Creativity runs deep in Canada, and it shows up in how we move through our cities. Navigating ever-shifting weather while still looking the part is an underrated art form, one that deserves its own spotlight. We’re highlighting a few of our favourite local tastemakers wearing the hot new Horizon™ collection by SOREL captured in motion on the streets of Toronto.
Built on SOREL’s legacy of bold design and frontier-tested durability, the Horizon™ collection pushes heritage into a modern context. It’s functionality meets a refined, forward-thinking aesthetic, inspired by the rugged spirit of the iconic Caribou boot, first worn on a legendary 1968 North Pole expedition, the Horizon™ lineup reimagines toughness through contemporary silhouettes made for everyday movements.
Combining the brand’s signature blend of performance and style, the collection features Gore-Tex™ waterproofing, Vibram™ traction, and lightweight Livelyfoam cushioning, wrapped in a sleek, city-ready boot perfect for the streets. They’ve collaborated with some of the coolest brand this season like Aries, Neighborhood, and most recently Barbour to reimagine the Horizon™ in this boundary-pushing next era and it’s turning heads.
Our tastemakers looks reveal how the design language of SOREL combines rugged functionality with modern, next-gen silhouettes that rise to the demands of city life without compromising on style.
We asked them one simple question: What does style mean to you? Their answers underline the intersection of individuality, practicality, and expression, reminding us that performance-driven footwear can be more than a necessity, but a catalyst for creativity. We showcase how they bring effortless versatility to the streets this new collection from SOREL while styling pieces from their own wardrobe through their own distinct lens.
For Sharla Farrell, style is a form of storytelling, a way of making a statement without saying a word. Her aesthetic is unique and thoughtful, pulling off the kind of elevated everyday fits that make you double take. She champions home grown Canadian brands in her content with enviable thrifted finds, while balancing a busy work life as a public relations and digital marketing professional working with notable global brands for over a decade.
“Style to me is freedom. As a Black woman navigating creative spaces, style is my way of taking up space, choosing visibility and showing up as my authentic self.”
In the same way her work bridges stories and communities, Sharla gravitates toward pieces that carry intention, making the SOREL Callsign Horizon™ Mid GTX a natural fit. Its blend of modern utility and considered design mirrors the balance she strikes between expression and everyday practicality.
She has her hands in many creative spaces, founding Easy Consulting Studio in 2019 with the goal of connecting brands through meaningful storytelling that advocates for a more inclusive and diverse media landscape. Farrell is inherently a connector of worlds, and her style is reflective of that, grounded in a kind of ease that doesn’t gate keep.
“The right piece, silhouette, texture or colour can shift how I feel and move through the world. It helps me feel confident.”
Sharla styles the SOREL Callsign Horizon™ Mid GTX.
For Melissa Chai, style is about quiet details and the marriage of texture, shape and mood. She believes that style can “make you feel at ease and a little more like yourself.”
Her choices feel intentional and uniquely her, with her love of travel, design and culture informing her style and work over the past decade as a multidisciplinary creative working across brand marketing, event production, and experiential design for some of the city’s biggest brands.
It’s that same appreciation for subtlety that draws her to the SOREL Callsign Horizon™ Mid GTX, a silhouette where texture, form, and function work in quiet harmony, offering a refined durability that complements her thoughtful approach to dressing.
“These boots are a mix of cozy and functional. I like the feminine, soft neutral tones, and the chunky sole to make them a go-to on cold days when I still want to feel put-together.”
Her taste level precedes her informing her personal style and work which involves bringing imaginary worlds to life, creating cinematic moments through immersive installations, refined environments, and high-concept events.
“It is the effortless details that hint at personality without shouting, and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing what feels right. Style is not about trends or perfection. It is about creating moments that feel thoughtful, intentional, and undeniably you.”
Melissa styles the SOREL Callsign Horizon™ Mid GTX.
We had the opportunity to capture Chai alongside Liam Wilkings, her longtime partner, a spatial designer and art director based in Toronto. We caught up with them outside Studio Homme, the Chinatown studio and multifunctional space he co-founded in Toronto. Wilkings has made his mark on the city as a creative, supporting the community at Studio Homme, while fostering collaboration and visual storytelling in his work.
“The way I dress reflects how I want to move through the world: colourful, clean, intentional. I am drawn to pieces that feel good, last long, and carry a sense of quality and sustainability.”
A master in layering, Wilkings believes style is one’s truest form of self-expression. He has a way of drawing intrigue within his personal style, a subtle element he’s added to his fit that draws the eye. Whether it a pair of contrast stitched gloves, a double collar, a perfectly cuffed wide leg, or a ring repurposed as a knot ring, Wilkings aesthetic is considered without being forced.
For someone who thinks in layers and considers every detail, the SOREL Daystorm Horizon™ GTX fits seamlessly into Liam’s world. Its sculpted, heritage-inspired build and weather-ready functionality aligning with his preference for pieces that feel purposeful and built to last.
“The traction and utilitarian vibe of these winter boot are practical. They’re built for real winter and hold up well when I’m running around on set or out in the city.”
Liam styles the SOREL Daystorm Horizon™ GTX.
For Elie Kimbembe, style is all about being yourself. The Congolese-born, Canada-based photographer has travelled the world capturing the human side of celebrity. He’s honed his talent working alongside some of the most influential people on the planet and it’s no shock that has informed the way he gets dressed. His work blends empathy, global perspective, and emotional presence, much in the way his style does.
“Style is about moving through the world and letting everything you encounter, what you eat, what you see, what you absorb, shape you. Through that journey, style becomes whatever naturally draws itself toward you and whatever you choose to make your own.”
Echoing his photography, the Horizon™ collection blends technical precision with human-centered design, offering performance-driven footwear that keeps pace with Elie’s travels, his creative curiosity, and the dynamic energy he brings to every project. With nearly a decade behind the lens, Kimbembe’s career is expanding into directing and creative consulting. He has photographed icons such as Lewis Hamilton, Drake, Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, and the late Chadwick Boseman to name just a few. Kimbembe always brings an intimate and relational approach to his craft, allowing every subject to feel seen.
“In the fashion world people can define style in many different ways, but at its core it is the personal meaning you give it without pretence.”
