Like so many moments of divine inspiration, this one occurred under a sketchy bridge in Parkdale. Long-time BFFs Claudia Dey and Heidi Sopinka were taking their infants for a walk and discussing their mutual love of clothing design. “And right then and there, we thought, well, what if we did something together?” recalls Dey of that spring afternoon in 2012. They named the company—Horses Atelier—on the spot, a nod to both the majestic animal and the seminal Patti Smith album. In the three years since, they have put out six collections featuring flowing, romantic, wear-anywhere staples like flower-printed hippie dresses and silky kimonos. Dey says their collaborative design process is like playing tennis with someone who’s better than you, while Sopinka compares the experience to writing a story: “You close out the world, you explore your interest, and you come out with something to show everybody at the end.”
Jamie Webster’s job is to make things look cool—whether it’s a car commercial or a music video for Majid Jordan, the pop duo signed to Drake’s record label