Toronto's Own: Image Spark

ImageSpark is a designer's holy grail. This cloud application allows a person to upload any image, creating a depository of inspiration.

Why am I posting about Image Spark, when T.Dotty is about streetwear?
Well, the streetwear industry was constructed by extremely creative individuals and a large majority of those who partake in our niche are interested in, study, or have a career in the creative fields. I, myself, am studying architecture and can see myself making great use of Image Spark, whether it be finding inspiration to start a project, or further organizing and refining my ideas via Image Spark's "MoodBoard". It will become a tool of tremendous value to many.

Another reason why I am posting about Image Spark is because the firm Teehan+Lax who developed it are based in Toronto, in an area which should be quite familiar to many of you - Richmond and Spadina. Many would argue that this area is the city's creative center. The rich retail environment of Queen St. West and the cultural diversity present amalgamate to create a playground for creativity to run rampant. The perfect storm, that undoubtedly helped fuel the conception of Image Spark.

The best part of Image Spark (besides its free registration) is that one can see others images, and even add them to their own personal collection. To get the kind of visual knowledge Image Spark gives access to, one would need to scour the endless design magazines, websites and forums. Even then, only so much can be saved or retained. With Image Spark, it is all right there. Be inspired.

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St. Clair Goodfoot In Trouble?

Times have become tougher for a lot of Canadians (thanks in part to the enormous amount of FDI in the country), and the current economic slump has left no industry untouched.

However, for us in streetwear, this is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing comes in the form of better prices and the sloughing off of the weaker, uninteresting "me too" brands. The curse is most felt by the boutiques in our beautiful city. Slow sales, and lower prices on their goods means less profit. Sure, some shops may be better suited to weather out the storm, but even relative giants like Goodfoot are feeling the pinch.

For the months of January, Febuary and March, Goodfoot will be turning its lackluster St. Clair shop into a sales outlet, where they will offload the goods that haven't been selling at their other two locations. This is obviously good news for us, as we get to pick up some new gear for cheap.

In light of this however, one cannot help but wonder about the future of the St. Clair location. It was opened just last summer, but from its inception it has not been well received by many of the long time Goodfoot supporters. Numerous complaints have circled around the weird location and the sub-par store interior - when compared to the Richmond and Yorkville locations. Other complaints focused on the lack of product available - again, compared to the other locations.

In these times, where even large corporations are hurting, businesses cannot simply afford to nurture under-performing and inefficient entities. Many businesses are pulling in tight, cutting down, and trying to weather out the storm. Will Goodfoot do the same?

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Boxing Day Sales Roundup 2008 *Update II*

Boxing day is one of the craziest shopping days of the year. Some have made waiting in the cold for the best deal around an annual ritual. That holds true in our little niche as well. We decided to help the bargain hunters out this year, so we'll highlight some of the biggest and best boxing day sales Toronto streetwear shops will be having this year.

Si Vous Play Sports

SVP will be having a Boxing Week Blowout sale from the 26th to the 28th of December at all SVP locations. There will be an additional 20% taken off from all items in the store. However, this will not apply to shoes under $30 and clothing/accessories under $10.

Stolen Riches

Stolen Riches' Boxing Day sale will last from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M., with everything in the store up to 80% off with no exclusions. And knowing STR, they have a pretty solid lineup of shoes and clothing available.

Adrift Skateshop

The Boxing Day Sale at Adrift will consist of 10-70% off everything in the store. They start the madness at 9 A.M. If you can't make it down tomorrow, they will be holding the sale for a whole week.

Livestock

It just wouldn't be Boxing Day without a Boxing Day Sale at Livestock. This year, LS will have upto 75% off everything in the store. They will open at 9 A.M. on the 26th, until 8 P.M. Like Adrift, they will holding the sale until the 31st of December.

Goodfoot/Ransom/Stussy

The United Front Boxing Day Sale is probably the biggest in Toronto every year. This year will not be an exception. The Goodfoot Richmond and Yorkville stores ONLY will be open; St. Clair will be closed. It will be a one day sale only. 30% off the first pair; buy 2, receive 40% off. Clothing and accessories 40-70% off. Goodfoot locations will open at 9 A.M. As for Ransom and Stussy, there will be 40% off everything in the store, with other deals to be had. They too will open at 9 A.M., so be ready for a huge lineup and thus long wait.

C-apsule

C-apsule in Yorkville will also be holding a Boxing Day Sale on the 26th. Their Boxing Day sale is quite the deal. Essentally, for however many items of clothing you but, you get that many of pieces of clothing free. Buy 3 get 3 free, buy 16 free, get 16 free. That's for clothing only. For shoes, buy 2 get 1 free. Their regular opening hours apply.

Format Magazine

Format magazine will be holding a warehose sale where you can get up to 75% off the following brands: 10 Deep, Acapulco Gold, Addict, Freshjive, Hellz Bellz, LRG, Married to the Mob, Mishka, and NVSBL Tailors.Format will also have a "Nothing Over $5 Section" too. Again, it will be held Boxing Day, December 26/27, 10am-7pm at 292 College @ Spadina and remember cash only!

This post will be updated if any new Boxing Day Sales announcements are made. If I have missed any, please feel free to e-mail me with the details.

Courtesy of SVP, Adrift, Livestock, Stolen Riches, and United Front.

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T. Dotty Gets A New Domain Name!

We are glad to announce that the days of pointing your browser to the long and arduous tdotty.blogspot.com domain address are over. Just simply type in tdotty.com to have our pages grace your screen. For those using our RSS feed, there doesn't seem to be the need to renew it. If you are experiencing difficulties, I suggest redirecting the RSS reader to [http://www.tdotty.com/feeds/posts/default].

Special thanks and huge shoutouts to Dan Eckler and the rest of the Format Magazine crew for hooking us up!

Spread the word!

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Format Magazine's Boxing Day Sample Sale

What better way to close out the year than to spend all your Christmas loot on quality hookers and blow streetwear? Format magazine thinks so too, so they are holding a Boxing Day sale.

Up to 75% OFF the following brands:

10 Deep
Acapulco Gold
Addict
Freshjive
Hellz Bellz
LRG
Married to the Mob
Mishka
NVSBL Tailors

Format will also have a "Nothing Over $5 Section" too. Again, it will be held Boxing Weekend, December 26/27, 10am-7pm at 292 College @ Spadina and remember cash only!

Courtesy of Format Magazine.

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Goodfoot St. Clair Sale

The guys (and ladies) at Goodfoot are throwing one last sale for everyone to help clear their stock and let you pickup some pieces for Christmas gifts at great prices. It'll be held at the St. Clair Goodfoot store only this Saturday.

You'll be able to pick up stuff at the following prices:

Tees - $5-$10
Jackets - $75
Fitteds - $20
Fleece - $40
Shoes - $25-$50

Again, the sale will be held on Saturday December 13th ONLY, from 11AM -7PM.

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First Annual Lounge Hoody Drive, Nov. 21st to 22nd.

With the cold weather fast approaching, many of us have purchased new hoodies from our favourite designers to keep us warm, yet stylish. The old ones we have get buried deep into the depths of our closets, forgotten. The Lounge at 155 John St. is urging people to dig out those gently worn hoodies and sweaters and to bring them down to the shop for their first annual Hoody Drive.

The Lounge will be donating the garments collected to the Scott Mission, located on Spadina Avenue. For those unfamiliar with the Scott Mission, and its contribution to the local community and to the city as a whole, I urge you to please visit their website to learn more.

The Lounge is looking for gently worn sweaters and hoodies in particular, but will be glad to take any other garments you have to offer (socks, jackets, toques, thermal pants, gloves, etc). It doesn't matter the style of cut, as they will accept men's, woman's, and children's clothing. Even if you may not have anything to give, ask around to your family. They may have something they no longer want and would be happy to donate.

With the global economic crisis just getting under way, many more people this year will find it difficult to heat their homes, and provide food for their families much less shop for new clothes to combat the lower temperatures and adverse weather conditions. Not to mention the growing number of homeless of all ages on Toronto's streets.

It's a great opportunity for a small niche of Toronto's larger urban culture to come together and help those less fortunate. So just take a few minutes to search your closets or pile of clothing in the corner of your room and head down to Lounge on November 21st or 22nd during store hours of 11 A.M. to 7 P.M. and drop your donations off. The Lounge fam. and more importantly, the Scott Mission are truly grateful.

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