Category: Portfolio

I used to laugh at people who said you can’t have too much of a good thing. Then I experienced the over saturation of cannabis in the media. What started out as a “wow, I can’t believe they are discussing WEED on the news! What a time to be alive!” has evolved to “if I have to read about one more ‘article’ on CBD, things will get broken”.

Then an lol-eriffic team based out of British Columbia launched a blog and supporting social media accounts to distract us from the mundane hearsay-weed-noise that has saturated the nation. Verp Media is a ragtag satirical cannabis media platform that bills itself as “Fake News for Cannabis Professionals.” While they claim to have no idea what they are doing, Verp’s editorial team speaks to people from all corners of the industry with perfectly comprehensive satire.

What it really comes down to is that the cannabis industry (and it’s people) take itself WAY too seriously. So in this case, you might consider Verp Media to be a system of check and balances (see: shits and giggles), allowing us to maintain our sanity while cutting through the noise of stocks, mergers, acquisitions and strain-by-experience (mis)information overload.

Yes, the shade and trolling are palpable but necessary in a space where everyone is fighting to be ‘right’. Because despite the growing roster of know-it-alls, “every self-important industry needs its fool”.

Trolling with love and affection, the red dot broc squad were kind enough to contribute to Her(B) Life’s Vol. 2, and to celebrate that, here are our top 10 favourite Verp memes.

And if you aren’t already, be sure to follow Verp on Instagram and Twitter.

#1 SWAGAHOLICS

#2 ONTARIO LOTTERY

#3 FREE MARKET

#4 LOGOS ARE HARD

#5 BC CANNABIS

#6 DISTRIBUTION AND RETAIL

#7 IS IT 2019 YET?

#8 SUPPLY & DEMAND

#9 HI CANADA!!

#10 QUALITY SHAKE

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This article is originally published in https://theherblifestyle.com/community/verpmemes

Valentine’s Day isn’t for everyone but it’s a nice reminder that people are putting love out into the world. No matter your relationship status, it’s a good reminder that you are worthy of love and belonging – even if you don’t ‘belong’ to anyone romantically, speaking. (Important Editor’s note: no one belongs to anyone, but for the context of the article, let’s look at this as a from a free-spirited perspective).

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the commercialized idea of Valentine’s Day and quickly cross it off the list of things that spark joy. Why not repurpose this sappy love day to put the focus back on YOU? I mean, let’s be honest: it’s not your job to make everyone else happy. You’re not a blunt.

PRACTICE SELF LOVE

Take the time to do something for yourself that you wouldn’t normally do, like splurge on some luxury bath soap, bath bombs and epsom salts for the best bathing experience of the year. Break out the candles, crystals, sage, crack open a face mask and sprinkle some THC oil for good measure to soothe your achy muscles and revive your soul.

HOST A POTLUCK WITH FRIENDS

Trade Valentine’s Day for Galentine’s Day and invite a few of your closest. Sprinkle some weed on it and make it a party! We do love a good charcuterie board and any excuse to get the crew together is fair in our books.

CHECK IN ON YOUR LOVED ONES

This is the day of love, after all. Why not call someone you hold dear but haven’t had the chance to chat with in a while. Surely, they would appreciate it and it’s a great excuse to catch up.

DONATE TO A CHARITY
Money can’t buy happiness but it can go to a good cause – and that’s close enough in our books. Choose an organization that resonates with your values and send them some love. If you’re looking for a recommendation, check out Cannabis Amnesty.

TAKE YOURSELF OUT ON A DATE

Explore a new restaurant, take a yoga class or why not combine both? We get so wrapped up in the everyday eat-work-sleep shuffle that taking a few hours for ourselves doesn’t happen very often.

MASTURBATE

When all else fails, rub one out. Besides, this could be a great opportunity to take that new cannalube you’ve been saving for a test drive. Besides, if you’re feeling ambitious enough to complete the first 5, the least you can do is check off this box as well. Treat yourself, babes!

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This article is originally published in https://theherblifestyle.com/community/valentines-day-survival-guide

When we think about picturesque landscapes in Greater Montreal, we consider the densely populated downtown core or the historical beauty found in the touristy old port. You may not realize, but beyond the hidden concrete and grey-space, lies a great deal photographic potential. Sometimes it takes the right individual with a keen eye to capture it through the lens of their smartphone.

Central District’s got Instagram talent, and his name is Ziad Mitri. In fact, I was so impressed with his curated social media imagery, that I needed to know more about his perspective of the neighbourhood so that it could be shared with our readers.

Ziad’s perception of DCMTL goes beyond the concrete buildings, potholes and (seemingly) endless construction. His feed encompasses a range of Central District and adjacent space, including Villeray and Ahunstic-Cartierville.

Here’s a Q&A with the Instagrammer himself, Ziad Mitri:

JN: What inspired you to photograph this neighbourhood?

ZM: When I moved to Ahuntsic a couple of years ago, I loved seeing those big iconic buildings around the Chabanel area, stacked like huge LEGO pieces. It inspired me to capture them in every way possible.

JN: Your images are quite spectacular. Do you have a background in photography?

ZM: I have a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, but I always had a passion for photography! It all started 3 years ago with a Canon DSLR. I loved taking Macro shots with a depth of field, but now I only use my iPhone for the photos on my Instagram account. iPhones and smartphones these days are great tools for taking amazing shots on the go! For me, photography is all about capturing a brief moment in time, so no need to carry around a huge camera when your mobile phone can do the trick.

JN: Is Central District and/or surrounding area home to you? – you don’t need to tell us where exactly, but just to give us an idea of your attachment to the area

ZM: Yes, I live in the area, between Acadie and St-Laurent, so I see Central district in the day when it’s as busy as a beehive, and peaceful and calm at night.

JN: What are your hopes for Central District in the next 5 years?

ZM: I hope to see it go back to its glory days and to fill those amazing LEGO buildings with enthusiastic people and entrepreneurs. Many successful businesses started in this neighbourhood, and I would love to see this continue.

JN: Many of your images on Instagram are of landscapes and buildings. Do you think there’s a potential for street style images or portrait shots to appear on your feed?

ZM: I love the symmetry in everything, that’s why you can see buildings and landscapes in my photos, that being said, I always admired the stories and the people featured on the “ Humans of New York” website and Facebook page, so maybe for in a future project I can tell the stories behind all these great small businesses in Ahuntsic and especially in the Chabanel neighbourhood!

JN: Do you have any tips for folks who are trying to grow their audience on Instagram?

ZM: Try always to create a theme for your photos, post regularly, be creative and show love for the Instagram community and the other Instagramers that have the same interest as you. But the most important thing is to be authentic and be yourself in all your shots.

Follow Ziad on Instagram @montreal.station

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This article was originally published on http://www.dcmtlblog.com/central-district-instagrammer-ziad/

Canada’s premiere LGBTQ film festival Image+Nation is bringing 11 days of remarkable international queer cinema to Montreal from November 24th until December 4th.

Echoing the maturation of LGBT culture and filmmaking, image+nation 29 moves well beyond the classic coming out tale and delivers an impressive roster of queer realities and accomplished storytelling. This year’s impressive lineup includes award-winning features, powerful documentaries and beautiful short films – offering something for the curious and queerious alike. With cinematic flavours ranging from light-hearted comedies and love stories to deeper dramatic tales and social issue works, Image+Nation 29 is not to be missed!

5 REASONS TO ATTEND IMAGE+NATION 29

IRISH QUEER CINEMA FOCUS

Stemming from a fortuitous meeting at London’s BFI Flare Festival in May, image+nation has embarked on a programming exchange with GAZE, Dublin’s LGBTQ Film Festival. To reciprocate GAZE’s curation of a Québec Queer Cinema Focus at their festival this past July, everything’s coming up Irish at Image+Nation 29! From Handsome Devil, the spectacular Opening Night Film by author and director, John Butler, to The Queen of Ireland, a timely documentary chronicling the country’s path to their popular vote for LGBTQ rights and marriage equality through an eloquent drag queen spokesperson. And capping off the Focus, i+n29 presents a program of the best and brightest contemporary Irish shorts. i+n29 is pleased to welcome John Butler and actor Andrew Scott (Moriarty in the BBC’s Sherlock) and GAZE programmer, Roisin Geraghty, to this year’s festival.

QUEERMENT QUÉBEC SERIES / @ PHI CENTRE

Each year the Festival celebrates Montreal talent with Queerment Québec, a shorts program featuring the work of local filmmakers. This year Queerment Québec will be held at the Phi Centre. A full evening of film, fun and festivities on Monday, November 28, the evening will also host the launching of image+nation’s newest endeavour, LGBToujours / #partagezvoshistoires. Funded by the Ministère de la Justice, comité de lutte contre l’homophobie this online project strives to make LGBTQ lives and stories every day stories – creating a more diverse cultural landscape through making Québécois LGBTQ-authored films available to all online.

ADDICTED TO FRESNO

This quirky, dark comedy from director Jamie Babbitt (But I’m a Cheerleader) is a mix of A and B-list actors, and one that we cannot miss. Lead character Shannon (played by Judy Greer) is a sex addict whose life is rapidly falling apart thanks to her extracurricular activities (psst: she plays a teacher, and yes – things get messy). This film also features Orange is the New Black actress  Natasha Lyonne as the sister, who is trying to help Shannon get her life back on track. Oh, and you can also expect to see Aubrey Plaza, who plays Shannon’s aerobics instructor (we giggled too!).

CLOSET MONSTER

Stephen Dunn 2015 Canada 90min English

Closet Monster is a “distinctively offbeat and emotionally striking coming-of-age story about a creative teenager who is desperate to escape his hometown and the haunting memories of his turbulent childhood.” Lead charachter Oscar Madly (Connor Jessup) witnessed a brutal gay bashing, which leads to subsequent trauma throughout his upbringing. Ten years later, Oscar is a sexually confused high school student living with his bitter, alcoholic father. His support system mainly consists of his close friend Gemma, and receives sage advice from his pet hamster, Buffy (voiced by the wonderfully eccentric Isabella Rossellini). Love and romantic confusion ensues.
Balancing elements of fantasy and drama with well-placed and well-paced humour, Stephen Dunn’s debut feature marks the arrival of a bold and bright new directorial talent on the Canadian film scene.

HANDSOME DEVIL

John Butler 2016 Ireland 95min english

The toast of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Handsome Devil, Irish novelist John Butler’s second feature film is a winningly funny, music-drenched coming-of-age story with a wry streak of visual invention. With his shock of red hair, proclivity for old rock songs, and general oddness, Ned (Fionn O’Shea) is a certified outcast in his rugby-crazy, all-boy boarding school. Ned doesn’t even dislike rugby, but that doesn’t stop him from being an easy target. His mind is set on expulsion or escape, until the arrival of a new English teacher (Andrew Scott, Sherlock) and a new roommate, Conor (Nicholas Galitzine), a surprisingly sensitive rugby player with more than a few secrets, sets Ned on a path towards finally allowing himself to be heard. Gorgeously shot, Handsome Devil reminds us that bravery and loyalty are not innate traits. They’re qualities we earn under pressure. Ned and Conor both make mistakes, but in the end, what truly matters is that each learns to speak in his own voice.

TICKET PRICES

single ticket 12,75 $
special events 13+ $
cinephile pass 10@120 $
student/ 65+ ticket* 9,75 $
*limited availability; student id / proof of age required; one ticket per person per screening

cash only

For more information and for cinema etiquette (timing your arrival arrival), location info and where to pick up programmes, visit the Image+Nation box office online.

Hope to see you there!

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This article was originally published in http://www.dcmtlblog.com/image-nation-29-montreal-lgbtq-film-festival/

DCMTL was recently in Lisbon, Portugal to attend the Web Summit, an annual tech conference that attracts tech innovators from all over the globe. When we heard that MERRY JANE CEO and Co-Founder Ted Chung was scheduled to give a talk, we jumped at the chance to interview him – after all, he’s one of cannabis media’s industry thought leaders.

MERRY JANE is an online news source which intersects between business, health, pop culture, and politics that brings forth a new generation of normalized, sophisticated cannabis culture for all.

The media entrepreneur and industry thought leader co-founded Merry Jane with Snoop Dogg just over one year ago. Chung, who is also Snoop’s manager, had a vision for an online media source that was aligned with pro-cannabis movement ideologies and offered pro-cannabis brand strategies – so that brands could communicate to their customers (in a legal way).

With the latest developments in our own backyard surrounding the cannabis industry, the topic of recreational marijuana legalization and commercially regulated sales has been making rounds on social media in Canada-land. In awe and curiosity, DCMTL Blog Editor-in-Chief, Jessica Nudo met up with Ted to talk all things cannabis, media and what is to come after the 2016 American election.

Here’s what he had to say in this uplifting Q&A.

JN: For those who aren’t familiar with MERRY JANE, what exactly is this platform?

TC: MERRY JANE is the fastest growing media and technology platform, that is at the center of a counter culture going mainstream. Similar to Rock and Roll and Rolling Stone, or the hipster audience (early-on) in VICE. Being at the center of the wave of change in the psychographics and preferences of customers and consumers in general, using content and media to aggregate this cannabis lifestyle audience.

Whether it’s fun entertainment that brings people together, or if it’s about marines and veterans who suffer from PTSD and use cannabis as an alternative therapy to opiates. This information with everyone and I think we are at the forefront of the conversation, leading the way so that those stigmas disappear and provide the proper education and insight into what it means to utilize cannabis in a responsible way.

MERRY JANE is the fastest growing brand in the cannabis space of a counter-culture going mainstream, including a built-in influencer network with personalities such as Snoop Dogg, Wiz Kalifa, and Seth Rogen.

JN: How did you first meet Snoop Dog?

TC: In the late 90’s our marketing company had some products that we were interested in doing brand integration with Snoop. I was providing music for an HBO animation project that he was in, so we ended up meeting twice in one week. that led to a friendship and business partnership.

JN: I’m guessing that Snoop had an influence that led to your development of Merry Jane.

TC: Absolutely! It was about 5 years ago that we sat down and put it together a very specific think-tank to navigate our initiatives in the cannabis space, and MERRY JANE was at the forefront of this because MJ allowed us to provide a brand and a voice for the movement (as regulations changed), that can be accessed on a global scale – so that we are not only affecting people’s consciousness and sentiments in the states but around the world as cannabis regulations continue to evolve.

AMERICA VOTES ON CANNABIS

JN: Now that America has voted, I’m curious to know where you feel that it’s going to go – in terms of  maintaining legalization in already legalized states, and if this legalization process will continue throughout America. 

TC: I can only say where I see this going, all of us in the business that supports the rights of Americans who consume cannabis legally and responsibly, we need to move the federal classification down from a schedule  1 narcotic so that we have access to it federally on a federal level – like you guys have done in Canada.
Every day the standards are improving, which is great for the consumer and the industry. The benefits of cannabis legalization on an economic level has resulted in prosperous sales for growers, dispensaries and reaped major benefits in taxes.

JN: What are some of the biggest obstacles that you have faced in creating MERRY JANE?

TC: Because we are in the biz of media and information, and there’s obviously freedom of speech, we haven’t really experienced challenges with content (our content is distributed globally, docs, and films, editorials, short-form content online), so that has not been a challenge for us. Where things are fluctuating  (on a daily basis) is methods of advertisement outside of our immediate ad network. Non-endemic brands (movies, QSR, food, and beverage) but for cannabis brands, we provide a safe haven and huge ad network, social influencers, and platforms that allow those brands to connect with the audience, and the audience that wants to learn more about cannabis.

JN: What have been some of the challenges with advertising?

TC: If we want to do something with other social platforms that exist (Facebook, Instagram), sometimes there have been content policies that make it a challenge (which is another reason why Merry Jane is a  value proposition). We provide a safe haven and place that brands can rely on, whether it’s experiential at our shows where we touch millions of people and consumers directly, or if it’s that way we spread the network across all the multiple channels of audience engagement, we can figure out how to do this. Whether it’s brand integrated content, we provide ways to let these brands communicate with their consumers directly and reliably.

“There are ways that you can advertise on those platforms and stay within their content policies and stay within a strategic way. For example, companies that are pro-social causes. If your initiatives are around social change and social causes, but connected to the brand and focused on the cause, I think this is a way to navigate around those policies.”

JN: Would you consider Leafly to be a competitor?

TC: Only in the loosest manner, in a sense that we are both in the cannabis space and we have a web presence. Not so directly as you might find in other industries. We create so much original content (largest musical festival in Denver 420), and that’s not necessarily Leafly’s business model.

COLORADO FLOWER, EPIC TAX REVENUE, AND THE REINVESTMENTS IN SOCIAL CAUSES

The stats and facts are out there, but Colorado does in flower alone about a billion dollars in sales- in essence, about 30% of that money going back into the state. A lot of that money being dedicated to the board of education and back into the social system of Colorado makes for an increase in tax revenue for that particular state. With the passing of proposition 64 in California, in the next year or two, the prediction is an incremental billion dollars in tax revenue that can be achieved – a lot of that already designated to mental health treatments, education about cannabis, school (University of California) and systems performing research on the effects and benefits cannabis of use.

OH, CAN(N)ADA: TED’S THOUGHTS ON THE CANADIAN MARKET

Ted admires Canada’s set up that has allowed medicinal cannabis to be liberated on a federal level. allowing for a lack of a transition period serves big business or the entrepreneur, the initiative to move forward. While there have been discussions in Canadian media of limiting the sales of cannabis to SAQ and Pharmaprix, it’s still a step in the right direction. Albeit a reverse model that the U.S has taken, the federal, nation-wide legalization of medicinal cannabis is impressive, to say the least.

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MERRY JANE’s backers include pioneering venture capital firm, Casa Verde Capital, LLC, making MERRY JANE the firm’s first official investment. The MERRY JANE team has also partnered with key players in entertainment, media, and technology, including strategic advisor, Guy Oseary, and content partners, like Seth Rogen, to help in building out a robust platform that showcases the new face of the cannabis community.

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This article is originally published in http://www.dcmtlblog.com/merry-jane-interview-ted-chung/

With less than a week left until the application deadline, the judges of the DCMTL Startup Lab Contest have been announced, and we couldn’t be more excited to share them with you! It brings us great pleasure to share the following line-up of some of Montreal’s finest but first, we’ll remind you of a few details on the DCMTL Startup Lab Contest.

This is the first annual DCMTL Startup Lab Contest, in support of the vibrant Montreal startup community.

We encourage any outstanding participants to enter our DCMTL Startup Lab contest to secure a chance to win a year of rent-free office space, valued at $13,750.00.

Enter no later than September 14, 2016!

MEET THE JUDGES OF DCMTL STARTUP LAB

ELIAS MAKOS

Elias Makos is the New Media Host for Breakfast Television Montreal and the host of Sportsnet Central Montreal on City TV.
He is also a professional speaker, speaking about digital citizenship, social media and technology to various groups, from high school students to fellow journalists. He does voiceover work in commercials and feature films.

Previously, Elias contributed to CTV Montreal and CTV News Channel as a Technology and Trends Columnist and was a regular on CBC Montreal’s Homerun radio show and CBC Radio’s national syndication service.

Elias has also taught part-time in Concordia University’s journalism department, along with his full-time role in the department from 2004-2011. He also spent three years as the media relations coordinator of Major League Baseball’s now-defunct Montreal Expos.
Born in Montreal, Elias has lived in the city his whole life and now calls NDG his home.

DANIELE HENKEL

An innovative leader, Danièle Henkel’s success and leadership have been  recognized  with  several honors and awards,including being named a Laureate of the Prix Réalisations at the Gala Prix Femmes d’affaires du Québec,  honoring  her  exceptional  career,  her  outstanding  achievements and  her social commitment. It is the third recognition on the behalf of the Réseau des femmes d’Affaires du Québec, Mrs. Henkel having also been named Laureate of the Prix Entrepreneure Active during the same Gala, in 2012, and of the Prix de la Femme Entrepreneure de l’Année, in 1998.

Awarded by the 2014 YMCA Women  of  Distinction  Prize, Mrs.Henkel  also  saw  the  success  of  her  company  recognized  by  the magazines L’Actualité and Profit 100, that noted her namesake company as being amongst the “Fastest Growing Companies in Canada”, as well as by Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business, which granted her the Fuller Landeau Award, as the Family SME of Quebec.

DAVID DUFRENSE

David Dufresne is Venture Partner for 500’s Canada fund. David started his career in the Canadian VC industry in the early 2000s, then acted as CEO of music tech company Bandzoogle for 5 years. He recently worked with music platform Bandcamp, before returning to VC and joining the 500 global family. Outside of work, David is a total music snob, an aging offensive defenseman in both hockey and soccer. He enjoys spending time with his 2 daughters, whether it’s exploring the city or the great outdoors.

MARIA MANGIOCAVALLO

Experienced finance professional with a solid track record of business development and sales management. Expertise in leading a team in the origination, structuring and negotiating of complex financial transactions such as leveraged and acquisition financing, bank debt financing, growth and transition financing, etc.

Maria is an effective Director focussed on multiple available resources to help clients achieve their objectives and a director who promotes collaboration, open communication, and training.

CHARLES TRUONG

Charles leads PixMob’s management team in order to define and execute the company’s strategy and to build the organization required to support PixMob’s massive growth.

Charles started his career as a software developer then moved into enterprise software sales and product management at Averna Technologies. Following his MBA, Charles joined Deloitte as a management consultant specializing in technology strategy where he worked in Asia and the US.

Charles joined PixMob in 2015 and has since overseen the company’s growth in doubling headcount and a fourfold increase in revenues.

He earned his Computer Engineer degree at the Université de Sherbrooke and holds an MBA degree from HEC Montreal.

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This articles was originally published in http://www.dcmtlblog.com/judges-dcmtl-startup-lab/

Creativity thrives in every corner of Montréal, and you can feel it virtually everywhere. From music to physical artwork, the creative energy is present in countless cafés, restaurants, and of course, on the streets in painted murals. They are works of art that flourish in the beautiful parks and public spaces, and are expressed via world class arts and culture institutions.

We are fortunate to live in a city that is rich in culture and creativity, and the good folks of the Mural Festival know that more than anyone.

Oh, and over the last four years, the world has taken notice.

What started out as a 2 day street art festival and block party, has amounted to such a large-scale event that global artists are taking note and joining the fest. From Miami to parts of South America and Europe, Mural has become one of the fastest growing festivals in Montreal, drawing in street artists from various parts of the globe.

If you missed the festival, this video by ABCDF captured an overview, filled with visually striking imagery, emotion and the incredible energy that this city is known for.

Here are 8 of the newest murals in and around The Main that you need to check out, ranked in no particular order. Of course, there are plenty more to be seen but you don’t have to take our word for it.

As a writer, I love interviewing people and discovering new talent. Gaining a new perspective on a variety of topics excites me – most notably: fashion. Considering our beloved city of Montreal is flourishing with talent in every corner and borough, there’s no shortage of opportunities.

A few months ago, I interviewed Pedram Karimi in his atelier. We discussed his new collection and upcoming travels to London, where he would present his spring/summer 2014 collection, along with several other local Montreal-based designers at the British Fashion Showcase [taking place during London fashion week]. This couldn’t have come at a better time, given the current status of Montreal’s fashion industry.

European designers are well-known for their avant-garde take on fashion. They are light years ahead of us, and have favoured genderless apparel for close to a decade. Surprisingly, Montrealers only recently began to appreciate this particular style trend.

Upon my arrival to the studio, Pedram was nothing but hospitable. He greeted me with a welcoming smile and offered to make tea to help me warm up from the bitter cold (it was quite dreadful out on that particular day).

His spring/summer 2014 collection was styled by Tinashe Musara and shot by Andy Long Hoang. It hung on a metal rack, displaying stunning pieces soon-to-be seen by international buyers. Black onyx, pale steely blues, crisp whites, neutral nudes and pewter tones dominate his most recent collection, and I won’t lie – thoughts tempted me to try them on (in the name of research, of course) but I refrained from doing so for the sake of professionalism.

It’s clear that Karimi’s vision is not bound by the ‘typical’ in traditional gender-restrictive fashion. This vision is devoid of any boundaries or expectations – that are typically portrayed – in menswear versus women’s apparel. It is reflective in the futuristic and utilitarian creations, meant to be owned by the person who wears the garments.

This is a designer who pays close attention to every single detail, ensuring that nothing but the very best be seen, whether locally or the flourishing market overseas.

Given the recent trends we are seeing in street-wear, it’s a great moment for gender-neutral style. As minimalism goes mainstream, Pedram’s fashion power-house is making minimalist attire easily accessible to the local Montreal (and Canadian) market with stunning pieces devoid of gender stereotypes.

The popularity of the style appears to be growing at a high rate. Top celebrities are embracing the aesthetic, including the queen of all things creative, Lady Gaga.

J: Hi Pedram thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. Are you looking forward to London fashion week?

P: Yes I am, very much so. The event is more of a presentation during London Fashion week, so there will be six Montreal designers travelling to London to present our collections. The event is more of a trade show and it is being sponsored by the Quebec government, and this is a great opportunity to get some international exposure for the line.

J: Where would you like to see your garments sold, be it online or in a boutique?

P: I would really like to sell my collection at Harvey Nickles some day.

J: What motivates your creative process when getting into a ‘design-frame-of-mind’? (music, cinema/film, art if any of those, what else)

P: I’m Inspired by the world around me, the skater boy hanging out at the end of my street, the fancy lady in west mount, the punk high school girl in uniform, yet obviously punk, the fully covered up Muslim woman doing her groceries with her husband and kids. All these snap shots influence me and have an impact when I design a collection.

J: Help us to understand what is the spirit/soul of your vision

P: I envision a neutral concept until the garment is worn by someone – that’s when they [the garments] take on a character of their own, depending in who is wearing them. This being said, more and more I’m trying to create an opportunity where people can ‘translate’ my garments in their own way.

 

J: Do you feel that Montreal’s fashion industry is as competitive now as it was when you began designing?

P: No I don’t find Montreal competitive since there are so few of us in terms of quantity. Most of the designers that I know personally have their own style. Actually, we all have a unique style and cater to different clientele, so I don’t find it competitive in that regard.

J: Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
P: I see myself more content as ever. Over the last couple of years I’ve striven for improvement with the knowledge that I have gained as a designer. Regarding my brand; I’m hoping to expand so that it reaches a more international audience and clientele.

J: If you had to describe your work in one word, what would it be?
P: Modern.

Your Spring/Summer 2014 collection is lovely – thank you for making time for this interview. Wishing you the best of luck in London.

Montreal, represent!

Photograph: Andy Long Hoang
Styling: Tinashe Musara
Lighting specialst: Olivier Duplessis
Hair and make-up: David Matsushita-Fournier from Kemuri Montreal
Model:Ryan from MavenModels

You can follow Pedram on Facebook or visit him online

*The International Fashion Showcase Designers event took place on February 13th to 18th 2014 in London U.K. 

** This article was translated and published in MUSES MAG in French. Print Copy no longer available