The Beginning
A young group of creatives facing different struggles in life, such as homelessness, unemployment, mental health struggles and family losses, saw the potential in each other and embarked on creating 5iftytwohrs.
Our first piece the "Cyborg Cargo" was created with a vision to be able to help all of us build financial stability to support having more structure and balance in our lives.
The garment is currently going through pattern grading as we search for a new manufacturer.
The Detour
As we struggled to find manufacturers who were able to create our Cyborg Cargos we went back to basics and reworked pieces from our local thrifts. We came up with our 1 of 1 Reversible Denim Messenger Collection.
The first bag we made was with a pair of True Religion Jeans.
The Formula
As we got into a rhythm we were able to experiment and create a formula and receive our first sales!
The Prize
We found out about a denim competition being held by models in our city and so we created a two piece set using 5 pair of Parasuco Jeans and won the first place cash prize :D
The Uniform
We created a basic tee for people who wanted to be a part of our team and support our vision! (Hence the varsity numbers)
The vision for our first graphic tee is to be timeless.
The Collection
We expanded the varsity concept to our denim bags as well as creating 1 of 1 flannels inspired by Needles.
The Coldest Winter
Unable to find an apartment in the city and our lease ending we stayed at one of our members parents basement 5 hours outside the city in a military town. We struggled with a false promise of having a place we could stay for however long we needed to build. We created our Denim Camo sets influenced by all the camouflage the locals we would see wearing at the grocery store. My partner and I would walk 40 minutes in the snow to get to the grocery store weekly.
The Return
So for roughly a month the team was split. Our machine specialist was back in Toronto staying at a friends couch. I ended up staying at a persons place in Montreal (my birth place) only to find out they were doing hard drugs and they ended up kicking me out one morning at like 4 am. My partner was back at her fathers place and used some of her money she saved up to go to her place of birth St. Lucia to recalibrate.
So a mutual homie who I only really talked with a couple times (mostly played Fortnite) drove 6 hours to come pick up and within a couple weeks of being back to the city.
The address I returned to was number 520!
While staying on homies couch a local fashion club reached out to us to be a part of an underground subway runway show!
We showcased everything we have been working on for the past couple years as well as some new pieces we made the weeks before the show.
