By: Cheyenne Bholla
A Toronto-based clothing company exhibited exclusive merchandise at their first pop-up event in Toronto Saturday evening.
It was a night dedicated to celebrating the creations of local artists, designers and entrepreneurs.
It took place at Blank Canvas, an “open space” for vendors to present their work, according to the Blank Canvas Gallery website.
Love Closely’s stand displayed products from their new collection, such as t-shirts, hats, pins and more. The clothing and accessories came in various sizes and colours, all depicting the company’s rose logo.
Falah Sadiq, Taha Yousuf, and Adnan Aleem all collaborated to design the clothes, advertise the brand online and take their own advertisement photos.
Sadiq and Yousuf met at their previous workplace, working in the corporate field. Later, they were accompanied by Aleem, a high school student.
The idea started out “recreationally” until Sadiq saw the potential in Yousuf’s designs, which inspired them to start the business. The brand was officially launched in October 2016, and has been growing ever since.
“The three of us got together when we were in the same situation, working nine to five jobs,” said Yousuf, Co-Founder of Love Closely. “We wanted to do something else where we were a part of something special.”
The future of the brand entails getting brand gigs and coming out with new products, such as jewelry and a fall-winter collection. Their main focus, however, will be to spread their message.
“The message is focusing on the smaller things in life,” said Sadiq, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Love Closely. “(The logo) means stop and smell the roses and live in the present.”
Their website launched the exclusive merchandise on Sept. 24, with products ranging from hats and pins to crewnecks and hoodies. They ship worldwide, offering free shipping within Canada and the US.
“I knew (Adnan) for a long time,” said Mahnoor Shakeel, 16. “It feels great seeing the outcome and I’m so proud of them.”
Their website also has a Love Closely blog, which Sadiq and Yousuf began writing to share their thoughts and experiences. Their posts include photography and also showcase other Toronto-based talent.
You can follow them on Instagram @loveclosely and on follow them at Facebook.com/loveclosely to stay updated on their upcoming collaborations and merchandise.