Tag Archives: Imperative

Fall/Winter 2012 | The Life After Midnight

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Oak and Oar

The first week of December will mark the release of our second collection entitled ‘The Life After Midnight’. I have had a lot of people asking about the theme and collection so I thought I would shed a bit of light on our Fall/Winter project. The Life After Midnight on the surface is quiet simple. When friends are gathered together at the lake the hours between midnight and the early am are the time when the true colours come out and the time when the best stories are created. The ones that get told year after year and snowball into exaggerated recounts of that evening. Unless they are the ones that feature Kelso, those might sound exaggerated but those ones are true. Whether they are true or grossly exaggerated they never cease to bring a huge grin to your face. For me personally The Life After Midnight transcends beers, poker, bonfires and exaggerated stories. After the midnight hour is when the creative juices, for me at least, seem to flow. Maybe it’s in part to the lack of sleep that I begin to think outside of the box or maybe it is when the world is a sleep and I am in a distraction free setting that things just seem to click. Whatever it is I can credit it with probably 90% of the fall collection. The first time I tossed around the idea came in 2008 while working on a University thesis on streetwear and urban branding. I had snaked my way into a meeting with   Bobby and Ben Hundreds and generously granted time with Benny Gold to ask a few questions and engage in a conversation on street wear, design and music. How does this relate to ‘The Life After Midnight’ and not just a glorified example of name dropping? … Continue reading →

AN EXCERPT FROM WINTER | SARAH BURKE AND RORY BUSHFIELD

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Oak and Oar

Thursday night X-Games 2012 kicked off in Aspen. Among the first night coverage was a tribute to Canadian Freestyle Skier, Sarah Burke. It’s tragic events like these that remind us just how short life can be and a reminder to make the most out of every opportunity. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Burke family, her sister and husband, Rory. Below is an excerpt from Winter, the Ski Channel’s second feature film and the ESPN tribute.

MOVEMBER | FACE GROWN AND HAND BRUSHED

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Oak and Oar

Every mans favourite month and every women’s most dreaded is upon us. Us men, well we all plug in, dust off, sharpen up and lather on in an effort to bring the world the most astonishing lip ticklers, soup strainers, lip spinach, cookie duster, muzzy, third eyebrow, stach, pushbroom and nose mullets around. This Movember I think I’m going to make a push for the Salvador Dali. Although its been so long since I have been clean shaven that I am thinking I will have to work from the outside in and hope that come November 30th I have something to show for it. For most it is an opportunity to make a mockery of ourselves and rattle the cages of the women in our lives but it has also become one of the most successful Cancer awareness campaigns. “During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in Canada and around the world. With their “Mo’s”, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts. Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.” Having lost my uncle to Prostate Cancer a few years back I know the devastation and toll Cancer has. As you can imagine my appreciation for this … Continue reading →

Oak And Oar Presents | Saint Kris BYOB Release Party

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Oak and Oar

Through a random set of events I ended up sitting next to Saint at last summers Drake show. Through mutual friends in attendance we started to chat about our future projects. At the time he mentioned that he was planning on getting serious about music and to be honest I didn’t think much of it. Months passed when I caught wind that he had been working on a mixtape project. A few promo videos surfaced shortly there after that caught me off guard. This kid was talented. A few weeks later I found myself at a Friends and Family show/listening party for the release of ExtraOrdinary in Wildwood Park. When the lights finally dimmed and Saint took the makeshift stage, to say I was blown away would be an understatement. A few months after the formal release Kris, Cam, Eric (better known as Nice!Productions) and myself got together. After a short discussion it turned out we were all in the same boat – branching out with our solo projects. Cam and Eric were growing Nice! Productions pursuing life behind the lens, with the positive feedback Kris was getting from ExtraOrdinary he was tossing around the idea of a follow up mixtape and I was getting close to putting the final touches on Oak + Oar, a project I had been slowing chiseling away on for 2 years. We realized that we were all seeking to accomplish very similar goals in our respective fields. We were all yet to really establish a name for oursleves and really at a grassroot level but stepping out to pursue what truly would make us all happy. The best part was that Kris’ sound and lyrical content really paralleled exactly what Oak + Oar was building its foundation on. The mentality of making the most out of … Continue reading →

The Legends League | Because The Kids Don’t Play

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Oak and Oar

BTKDP Teaser from JC on Vimeo. The mastermind behind Toronto based label and collective The Legends League/Ideall Clothing, Bryan Espiritu, is busy putting the finishing touches on his very first solo art exhibition ‘The Kids Don’t Play’. The show is going down Friday May 13th at Gallery 99 (99 Sudbury Street) in Toronto. For those who may not be all to familiar with Bryan or the Legends League, basically stripped down to the core the Legends League serves as a creative canvas for the multi talented designer, writer and artist. “Fueled by his life experiences and passion for brutally honest representation, he has built a young and powerful following for his artwork, written work and clothing line, “IDEALL”.” Follow @legendsleague and wish the homie a Happy 30th. And incase you missed it The Legends League – Trailer from Eighteen Eighty on Vimeo.

Imperative For Summer: Snow Joes

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Oak and Oar

Slurpees are readily available in just about every city or town up here in the North. Kind of a weird phenomenon considering that a majority of us Canadian’s spend 6-7 months of the year surrounded by ice and snow, yet we still find it necessary to shove it down our throats mid-winter. Winnipeg has a population of 700,000 and each month 7-Eleven alone sells on average 188,833 slurpees (while the rest of Canada sells around 179,000/month). Likely why we have been crowned as the Slurpee Capital of the World eleven times in a row (and yes that is a real thing). There are a couple factors that determine a good slurpee – first the consistancy of the ice. This all comes down to personal preference. Size is also a crucial factor. If you are like me you walk into your local slurpee spot, be it Macs or Sev, and you find it necessary to buy the largest size possible. Eyes always bigger than stomach leaving a melted mess of watered down carbonated beverage. Outside of that it is tracking down the location that commonly stocks your favorites. My experience is that 7-Eleven usually has the lineup I am looking for: Cream Soda, Dr. Pepper, Root Beer and yes sometimes Brisk Ice Tea. I was first introduce to a beverage of sorts called a Snow Joe when I was out in Strathmore, Alberta. The Snow Joe has been given a few different names over the years. You might be more familiar with the beverage as a Screamer, Tornados or Twister. The concept is basic, mix your favorite flavor of slurpee with soft serve ice cream. I have yet to track one down in the city but rumor has it Husky service stations are home to the Screamer. I will have it … Continue reading →