On the evening of September 15th and again during the early afternoon of the following day, something understated yet audacious occurred in downtown Toronto. The Art of Reuse’s ĭn | tər | ĭm pop up shops debuted at the Clint Roenisch Gallery space.

After a couple week’s worth of concentration, concerted energy, workshopping, panache, luck, grace, and that innate sense of self that comes not from a blog post or social media image, but the transcendence of art, The Art of Reuse orchestrated an outstanding pop up shop. Curated beyond the nominal measures usually attributed to things that are ‘cool’, ‘vintage’, or ‘pop up shopped’, this store was a masterwork–wholly distinct and vibrant from it’s contemporaries and inspirators.

The store was a move forward for the collective. Their ambition to democratize the fashion industry, turning often neglected or rejected products into first-rate apparel and housewares, is the gravitas needed to make the pendulum shift. Dreamed up in two weeks. Built in a day. This is the latest production of a lifelong passion. The Art of Reuse is of its time–our time. They are constructing new boulevards in the industry. By nail and hammer, by stitch and in-step.

Words: Frank Caracciolo
Photos: Othello Grey