by Shanelle Kaul
If you are like us, you may assume that Peter Franco Sneakers is a design line of shoes – WRONG SILLY…it is just a very misleading name – the real magic is their nude and voyeuristic tees.

Like every hip new thing, Peter Franco Sneakers celebrated its Summer Tee release party at Queen West’s most notable launching pad: The Social. Their new collection of tees features a men’s and women’s line, all priced at 40 bucks apiece; sweet! The local design team combines an edgy republican attitude with the glamour of the city life to steer its line.

Their creed is to “push for canvas-esque larger than life imagery”, says designer Willis Ansong. Further he explains that the apparel combines, “elements of retro movie posters with references to pop culture hype”. The tees they design are the trailers to spark a thought worthy of cinema.

PFS’ street wear collection is shaped around the idea of positivity and fresh incarnations. Ansong’s inspiration spans from mobsters to the DVP, he lists off some creative ingredients, “…art deco, Al Campone, the inner city, runways, and even eye-fucking.” Eye fucking you say? We’re good at that.

If they were to design an outfit for a celebrity, it would easily be Rosario Dawson. Ansong whips up the perfect Sartorialist picture, with a dose of Sin City: “she would be put in high waisted denim, slightly faded at the knees and on the butt pockets…tapered at the bottom to show a slinky pair of Givenchy pumps, so black you can see your reflection in them from a distance.” Wait, there’s more…he’s obviously been thinking about the sultry actor, “her hair would be up to show the beaded feather earrings that color coordinate with her PFS tee.”

When they aren’t busy creating their label in downtown Toronto, they are looking to Mathew Williamson and Zac Posen for inspiration. Of course, this summer – that means H&M.