This Is Our Color Story

This Is Our Color Story

In 2018, Antonio was at work when his phone rang. On the other end was Shadi, her voice buzzing with excitement and determination. “You know how you’re always frustrated that you can’t find well-designed, colorful shirts that don’t cost $400 just because they have a Paul Smith or Gucci label? Why shouldn’t everyone have access to great designs—not just the rich? Why don’t we make them ourselves?”

Antonio paused for a moment, then burst out, “Gucci’s got nothing on you! Hell yes, let’s do it!”

That phone-call sparked the creation of Poplin & Co.

At the time, Shadi was the Head of Design at Nth Degree Underwear, and Antonio was a Marketing Manager at Adacado, a real time creative marketing agency. Together, they brought a unique blend of creativity, experience, and a shared desire to build something meaningful. Shadi had been in the Fashion world for almost a decade at this point. She started her journey at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in the Fashion Design Program and found her first major job as the Head of Design at SAXX Underwear. She would go on to work for Helly Hansen all the while consulting for other international brands like Stance Socks. Despite her success, Shadi often felt limited by the constraints of corporate design and wanted a way to unleash her vibrant creativity. She was looking for an outlet to show her true colors, quite literarily.

Antonio’s career followed a different path. With a background in Game Art & Design from the Art Institute, he began at Black Box Studios and EA before transitioning to marketing. Over the years, he advanced to leading a marketing team at a RTC Agency where he worked with brands like The NBA, Athletica, and Levis all while consulting with start up apparel brands on the side. But like Shadi, Antonio was looking for more freedom to express himself beyond the corporate world. When Shadi made that call, they both knew they had discovered something special: a niche, a shared passion, and a chance to fully express their creative visions.

A Trip to India And A Company That Almost Never Was...

While still working their full-time jobs, Antonio and Shadi began developing their business plan. The first priority was finding a factory willing to work with them. “We knew we didn’t have the budget to produce large quantities, so we had to find a factory open to working with a small startup,” Shadi explained. Fortunately, Antonio had a contact with experience in textile manufacturing in India. After a few discussions, the three decided to take a trip there.

Picture a whirlwind montage: packed suitcases, a plane landing in Mumbai, and high-energy Indian music setting the scene.

The day after arriving, they met with the owners of a local manufacturer. The owners graciously took them to lunch and gave a tour of their factory, about an hour’s drive from Mumbai. It was an exhilarating experience—visiting a vibrant new country like India while chasing their dream.

After the factory meetings, Antonio and Shadi took a detour to explore Delhi, Jaipur, and back to Mumbai, where they finalized negotiations with the factory. But when they returned to Vancouver, challenges began to mount. The production samples didn’t match their designs, timelines kept slipping, and the originally negotiated prices started to climb.

For three exhausting months, they struggled through this cycle before making the heartbreaking decision to part ways with the factory. At that point, it felt like their company might fail before it even had the chance to start.

But Then... Magic Happened

“We were devastated. It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under us—it was a really dark time,” Antonio recalled.
 
About a week after parting ways with their Indian partners, Shadi remembered something: MAGIC, a massive fashion trade show in Las Vegas. It brought together thousands of manufacturers from around the world, all looking to form partnerships. “If we were going to find someone who could work with us, this was the place,” Shadi said, determined.
 
She quickly bought a ticket and flew to Vegas, ready to turn things around. And she did.
 
Two days into the event, Shadi called Antonio with exciting news: she had found a partner from Shanghai willing to help bring their vision to life. The factory was small but specialized in producing high-quality cotton fabrics and had a talented experimental sewing team of 12 skilled seamstresses who worked on special projects. It was the perfect match for their low-volume orders.
 
The difference was immediate. When Shadi returned home, she sent over her designs, and within weeks—not months—they received samples that were incredible. It was a moment of pure joy and relief.
 
Without hesitation, they booked tickets to Shanghai to meet the talented production team and seamstresses who had made it all possible.

Flying High In Shanghai

Imagine a whirlwind montage: packed suitcases, a plane touching down in Shanghai, and lively Chinese music playing in the background.
 
“We landed during the day. It was winter—foggy and damp,” Antonio recalled. As they drove to their hotel, towering skyscrapers loomed through the haze, their neon lights painting the mist in vibrant colors.
The next day, the factory owner picked them up for a tour of the facility, about an hour and a half outside the city. “The experience was such a refreshing contrast to what we’d encountered in India,” Antonio said. At the factory, they met with their account manager, the factory owner, and the skilled seamstresses who would be crafting their first collection. “It was such a warm and welcoming meeting,” Antonio explained. 
By the end of their trip, we were personally escorted to the airport. “It was really emotional,” Shadi said. “In just a short time, we had developed a genuine connection with them.” 
"Great things happen when nice people meet nice people" Antonio added.

Ready To Share Our Vision To The World

Back in Vancouver, Shadi and Antonio dove into planning their sales strategy. The earlier production delays had disrupted their timelines, leaving them with no chance to secure pre-orders. Instead, they had to launch their new line “in season,” directly to retailers.
 
“The only option was to hit the pavement and start making calls,” Antonio said. They worked tirelessly, sending emails day and night and calling stores across Canada.
 
Their first retail account was El Kartel, a trendy shop in Historic Chinatown owned by a fellow artist. “We were thrilled—someone actually wanted to carry our clothes,” Shadi said. “It was so validating. But it was just one store, and we needed so many more to survive.”
 
Relentlessly, they pushed forward. By the end of summer 2018, they had secured 13 stores, including their biggest account, 8th and Main. “They’ve been our biggest fans and longest supporters ever since,” Antonio shared.
 
By the end of the year, Shadi and Antonio knew they had validated their concept. Now, it was time to scale.
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