Yesterday we got early access to step into the world of Brian Donnely, the artistic visionary known as Kaws, as he unveiled his inaugural exhibition in Canada, Kaws: Family, at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, and you won’t want to miss it.         Best known for his Companion figurines and statues, as well as his infamous X eyes design, the American artist has over 75 items featured, showcasing his career over the last two and a half decades in the world of contemporary art and streetwear.               The event kicked off with a panel wherein Brian spoke about the early days of his career, what inspired his specific style of art, and how he managed to take his career to where it is today.              We then walked through the three large rooms of the exhibition, on display was a wide range of pieces such as Kid Cudi’s Space chain created in collaboration with Ben Baller, a couch made of plush toys from his collaboration with Uniqlo and Sesame Street and various pairs of his Nike x Sacai collaborative Blazer Lows.                There were also many prints on the walls such as sketches from his collaboration with Peanuts, Reese’s Puffs cereal boxes, and earlier works like from his street art on Calvin Klein’s 1997 campaign with Keith Haring.               Some of the more striking pieces had to be the “larger than life” sculptures such as the life sized wooden Companions, various sized vinyl figures, a massive chrome Space Holliday Companion and a newly introduced vinyl family with four characters representing a mother, father and two children.               Mark your calendars as the exhibit opens today, Wednesday September 27th, to AGO members, October 4th to annual pass holders, and to the public October 11th. Make sure you stop by if you’re in Toronto before March 31st, 2024 and checkout the gift shop for exclusive merchandise such as t-shirts and companions.    

  Spider Worldwide, also known as Sp5der or simply Spider has suddenly taken the Internet by storm, gaining popularity among countless artists, athletes and influencers. Many are still curious about the brand’s identity, and more importantly wondering what makes it so popular.      Spider, is a streetwear brand founded by Jeffery Williams, known best by his stage name, Young Thug. The brand gets its name from Thugger’s love for spiders, using spider webs as the focal design on most of their pieces. Another recurring feature in Spider’s design language is the angel number 555, which is often overlaid on top of the spiderwebs and can also be represented in the name, Sp5der.           In an era of fashion where streetwear is reigning supreme, it’s no surprise that Young Thug, who is objectively one of the best dressed and most influential rappers of the last decade, has ventured into creating his own fashion legacy      While there is limited information available about the brand’s beginning, the earliest public appearance we could find of the brand was June 20, 2019 during the 2019 NBA Entry Draft. Bol Bol, a prominent basketball prospect and son of Manute Bol, wore a custom Spider branded suit. The jacket featured hundreds of rhinestones forming into a flashy silver spiderweb, paired with a pair of Off-White MoMA Air Force 1s.      Bol Bol wearing his custom Spider Worldwide suit.      Based on the earliest posts on their Instagram account, Spider’s first public release was through a pop-up held in London, July 4th and 5th 2019. Spider branded denim jackets, sweat suits, hats and pants were available for sale.      In March 2020, the brand collaborated with Gunna, an Atlanta based rapper signed to Young Thug’s YSL record label, to make apparel that would be released alongside his album, Wunna. As of the publishing date of this article, Gunna remains to be the first and only person to have a collaboration with Spider.      Gunna wearing his "Wunna" Spider Worldwide collaboration tracksuit.      In 2021, Thug released his album Punk, and with this, Spider released two punk-themed tracksuits, one black and one pink. The designs feature the work “p*nk” instead of “spider” on the web, which can either be interpreted as pink or punk.     Since then, the brand has amassed a large following and has become the go-to choice for stylish, vibrant and  comfortable sweatsuits. Be sure to check out our selection of Spider Worldwide online and in-stores now, and keep an eye out for new colours and styles arriving in the near future.       Shop our full collection of Spider Worldwide today.  

      Jordan Brand and Marvel have announced that they’re gearing up to release another Spider-Man themed Air Jordan 1 on May 20th, leaving both sneakerheads and Marvel fans alike in high anticipation.         Following the commercial success of both “Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse” and the Air Jordan 1 “Origin Story”, both brands have partnered again to further create a unique story and further cement their footholds in mainstream pop culture ahead of the release of the latest animated Spider-Man title, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.     Spider-Man is now portrayed wearing Air Jordans due to Miles Morales’ roots growing up in Brooklyn, which is widely considered to be the birthplace of sneaker culture as we know it. It would then make sense for a kid who grew up in this area to strive to have some classic sneakers on, and what better than the Air Jordan 1.       Taking inspiration from Miles’ signature Spidey-Suit colour way, the collaborative model pays homage to the original Jordan 1 Chicago colourway while using a patchwork design to mimic the animation style used in the film. The end result features over a dozen different patches showcasing different colours, textures, materials, and patterns.    The last time the two cultural icons collaborated, they also chose the Chicago Jordan 1 as the base silhouette, opting to use a translucent outsole and reflective 3M dots to resemble Spider-Man’s web abilities.       We’re eagerly awaiting what’s to come in the future from the ongoing collaboration between Marvel and Jordan brand. Hopefully Spidey won’t be the only superhero to see a signature colourway on an Air Jordan.         

Today is Air Max Day. On this very day, 36 years ago, Nike Released the Air Max They were designed by the iconic Tinker Hatfield to be a performance running shoe. Air Maxes were the first Nike Air shoes to feature a transparent bubble in the midsole, showing off the Air Unit. Air Max Day, celebrated annually on March 26th since 2014, has been a day for sneakerheads to celebrate by wearing their favourite Air Max models. Nike has also used this day as an opportunity to release special projects on retro Air Max silhouettes, but also to release new silhouettes such as the VaporMax in 2017.   Nike will release the Air Max 1 '86 Big Bubble in Sport Red for Air Max Day this year. This model aims to reintroduce the original Air Max 1 silhouette with a larger window, bringing it closer to the OG design. This is a highly anticipated release amongst Air Max enthusiasts hoping to get their hands on the closest thing to an original pair.     In 2018, Nike held a competition where six people across the world, who had submitted their Air Max designs on Nike iD, were chosen to have their designs voted on by the public. The winner’s concept would be released on Air Max Day.   Sean Wotherspoon's Air Max 1/97s were chosen as the winner, and is now one of the most coveted Air Maxes of the last decade. These shoes featured a colourful corduroy Air Max 97 upper and an Air Max 1 midsole and outsole. This collaboration also featured other custom apparel such as socks and hats.    To this day, the Air Max 90 remains the highest selling Air Max of all time, however there are still many other popular silhouettes, such as; The Air Max 1, Air Max 95, Air Max 97, Air Max Plus, Air VaporMax, Air Max 270 and dozens more.    In recent years, there have been numerous notable Collaborative Air Maxes, such as the Skepta Air Max 97s, Off-White Air Max 90s, 97s and Vapormaxes, Undefeated Air Max 97s and the recent Patta Air Max 1s to name a few.         We asked some of our staff, what the Air Max Silhouettes means to them.     Ben, a Manager at our Yorkdale location, is seen wearing the Nike Air Max 1 Travis Scott Cactus Jack Baroque Brown.    What is your favourite pair of Air Max that you own? “The Atmos Air Max 1 Elephant. I have always been a fan of the cement print, but what I loved most was the Tiffany coloured swoosh. When they were released in 2007 and I couldn’t justify paying a premium price for a pair of shoes like that. When they re-released in 2017 I knew I couldn't miss out this time,  so I saved up every dollar I had.”    Nick, our District Manager in Toronto, is seen wearing the Nike Air Max 2013 Stüssy Black.    What is your all time grail pair of Air Max? “The Patta x Nike Air Max 1 Chlorophyll, seeing Sean Wotherspoon rock these daily a few years ago really made me fall in love with them.”    Thorin, an employee at our Sherway Gardens location, is seen wearing the Nike Air Max 1 Patta Waves Noise Aqua.    Why are you a fan of Air Maxes? “Air Maxes are the perfect everyday shoe. No matter what you're wearing, you can slip on a pair of Air Maxes and be comfortable and clean.”     Shaun, a Key Holder at our Sherway Gardens location, is seen wearing the Nike Air Max 95 Comme des Garçons Black Grey.    What is it about the Air Max 95 that you love so much? “It was the first shoe that my dad and I bonded over. He was the one who really got me into shoes and his favourite model was the 95, so ever since I was a kid I’ve loved them as well.”   View our curated collection of all the Air Maxes we currently have in stock at Plus.      

Streetwear and luxury fashion have had a turbulent history, existing in polar opposite realms where both sides were rooted firmly in their own aura and design ethos. Fast forward to recent years and collaborations between fashion niches, both high and low, are at the forefront of the scene. It’s a somewhat controversial trend that doesn't show signs of slowing down as we’ve witnessed unlikely names such as Louis Vuitton / Supreme, Gucci / Palace, and Dior / Jordan work together to create some of the most sought-after products in recent memory.You can’t immediately say Nike and Tiffany & Co. are an unlikely duo. The two are trailblazers in their respective fields and share the same aspirational and style-conscious clientele. Tiffany & Co. have been enmeshed in the New York socialite scene for almost two centuries and are one of the first jewellery houses to champion the use of ‘925’ silver and earned respect for their commitment to luxury, craftsmanship, and innovation. Another unmistakeable New York icon is without a doubt the Air Force 1, which needs no introduction besides being one of, if not the most famous sneaker silhouettes of all time. The reimagined Nike silhouette is aptly named “1837” paying homage to the year Tiffany & Co was founded, and is curated with an exceptional layout of leather panels and textures. The only colour pop found is through the swoosh which presents Tiffany & Co’s signature teal colour front and centre. Finishing touches are featured through the branded tongue label, leather lace lock, and engraved sterling silver heel adornment. The end result is a delicately considered design without extra bells and whistles, except for a series of Tiffany-crafted accessories releasing separately which include a shoe horn, cleaning brush, and a real solid silver whistle, making this collaboration a true testament to both brands’ ingenuity. Now available for purchase on plusshop.ca! 

Since the early 2000’s, sneaker culture has been dominated by bold colourways and expressive texture palettes. There are endless colour combinations that reference anything and everything from sports to food to art, and more, however in recent memory, there seems to be one trend dominating the market — being neutral. Well-executed neutral sneakers have been around for a while, the classic New Balance 990 series immediately comes to mind as a perfect example as it utilizes different materials and hues of grey tones to achieve a subtle and sophisticated aesthetic. Montreal-based creative studio JJJJound has also been a strong driver of this phenomenon as many of their collaborative products are executed with neutral tones and has become a signature look for the brand. Though trends come and go, this one is likely to stay for a while as neutral-toned products in general are easier to pair with daily outfits and have an endless array of existing silhouettes to bless. We’ve put together a list of over 200 neutral-toned footwear styles that we currently have in stock. Here are a few of our top picks: 1 - New Balance 9060 Black Castlerock Grey New Balance has been pumping out winners in the neutral-toned category, and the Castlerock Grey rendition of the 9060 style does not miss. The upper consists of cool, dark greys with black suede and leather as well as hits of contrasting mesh and reflective paneling throughout. The modern stylized sole unit offers some balance, utilizing warmer touches that give the shoe an instant classic feel that brand is known for. That being said, the Castlerock 9060 will pair easily with military, gorpcore, and workwear inspired outfits. 2 - Nike Air Trainer 1 SP Travis Scott Wheat The Nike Air Trainer was created in 1987 by none other than Tinker Hatfield and has become a cult classic for its impressive original design and its use in mainstream sports and recreation. Reimagined through Travis Scott’s discerning lens, the Air Trainer boasts complimentary mauve and brown tones atop a rugged texture play that give it a vintage hiking feel. Further curation is seen through ‘Cactus Corporation’ branding, a zipper stash pocket, and most striking, a snap-removable gaiter that offers a unique utilitarian style. Overall, this unique model effortlessly bridges retro and contemporary influences. 3 - Jordan 1 Retro High OG A Ma Maniére Leading American boutique retailer A Ma Maniére shows off an elegant and understated rendition of the classic Jordan 1 silhouette. Instead of a buzzworthy colour play, the design opts to highlight pinnacle materials and textures through its use of finely cracked leather and an alluring snakeskin paneling. The off white body offers the perfect foundation for the contrasting bordeaux hits that elevate the basketball sneaker in harmony with the street-smart luxury status of the Atlanta based shop. For those looking to elevate their Jordan rotation, this is the one. Shop the full collection here. 

2019 marked a milestone in the fashion and art world when PLUS partnered with the revered Christie’s Auction House for a never before seen auction. For those who aren’t familiar with Christie’s, the auction house was established in 1766 and deals exclusively in the realm of art and luxury, gaining notoriety over centuries by achieving world record sales from works by the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci, Andy Warhol, and Jeff Koons. With a deep foothold and illustrious history in the global art scene, Christie’s continues to be an industry leader by cultivating value in the digital art world. PLUS has been rooted in streetwear culture since day one and we have been exceptionally lucky to cultivate relationships with Supreme enthusiasts and collectors alike. With the help of these connections, we were able to showcase this ground-breaking collection through Christie’s and shine a light on the storied history of the world’s most relevant streetwear brand. The products we curated included some of the rarest and most sought-after footwear, clothing, furniture, home goods, vehicles, and more.Supreme has humble beginnings as a skate brand that was at the pulse of numerous underground subcultures in New York across art, music, photography, film, and fashion. The brand put out their first artist deck in 2000 with Ryan McGinness and from then on, have worked with a dizzying amount of creative magnates such as Kaws, Damien Hirst, Murakumi, Peter Saville, Marilyn Minter, and many more. Previously disregarded by mainstream art critics, skateboard decks have transcended into the realms of galleries and private collections across the world with intrinsic and intangible value. The decks have gained mass appeal to both young and old audiences for their universal language and equivocal aura. Beyond just decks, Supreme has quietly and undoubtedly created a legion of collectable branded goods that rival classical paintings and have disrupted the traditional world of art collecting forever. Their clever approach to marketing and product design has pushed them to the forefront as one of the coolest brands in the world.The magnitude of our joint venture with Christie’s had an immense impact across the fashion and art world as it was the single most expansive collection of Supreme skateboard decks and branded ephemera the public had ever witnessed. It was a challenging but fruitful endeavour with a lasting impact and we are proud to have been able to achieve this.

Keeping in tune with what our PLUS community is eyeing, we’ve gathered all the different sneaker models that have been the star of attention recently, check them out here. 9 - ADIDAS YEEZY FOAM RNNR ONYXFeaturing a unique sculpted one-piece design with a dynamic feel, the Foam Runner remains divisive, yet well-regarded for the same reason.   8 - NIKE DUNK LOW SE LOTTERY PACK GREY FOGJust like a lottery ticket, this Nike Dunk features a unique scratch-away coating across the swoosh that lets the wearer discover what’s hiding underneath.   7 - JORDAN 1 RETRO HIGH OG TAXIComing in with bold, golden yellow strikes, the Jordan 1 Taxi is an easy favourite amongst sneakerheads for its refreshing take on a classic model.   6 - JORDAN 1 LOW SHADOW TOEA casual Jordan 1 low taking inspiration from the iconic Shadow colourway. The updated style offers effortless wearability.   5 - JORDAN 4 RETRO MILITARY BLACKA cool take on the Jordan 4 silhouette that utilizes monochrome hues for a sophisticated and minimal aesthetic.   4 - JORDAN 1 MID DIAMOND SHORTSReworking the iconic Jordan 1 silhouette with monochromatic colour blocking, the colourway is a nod to the Birmingham Barons; a team Michael Jordan played for in 1994.   3 - JORDAN 3 RETRO FIRE RED Understated, but bold. The classic Jordan 3 model is unmatched and features Nike’s statement elephant print pattern across the panelling.   2 - NIKE AIR FORCE 1 LOW WHITE ‘07An unmistakable and timeless classic. The Air Force 1 Low returns in premium leather and construction from their golden era.   1- NIKE DUNK LOW SE LOTTERY PACK MALACHITE GREENJust like a lottery ticket, this Nike Dunk features a unique scratch-away coating across the swoosh that lets the wearer discover what’s hiding underneath.   View the full collection here.