GENEs

GENEs #22 - Branden Wren (@leosclothingsupply)

Welcome back to GENEs. These interviews reveal the stories behind peoples coveted items and we unravel the connections and history that have brought them to where they are today. To check out the previous interviews covering a range of clothing with intimate and gorgeous stories, see the link here [https://mikecldi.substack.com/s/genes]. Let’s pull the thread. In this episode of GENEs, I sit down with Brenden Wren, also known as B-Wren, the founder of Leo’s Clothing Supply on Vancouver’s Granville Strip. We talk through his journey from thrifting and selling on Grailed in Calgary, to working long nights in bars and flea markets, and eventually opening Leo’s in a historic space once home to a camera supply store for over 65 years. Brenden shares how hustle, exhaustion, and curiosity shaped his relationship with clothing, vintage, and building something of his own. Our conversation moves beyond retail into community, legacy, and place. We talk about Leo’s as a multi-use space, supporting people without moralizing, navigating city bureaucracy, and what it means to create something meaningful in a difficult environment. We close by getting into the GENEs of the project, a pair of jeans Brenden made himself, using sewing, trial and error, and mentorship as another extension of the same mindset that built Leo’s. At its core, this is a conversation about showing up, learning by doing, and continuing to ask, why not? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikecldi.substack.com [https://mikecldi.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

GENEs # 21 - Corey Adams (@machotaildrop)

In this episode of GENEs, I sit down with Vancouver filmmaker Corey Adams, AKA Machotaildrop. His career stretches from cult skateboarding films to music videos, commercials, and his recent series Edge of Sleep. We talk about his winding path into—and out of—the film world, his love for stop-motion, and the objects that inspire him, including a jacket with a story of its own. Corey’s a natural storyteller, and our conversation ranges from scouting caves in Europe to creative partnerships in East Van. For photos and Corey’s recommendation for a future GENEs guest, visit the companion piece on Substack [http://mikecldi.substack.com]. Intro and Outro music by my good friend, Andrew DiPaola [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0qCvHbIEj8zf5Q3ZW4ovfu]. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikecldi.substack.com [https://mikecldi.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

GENEs #20 - Malik Abouzied (@evidencedoll)

In the 20th episode of GENEs, I sit down with Malik (also known as evidence doll) a multi-disciplinary artist whose work spans music videos, clothing design, tattooing, and world-building. We talk about their cathartic music video BBB, the importance of safe creative spaces, the fluidity of identity and personas, and the playful relationship between clothing, memory, and self-expression. From DIY aesthetics to conversations about being visibly trans in Vancouver, Malik shares the stories behind their art and the artifacts they hold close, reminding us how creativity, identity, and survival are always intertwined.For the photos that accompany the story, please see the Substack [https://mikecldi.substack.com/]. Intro and Outro music by my good friend, Andrew DiPaola [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0qCvHbIEj8zf5Q3ZW4ovfu]. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikecldi.substack.com [https://mikecldi.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

GENEs # 19 - Saager Dilawri (@shopneighbour)

What does it take to spot a garment that will quietly change your relationship to clothing? In this episode, I sat down with Saager Dilawri of Neighbour [https://www.shopneighbour.com/] to talk about how he navigates fashion weeks in Paris and Tokyo, what makes certain pieces stop him in his tracks, and why some clothes are worth wearing for years. We recorded before the shop opened, surrounded by racks of carefully chosen garments, as he walked me through the stories behind a few of his favorite pieces. If you’ve ever been curious about what elevates a shop—or a shirt—this one's for you. For the photos and full interview essay, see the Substack [http://mikecldi.substack.com]. Music by my good friend Andrew DiPaola [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0qCvHbIEj8zf5Q3ZW4ovfu]. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikecldi.substack.com [https://mikecldi.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

GENEs #18 - Skylar Stock (@mintage)

In this episode of GENEs, I sit down with Skylar Stock, the longtime owner of Mintage, one of East Vancouver’s most iconic vintage shops. After over a decade of observing his work from afar, we finally chat in the back of his Commercial Drive location about his early days at True Value Vintage, his time picking for Rocket in London, and the unlikely path that led him back to Vancouver to open Mintage. We dive into how he’s seen the vintage landscape evolve, the emotional pull of old dresses, and the one item he’d grab in a fire: his father’s 1940s swimsuit. Skylar also reflects on sustainability, taste, and what it means to quietly shape style in a changing city. You can check out Mintages website [https://mintagevintage.com/pages/mintage-commercial-drive] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mintage/?hl=en] here. Intro and Outro music brought to you by my good friend Andrew DiPaola (Mister Manic [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0qCvHbIEj8zf5Q3ZW4ovfu]). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikecldi.substack.com [https://mikecldi.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]