Over the Rainbow

Joel & Jinni Carman assume sole ownership of Over the Rainbow. Moves its store location into a new 1,450 square foot space at 120 Cumberland Street. Additional change rooms and 7 employees boost customer service. Moves to a new 2,800 square foot space at 101 Yorkville Avenue with an even bigger denim wall & expansion into sportswear & accessories.... Wayne Gretzky becomes the brand`s first ever celebrity endorsement, wearing an Over the Rainbow branded t-shirt in a Toronto Sun newspaper story. Expands Yorkville space to 3,700 square feet, adding a womens contemporary section. Launches Chip & Pepper, one of the first Canadian owned denim brands, with an ode to vintage styling & trends. Launches the Frisco Flare by Silver Jeans, the first of many flared jeans as a resurgence of wide bottom denim. Organizes the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Charity Poker Run providing toys, photos & fundraising to the patients at Hugh MacMillan Rehabilitation Centre Becomes the biggest stockist of Juicy Couture; birth of the velour (fall) and terry cloth (spring) tracksuit craze. First big success in footwear with the introduction of UGG; customer request & waiting list goes through the roof. Expands Yorkville space one final time to 4,500 square feet, adding a new womenswear section and larger cash checkout counter. Becomes the first Canadian retailer, and the 6th international stockist, to launch Citizens of Humanity, founded by a Montrealer. Introduces J Brand to the Canadian market, including the 811 stretch denim model; starts a new wave of clean pocket, skinny jeans for women. A young Dani Reiss fulfills his quest to sell his family`s parkas outside of Arctic climates; selects Over the Rainbow in a group of retailers to launch Canada Goose`s first city collection. Becomes the first international retailer to launch Naked & Famous Denim, a Japanese fabric made in Canada brand; the raw denim trend emerges. NOW Magazine readers vote Over the Rainbow as the Best Jeans Store in Toronto. Joel Carman raises $41,000 for Movember & ...Read More