When storeowners Jesar Gabino, Matt George and Zeb Munir opened Nomad in 2005 they already had two boutiques in their portfolio: streetwear store Ransom and the sneaker boutique Goodfoot (both now closed). The stores were part of the game-changing retail collective United Front, housed at 431 Richmond Street that included Stussy Toronto.
Nomad was top of the heap. The shop introduced a new menswear aesthetic to the local market. Since day one, they carried the brands Common Projects, Wings+Horns and A.P.C., now household names in menswear. “We weren’t super young at that point,” says Jesar. “We were in our late 20s, early 30s—our tastes had refined a lot.”
Before the Internet was as content rich as it is today, Gabino says the storefront was elemental in their clients’ discovery of new brands. When 431 Richmond sold, the owners were drawn to West Queen West—its proximity to other independent menswear boutiques made the neighbourhood a destination. While customers may be more informed about what’s on the market these days, Nomad consistently has something new to offer.
“You can always come in here and expect something a little bit different,” says Jesar. Every season is a new opportunity to showcase the best of contemporary menswear and Nomad delivers. “Where we stand out is the selection,” he says. “And we really pay attention to our customers.”
