Dream team welcomes local apparel company onboard

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This article was published 21/07/2022 (791 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. JAMES-ASSINIBOIA

A gym and barbershop in Silver Heights has found the final puzzle piece in its goal of being a one-stop shop where clients can leave feeling and looking their best.

Dream Bootcamp and Dream Barbers, which operate under one roof at 2179 Portage Ave., recently welcomed The Collab Shop to the team.

The Collab Shop’s co-owners Robert Berboso, 27, and Rodney Francisco, 39, look forward to bringing their limited-edition, local, and vintage apparel to a wider audience.

The Collab Shop’s flagship store is located in the Exchange District on Albert Street. The bricks-and-mortar shop was launched in April of 2021. Prior to that, the duo sold their wares online.

Francisco explained that The Collab Shop’s goal of offering customers an apparel and shopping experience that makes them feel fresh and authentic matches up with what’s happening over at Dream Bootcamp and Dream Barbers.

“People want to feel good,” Francisco said. He added that after a particularly challenging and isolating couple of years, many people are turning to fashion for self-expression and enjoyment.

Lendyll Soriano, 32, owns the gym and Mark Antonio, 36, co-owns the barbershop. Three years ago, Soriano invited Antonio to bring his talents as a barber to the business.

“It was just a perfect marriage,” Soriano said.

“In the words of Lendyll,” Antonio said, “you’re going to go Dream Bootcamp, get a good workout in. Then, afterwards, you’re going to go upstairs, get a haircut, get cleaned up. To finish it off, you’re going to go to Collab and get some fresh gear, a nice fit, and you’re set for the weekend.”

Soriano anticipates the community the gym and barbershop have built will only grow stronger with The Collab Shop’s pop-up rounding out a trio of offerings at the west Winnipeg hub.

“I want to achieve my dreams by helping other people achieve their fitness dreams,” said Soriano, who is a former competitive bodybuilder turned trainer. “When you walk in, we will greet you by your first name.”

Antonio, who worked as a rehabilitation assistant prior to becoming a barber, explained that the two professions have had some unexpected overlap.

“How I approach people in the chair, and how I communicate, and how I talk to people is inherently different from any other barber in the city,” Antonio said. “Assessing the hair, assessing the head shape, assessing their job, their lifestyle, and creating a haircut for the person.”

The team at The Collab Shop takes a similarly detailed approach to their work. The staff source most of their products — including sneakers, jerseys and everyday apparel — online, though some items come from local vendors and donations.

“Every shoe tells a story,” Berboso said.

Francisco explained that searching for rare items isn’t a nine-to-five venture. The shop’s team scours the internet for sales, sometimes happening in different time zones, to secure deals. Their group chat is buzzing around the clock.

The Collab Shop also carries local brands, like Astige and Good Reason.

The Collab Shop can be found on Instagram @collabshopwpg and @collabshopwpg.popup and online at www.collabshopwpg.com