U of T teams up with OVO to launch new collection
The 重口味SM has partnered with OVO to launch a unique capsule collection for students who want to wear their pride in their university and the city this fall.
The OVO / 重口味SM collection includes apparel such as hoodies, tees and fleece pants as well as accessories like totes and sport caps, all of which were designed and manufactured in Canada. The fall-winter collection, which dropped Friday, , with select pieces available on campus at the U of T Bookstore.
Four-time Olympic medalist and U of T alumna Kylie Masse stars in the campaign video to promote the collection, which marks OVO鈥檚 first collaboration with a post-secondary institution.
Kristina Kazandjian, U of T鈥檚 trademark licensing manager, said the collaboration between Canada's top university and OVO 鈥 a Toronto-headquartered, global lifestyle brand founded in 2008 鈥 was met with enthusiasm from both parties, describing it as "two iconic Toronto brands coming together."
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the project to be put on hold until it was revived ahead of the upcoming fall semester to time with the return of students to campus 鈥 as well as the arrival of new students from the Toronto region, across Canada and around the world.
鈥淲e wanted to launch it around orientation as we thought it would be a nice way to make students feel proud and spread school spirit,鈥 Kazandjian said. 鈥淲e want students to feel excited. We鈥檙e excited for them to come back to campus, and we thought this would be a great way to tap into that.鈥
While U of T has done collaborative branded merchandise before 鈥 with the likes of PINK and Peace Collective 鈥 Kazandjian says this is the first collaboration of this scale.
鈥淲e want this collection to showcase an affiliation with our wider community and the many within it,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e hope it will be seen as an extension of the U of T lifestyle.鈥