Grand Collection

How would you describe your brand, Grand Collection?

It’s people that I love and admire. From everyone that skates for the brand or shoots the product shots or helps with the graphics and videos. It’s family. Like I’ve been close with the people that run the warehouse for 15 years. My wife Marianne is the most talented person, she helps me with everything (for the brand). Every time we release a collection, there are shop owners and distributors, and people all over the world that show up and support. It’s community. I’m so grateful for everyone involved.

What made you decide to start the brand?

I wanted to start something where all my favorite people could be involved in one thing.  Where we can stand up for the things we’re passionate about and do the things we love to do. It’s our way to get our ideas out to the world. And it’s a way for me to celebrate all these amazing people in my life. 

How would you describe the clothes?

Minimal. Pure. I just try to take away anything that isn’t needed and focus on fit, the fabric, the feel, the construction. Quality. There’s so much waste in the fashion industry. I want to make things that last in terms of quality and aesthetics. I want you to be able to wear these pieces forever.

Where does the inspiration come from when you’re designing? What’s your design process?

The inspiration just comes from real life and really, all the people involved with Grand. I’m trying to make things that we all want to wear every day. Like I think about a day in Brian (Reid)’s life. What does he want to be wearing when he gets up, then what does he want to wear on the flight to Barcelona, what’s he skating in when he gets there, what’s he wearing that night when he’s trying to go for a nice dinner, you know. I’m thinking about all these things when I’m designing. 

What are some of your favorite graphics and the meaning behind them?

All goose graphics for sure. The goose is the symbol of my hometown in Canada, so it means family to me. If you read about geese, they are really interesting creatures. Like they always travel in flocks and they look out for one another in all kinds of ways. I always related that to everyone involved with Grand. The geese are my little reminder to everyone that sees them to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you.

What originally made you move to NYC from Canada?

My wife Marianne wanted to move here. I’d actually never been to New York before the day I moved here. She said, “if we don’t love it, we’ll just move somewhere else”. I thought that was such an amazing perspective. We’ve been here going on 14 years now, so you know we love it.  

What keeps you excited right now?

I just love that we can think of something, me and my friends can think of an idea that doesn’t exist, and make it, and now it exists. A pant, a video, an event, a fundraiser. You don’t need to wait on anyone. You can contribute to the world in whatever ways you want. And I love how creating that thing can spark the making of more things, either by us or someone else. I think there’s never been a better time in history to be ambitious. 

Since the beginning of the brand, fundraising and philanthropic projects have been core to what you do. Can you talk about why that’s important to you? 

We’re not trying to just make pretty things that hang in your closet, you know. We’re not trying to just make a fashion statement. We’re trying to make a statement about our values. A skate brand can be about more than just skating. We want to do things that are meaningful and have a positive impact on our communities and the world and causes that we’re passionate about. And we want to constantly grow that impact every year as we continue to grow as a brand. 

What does Grand mean to you at this point in your life?

I’m from a town with three thousand people in the middle of the forest in Canada. Now I live in New York doing this. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for everything. I hope that kids out there realize that it’s all possible. If you focus on the things you’re obsessed with. And focus on the things you’re fascinated with. You really can create a life for yourself by doing what you love. That’s what Grand is to me. Doing things I love, with people that I love.