definitely a person who struggles with favorites. I have way too many favorites for my favorites to even BE favorites anymore. If I had to pick the top five I’ve been most recently listening to, they would be “Blessings on Blessings” OSHUN & Proda, “Que Te Pedi” La Lupe, “Da Art of Storytellin’, Pt. 1” Outkast, “Bombo Fabrika Remix” Little Simz & Gabriel Garzon-Montano, and “How Come You Don’t Call Me” Alicia Keys (her vocals, amazing). If my life were a movie, I would definitely expect my soundtrack to be a collection of sultry songs sung by La Lupe.
Wanze Song is an international designer whose broad background is reflected in her eclectic designs. Having initially immigrated from China to Canada as a child, she built strong connections in Toronto’s design community and eventually graduated from Ryerson’s School of Fashion. Today, she runs her growing brand from Berlin.
Read MoreSam Houston is a photographer and art director based in Toronto. When he isn’t working towards his Publications degree at OCAD or updating his aesthetically-pleasing Instagram, Sam works retail.
Read MoreDina Roudman identifies as a “loud and stubborn Taurus full of energy.” Otherwise, she is a creative multi-hyphenate with talents in photography, painting and modelling. For the latter she is signed to Dulcedo Models in both Toronto and Montreal and working towards a degree in graphic design. She has an impressive following of 24.9k followers on Instagram.
Read MoreThe jewelry designer and co-founder of Beaufille, a Toronto-based womenswear and jewelry brand thats been recently dubbed as one of the best jewelry lines by fashion designers, by Vogue Paris and has been worn by Lady Gaga, Yasmin Sewell and Net-A-Portiers around the world.
With a combined Instagram following of 38k, her brand’s demographic consists of 84% women, average age being 27, primarily living in London, Toronto and NY, with an average income of $48,800.
Read MoreBetween his retro style and timeless tunes, Joseph of Mercury has managed to stand out in Toronto’s dense music scene. Before pursuing a solo career, Joseph had an impressive resume behind the scenes, penning and producing songs for Majid Jordan, Nelly Furtado, and Blood Orange. Today, he has a buzzy EP and unique visuals under his belt that has caught the attention of Globe Style and Billboard.
Though Joseph of Mercury’s has over 5k followers, his online reach is over 13k, with 25k impressions. His audience is main demographic is between 25 and 34 years old in Toronto, LA, London, Mexico City and New York.
Read MoreYou probably love the 90’s, but you definitely don’t love the 90’s as much as Randi Bergman does. Randi is a freelance fashion writer and 90’s enthusiast based in Toronto. Prior to being freelance, Randi worked as the Executive Digital Editor for FASHION Magazine and led her team to four consecutive awards for best website at the P&G Fashion and Beauty Awards. Now, in addition to writing, she hosts a throwback podcast, Capsule ‘98, where she covers all things 90’s.
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You can follow Darren here.
Who are you?
Darren Messam, Father, Fiance, top shotta.
Where are you from?
Brampton, Ontario
Freetown, Jamaica
Living in Toronto now.
What do you do?
Day Job: IT guy for some pro sports teams and dabble as an Actor also a Father
Night Job: Professional Ad-libber.
What is your dream creative project?
Want to able to be multifaceted. Podcast, Acting, etc....
What's your strategy for creative block?
Keep at it. Start slow and keep it simple.
If your life was a movie what would be on the soundtrack?
R&B specifically the New Jack Swing era and early 90s Dancehall
Where are you from? Toronto
What do you do? Day Job: Social Housing Manager / Night Job: Netflix and No-Chill Specialist
Do you consider yourself a freshman, sophomore or senior? Sophomore
What needs to happen before you can "graduate"? I can finally say I graduated when I can look back at marginalized communities in Toronto and see less stigma and stereotype surrounding the need for psychological support. In order to do that, I will need to finish this Masters!
What is your dream creative project? And what's stopping you from it? What do you need? Creating a program in the Afro-Canadian community where youth can receive psychological support for direct/in-direct contact to trauma. Many of these youths are overlooked, and then penalized later on in life for their behaviour, when they received no outlet support during their hardest times. There is nothing stopping me from getting this done, I'm on my way.
What's your strategy for creative block? Don't force it. Inspiration has no expiration date.
If your life was a movie what would be on the soundtrack? 90's R&B, remixes and dancehall
Where can we find you on a Friday night? Roaming the streets of Toronto looking for a new food spot.
You can follow Nelly here.
You can follow Matt here.
Who are you?
I am 29 years old and live with my guy Ryan and our dog, Nomi. I am a lover for all things beautiful. I enjoy coffee, interior design and weed. I love working out and run with a Nike Crew that focuses on bringing awareness LGBTQI in fitness.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Brampton and moved to Toronto in 2009. I live at Queen and Ossington.
What do you do?
I work in fashion.
What is your dream creative project?
To have a small collection and present it in Paris.
What's your strategy for a creative block?
To immediately seek inspiration.
Where can we find you on a Friday night?
You can find me at home with friends.
Molly Willows is a Freie University-educated filmmaker, multi-disciplinary media artist and producer. Her style draws inspiration from the likes of Werner Herzog, Jill Soloway and Tavi Gevinson and her work hopes to empowers all women in media. In addition to her films and content, she accomplishes her empowering agenda by running a storytelling symposium for women called Ladies Lugging Gear.
Read MoreJo Jin is a prop and wardrobe stylist with the Toronto chapter of Judy Inc. As a stylist, Jo has an impressive roster of clients from Canon to Google and Volve. Her work has been seen in print, on billboards and on TV, with thoughtful placement, perfect balance, dueling textures taking centre stage.
Read MoreMarie Coyles is a jet-setting multi-hyphenate working as a media and leadership consultant. As a self-proclaimed Gucci Loving Earth Child, Marie covers a lot of ground creatively, with side hustles ranging from expert chandler to veteran vocalist.
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Who are you?
I am Carlos, 37 a hospitality professional and gym enthusiast with interests in music, films, fashion and arts.
Where are you from and where do you live?
I am from Culiacan, Sinaloa in Mexico. I moved to Toronto, a place I now call home, in 2004. I live in Corktown.
What do you do?
I manage a Mexican restaurant in the entertainment District. MIlagro, a traditional Mexican eatery inspired by the great Mexico City cantinas of the golden era.
What is your dream creative project?
Musicalize fashion shows, run parties and/or coordinate events for a big art gallery or museum.
What are your top 5 songs of the moment?
1. - Arisen my senses by Bjork
2. - Visions of Gideon by Sufjan Stevens from the Call Me By Your Name Soundtrack
3. – Orcus by Kaiserdisco
4. – Sanctuary by Anja Schneider
5. – Speak to silence by Ghost Note
Where can we find you on a Friday night?
At Milagro Mercer and if I am not too tired after work I am either hanging at one of my friend’s place or entertaining at home ;)
Devon Owens is a Canadian expat whose burgeoning modeling career has brought her to Europe! The Plutino-repped model studied Digital Communications at Humber and takes special interest in coding and video editing, when she isn’t in front of the camera.
Stats: 7k Instagram followers
Read MoreA creative multi-hyphenate who has been called “the face of fashion in Canada’s creative capital” by Paper Magazine. After styling multi-platform projects for the likes of Nike, Nylon and OVO, Bobby recently launched Bully Magazine, an LGBTQ publication where he serves as founder and editor.
Each well-styled post receives an average of 360 likes from his 5.6k followers, with a stellar engagement rate of 6.6%.
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