Mark Innocentes's love for individualism through fashion is apparent in his closet, stacked to the brim with '90s sneakers, snapbacks and archival sportswear sets from Nike. What began in 2013 during his high-school years as a side hobby of scouring vintage archives for rare '90s sportswear soon became a never-ending chase for his next statement closet piece to step out in.
"It was just about being unique. Being the only person in the city with that hat or that piece of clothing." Mark Innocentes, Ragstop
That passion would eventually transform into Ragstop, a Toronto-founded business built entirely on decades of generational nostalgia for the iconic closet pieces that defined a generation two decades ago, that are now being sought out. Innocentes began to recognize that his love for Y2K vintage and novelty fashion was expanding across generations, with him noticing a trend of shoppers turning toward the quality and craftsmanship of historical garments over fast-fashion corporations. That recognition led him to start an online-only vintage clothing retailer built around his initial sportswear collection.
By 2019, Ragstop had grown into its own store location at Mississauga's Erin Mills Town Centre. Ragstop's line features curated vintage sportswear pieces from Nike, Carhartt and Adidas, alongside collectibles of digital cameras, Pokémon cards, comics and pop-culture memorabilia that would make any '90s kid swoon. It's not just '90s kids either - Generation Z's longing to recapture a previous generation's fashion has come full circle with the revival of Y2K swinging back into the status quo, which only enhances the popularity of curated shops like Ragstop.
Ragstop's business model capitalizes on the circular 20-year trend cycle of fashion, with 2000s styles resurging as a prediction that came true to define the 2020s through the popularity of mixing animal prints, metallics and sportswear sets. Around the same time as TikTok's boom in early 2020, shopping secondhand at thrift stores or on resale sites like Depop also became increasingly popular among younger generations, offering eco-friendly and affordable ways to explore personal fashion.
Ninety per cent of Canadian consumers have engaged with a thrift store through shopping or donating, and more than 40 per cent of Gen Z are thrifters, according to a 2024 Value Village Thrift Report. Ragstop's appeal doesn't solely lie in the sign-of-the-times thrifting culture; it heavily boils down to the culturally-ingrained thread of sentimentality. Nostalgia is a feeling that researchers describe as inherited more than remembered; it is passed down through media, family and the stories generations tell each other, whether or not anyone in the room actually lived it. That's precisely what Ragstop captures through its community-centred hub, hosting its own recurring Nostalgic Market that has built a network of over 7,000 vintage and collectible lovers across the city.
This year marks Ragstop's first time as a vendor at Pride, and Innocentes's partner has joined him today to help run the booth. For her, the experience will be remembered by the joy and positivity radiating from the crowd, especially in watching visitors stop by and find themselves transported back to a specific era or memory they hadn't revisited or thought about since childhood. Innocentes considers himself fortunate to be in a position where business and passion go hand in hand, believing that the foundation of his business success is its coexistence with his personal passions.
"Just do it. But do it because you're passionate about it, not just for the money. Be consistent, be humble and be honest." Mark Innocentes, Ragstop
Ragstop will announce future pop-up market appearances on their Instagram.
