UPDATE: Apr 27th
This initiative all happened because of the kindness of a stranger: Selena Warcop of Markham’s Second Cup.
Markham (ON) is my old stomping ground. Fast forward to decades later, I live hours away in a rent-affordable-ish place. I stopped over in Markham for a couple nights before my routine checkup in Toronto.
Back in May 2026, while visiting Markham, I showed my friend Suzen a jacket I had made out of 100+ men’s ties. She went wild- suggesting I should make things like this as a business… ‘ya yaya’ I said, I heard this before. I was flattered and shrugged off the idea that there were ‘fellow weirdos’ out there interested in something like this.
Still, I was tickled by the thought to do this for my broke ODSP azz. I’ve heard the same encouragement from others (but we tend not to listen to loved ones, right?).
Suzen filmed the following video with my phone to be posted at a later time. I immediately left to meet another friend for coffee down to road, and decided to keep wearing my jacket. The young lady who made my coffee asked in awe if I bought or made the jacket I was wearing. Yes, I made it. When asked if I made custom orders. My response?
“Ummm…. maybe?”
I’m making her a custom skirt for a concert she’s attending in in May!
Side note: the first comment I got when posted online was a mean comment from an internet troll (adult bully). There were some choice words exchanged, and I sent them away with a “have a nice day’ mic drop.
For who ever needs to hear this: Never compromise your unique self by listening to (or allowing) someone to put you down. If it makes you happy, DO IT!… Stick up for yourself and leave with positivity. Internet trolls are just grown up bullies who were never put in their place when younger. There’s something wrong with them, not you!
While Selena and Second Cup owner Avi were getting corporate permission for being a drop off location for discarded ties, I was talking to my local media about this story, where more drop off locations were made!
Many thanks to the Walkerton Herald Times article, “Artist Gives Life To Old Ties” April 2, 2026 (Pauline Kerr) – Full article image to follow
AND Dundalk Herald and the Flesherton Advance articles, “Making Old Ties Into New Creations” April 8, 2026 (John Butler). – Full article image to follow
Lastly, to my old stomping grounds of Markham Economist Sun (link: YorkRegion.com) “‘100 Ties, One Jacket’: Chance café encounter in Markham sparks a community donation drive” April 27, 2026 (Scarlet Liu).
I am incredibly grateful for sharing the story and the 5 drop off locations for the communities to donate any discarded ties so I can repurpose them into something FUN and/or FUNctional.
What I’m looking forward to is the interview by the online newspaper York Region Metroland Group to capture the other side of the story. The story will hopefully capture the power a young lady named Selena who unknowingly inspired the aspired, me.
This story caught the eye of the Walkterton Herald Times paper. (Thank you Pauline Kerr)
THANK YOU TO WHO HELPED START THIS!
Joanne (Walkerton) – the stranger (now friend) who donated her entire tie stash to me! 100 of which made this jacket!!!
Suzen (Markham) – Video maker & friend
Selena & Avi (Second Cup Markham) – THE Barista Selena who fuelled the start of this initiative and generous Markham Second Cup Owner Avi who made a drop off location happen in Markham
And thank you to Pauline Kerr (Walkerton-Times Newspaper), John Butler (Dundalk Herald and the Grey Highlands Advance) and Scarlet Liu of the Markham Economist (yrmg.com) for sharing this story of community coming together xo
This is a much- needed reminder there are still wonderful people out there