After graduating OCAD, I wasn’t ready to walk away from Outclass. What started as a school project had sparked something deeper, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was just the beginning.
That spring, I tagged along on a business trip to Italy with my parents. While they had meetings, I had an agenda of my own. I’d heard of a premium shirting mill called Canclini and convinced my family to make the detour with me. I was determined to only work with the best fabrics, even if I had no idea how I was going to turn them into finished garments. One thing was for certain, materials matter, and I wanted Outclass to be built on quality from day one. From that meeting, I ended up ordering a striking red and white stripe cotton/linen fabric for our very first shirt silhouette.
Back home in Toronto, I had another challenge: finding someone who could help me make the clothing. I walked in and out of factories along Spadina Avenue, knocking on doors, pitching my idea to anyone who’d listen. Most didn’t. They wanted big contracts and large runs, not a guy fresh out of school with no production experience. But eventually, I found a factory that was willing to give me a shot. I connected with the owner's son, who appreciated my ambition and eye for detail. Together, we produced the SS11 capsule collection.
Once the pieces were finished, I knew I needed to bring them to life visually. I reached out to my friend Mike, a fellow OCAD grad, to shoot the lookbook. My friend Alex modelled. The concept was simple: a bicycle journey through the west end. We cruised down the streets of Roncesvalles (unintentionally foreshadowing what would later become the home base of Outclass) then made our way into High Park, a place that continues to be a backdrop for much of our imagery today.
I still didn’t have a sales plan. No store, no reps and no roadmap. But I had determination, and a supportive family and friends. Around the same time, two family friends had just opened a bar on Bathurst Street called 416 Snack Bar. I asked if I could host a pop-up there to launch the brand, and they said yes. People showed up, they bought clothes, and it gave me the momentum I needed.
That same year, I built my first website (shout out to OCAD for the graphic design skills.) It wasn’t perfect, but it gave me a way to start telling the Outclass story to people beyond my immediate circle.
Slowly, things started to happen. After some persistence and a lot of follow-up, I got the line into three Toronto shops: Klaxon Howl, Lost & Found, and The Future of Frances Watson. Those early retailers took a chance on me. They helped introduce Outclass to a wider audience, and validated the idea that this could actually work.
Looking back, that first year after graduation was a blur of learning and putting myself out there. I wasn’t sure what would come of it, but I knew I had to try.
Stay tuned for more stories about our journey as we celebrate 15 years.
