Canadian streetwear brand, Needs&Wants, has created a lot of buzz in its first few years. Founded in 2013 by Sean Brown, the brand has become known for its subtle yet luxurious twists on outerwear staples like a varsity jacket with one contrasting sleeve. Or their latest, satin baseball jackets for Spring Summer 2016. The line has stayed tight and concentrated over the past few seasons, keeping the brand focused and building awareness. But they have added a few items to their arsenal: fuzzy half-zip fleece layers, fur-collared bomber jackets, and elongated tail shirting. All of which seems to sell out quickly on the brand's online store. Now the brand has finally opened a physical location. And it's exactly where you would expect to find a Canadian cool streetwear brand - in the woods.
The showroom/retail space is much more than simply a 8x20 shipping container dumped into the woods. Well it is that too but much more. The sleek monochrome exterior opens up to reveal an interior clad in white oak herringbone floor, complimented by eco-responsible wood panels as wall veneer. The windows on the facades are two large square panels of mirrored one-way glazing that not only provide access to day lighting, but also expand the physicality of the space. This is a slick modern indoor outdoor space that embraces the woods and yet feels modern and somehow street. Currently placed in the middle of the woods, the surprising location seems perfect for a brand that continues to surprise and delight us.
So how do you find it? You need to be part of the club. How do you join? Simple, sign up for their newsletter and you are in. It's a small price to pay. If you can't make it out into the woods around Toronto, you can expect it to pop up in the city shortly before it eventually heads to New York and Miami. You can shop the current collection here.
