On Wednesday, the Queen West menswear boutique Nomad transformed into a shrine to Justin Bieber: to celebrate his two ACC shows, the store is hosting a two-day pop-up shop featuring Bieber-themed apparel designed in collaboration with Jerry Lorenzo (he’s behind the trendy fashion label Fear of God), plus a six-piece collaboration with Nomad (it’s open until tonight at 7 p.m.). And when the Biebs hosts a sudden pop-up in Toronto, fans come a-flocking—some from as far away as New Brunswick. Yesterday, Beliebers waited in line for upwards of three hours to drop hundreds of dollars on branded hoodies and T-shirts. We asked some the most ardent fans what they bought.
19, Car wrapper “We drove from Hamilton in this car and got a lot of strange looks. But now that we’re in Toronto, everyone loves it. I got the blue hoodie—I didn’t want anything that had his face on it because I want to wear it a lot. I also love the Toronto Maple Leafs, and this could pass as team merch from the front. It was worth the $150 parking ticket I just got.”
26, Art consultant “I’m a new fan—his last album was so amazing. I got the beige Purpose hoodie, a long-sleeved shirt and a few T-shirts. I spent $360.”
18, Student “I came in from Mississauga and waited about three hours in line before getting in. I’m missing some class for this, but that’s okay. I bought this $90 sweatshirt—all in, I’ve easily dropped $250 on Bieber merch over the years.”
28, Graphic designer “I think this long-sleeved shirt was the best one in there. We didn’t wait in line because my friend is friends with the shop’s owner...shh!”
15, Students Love: “Yeah, we’re missing school right now. We love Bieber because of, well, everything. He’s amazing. This T-shirt was $45 plus tax.”
16, Student “Everything is Justin Bieber for me—I’m even wearing a shirt from his last pop-up. I’m planning to see him in Orlando when I’m there.”
34, Registered Nurse “I bought a shirt for myself and another for my three-year-old son, who also loves Bieber. We came in all the way from Saint John, New Brunswick for the concert.”
25, Unemployed “I bought a sweater, a hoodie and a couple of T-shirts. I think I spent over $200. I love Bieber, but I’m a bigger fan of the designer, Jerry Lorenzo.”
25, Registered Nurse “We’ve been here for at least four hours. I bought this sweater and the long-sleeve T-shirt. I think I paid $175 for two of them.”
20, Student “I came in from Brampton. I really wanted the beige hoodie, but they were sold out so I got this instead. I’m a big fan—I actually have a Believe tattoo on my arm in the same place as Justin’s.”
15, Student “We drove three hours from Fergus for the concert tonight. I’ve loved Bieber since he started: his music, his hair, everything about him. I wanted the shirt with the red writing but they messed up my order.”
14, 18, Students Tharani: “We’re from Oshawa. We’ve been waiting for this for so long. We got these sweaters because everything else was sold out in our size.”
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