Community 54

"If you don't support a movement, you'll never move; that's what we're all about here, and this philosophy drives everything we do," says Joel Reilly, who spearheads Community 54's operations alongside his friend, Daymon Green. "The whole point with what we do here is that we want to support the local community and young, local brands, help them develop and grow."

Community 54 is, indeed, a community. As well as a lifestyle shop and a platform for Parkdale's young artisans and artists, it is somewhat reminiscent of Andy Warhol's Factory, which was an inspiration to Joel and Daymon. "When the time came to open up shop, we let ourselves be inspired by the Factory,” says Joel. “Back then, it was all about fashion, people and culture, not about who you were. That way of seeing things greatly influenced us, and we hope to convey it through everything we do."

Thus, the shop houses apparel and accessories, but also artwork from local artists, including its exterior walls, which are covered in graffiti art. The Parkdale Roadrunners, a running club, uses the backyard as its gathering point. "It's called Community for a reason; we support a lot of local brands, but also artists, entrepreneurs and communities. We're a boutique, yes, but much more than that," explains Joel.