Drake. The Raptors. The CN Tower. Knix. 

Okay! Time’s up, pencils down. Did you guess Toronto? 

If Knix was a large and blossoming tree, it’s roots would be the city of Toronto. Not only was Knix founded here in 2013, but it’s also where Team Knix works (reporting live from HQ 👋).

We love Toronto so much that when it came down to opening Knix stores, we knew we absolutely needed a location close to home. 

Notorious for chilly winters, it warmed up enough for us to take an afternoon walk to our Toronto store at 630 Queen St. West. With new limited edition colors Blue Ice and Orchid available in store (and online!), we decided to turn our winter blues into a reason to celebrate with Knix customers. 

We chatted with some Knix fans (Knixettes? Knixinas? Knixerellas?) about their recent haul. Check out some suggestions from our brand new pals!

Kate, @okaydokate

What are you up to today? I’m a freelancer so I have some work to do, but I’m also in a design course so I have class later! Came in because I needed an excuse to buy a bra… 

Ooo. Which bra did you end up going with? The Evolution Bra! I’m excited for it because I’m a sucker for duality. I love having things that are versatile that can be worn in different ways. I’m always talking about how clothes should always be like that. So this bra is a win-win! 

Jules, @julesleee

Hi! What’s up today? I’m up to absolutely nothing. I have a free day! I was editing photos all week and today is my day off. I’m sorry that’s a boring answer! 

No! That sounds like the perfect day. And now you’re here! I saw you grabbed a pair of Leakproof Underwear, have you tried them before? I have! I’m actually wearing a pair right now. Knix Leakproof undies were the first leak proof underwear that I ever tried. I’ve used cotton pads before too. I’m just pro period products that are waste free. Any kind of cup too. Anything that’s reusable!

Isabella / @isabellavvt

Hey! What are you up to today? I work around here so just on a little walk grabbing coffee. There’s finally no snow! 

What’s in your Knix bag? The Pullover Bra!

That’s a good one. Are you excited about it? Yeah, very! I hate wearing a bra to be honest. They’ve always been really annoying to me. But I saw this bra on Instagram and thought it looked really comfy so I had to come by and try it on. It is really comfy! I think I like a bra for once... what a surprise. 

Staff Pick: Hanna

Hi Hanna! How’s your day going? What are you up to? Today I’m working here at the store which is exciting. I never get to see the staff (Hanna is part of our online Customer Empowerment Team) and everyone here is just really, really nice. 

They are so lovely! Okay, do you have a favorite Knix product? Yeah, I gotta go with the Padded V-Neck. I’m a bigger busted lady and she’s got some wide straps. She eases the shoulder tension! I also have days where I don’t need or want to wear pads in my bra, so it’s nice I'm able to take them out. Also, check out this Blue Ice color! 

Rather, there’s quite a lot of pressure to make changes related to your body (according to a recent poll, 38% of all resolutions are to exercise more while 33% are to lose weight), which can lead to some pretty unhealthy behaviour— both physically and mentally. And when these resolutions aren’t stuck to (only 8% of people maintain them throughout the year), this can leave you feeling even less motivated and self-confident. And no one needs that.

Starting 2020 at Knix, we’re saying “thank you, next” to resolutions. Instead, we’re proposing you make 3 lists. Sounds like a lot of work? It’s super easy! Read on to find out how to get started on your new New Year’s tradition. 

List 1: What are you grateful for?

Instead of making resolutions, first take some time to reflect on the year behind you. Take stock of what you accomplished, the people you met, the relationships that flourished, the skills you learned. Think of events that were special to you, how you grew, and the friends and family that were alongside you. Anything that you’re grateful for applies! Those jeans that make your butt look amazing. Your health. The sunset you caught one evening. Your favorite show. Finally grabbing coffee with an old pal. That note a special someone left you. No matter how big or small, meditate on it all. 

List 2: What are you looking forward to? 

After reflecting on 2019, it’s time to look forward to 2020. Are there any moments you’re counting down to? Vacations? New cities to visit? Big life events? Are you looking forward to learning something new, or perfecting a craft? Is there a hobby you’d like to dive into or a book that’s been waiting on your shelf? Are one of your kids hitting a milestone? Family gatherings, birthdays, summer BBQs? List them all, it’s time to start getting excited for the year ahead. 

List 3: What do you do well? 

Resolutions focus on what you need to change. Pause that. Who says you need to change? For your last list, it’s time to focus on all the best parts of you. What are all the things that make you unique? What are all the things you love about yourself? What are your talents? Your favorite features? You’re perfect just the way you are, and that includes your flaws, weaknesses, and everytime you choose to scroll through Netflix for 3 hours before picking something. It’s time to celebrate all those aspects of yourself.

Instead of expending energy on what you’d like to change, make your final list one filled with anti-resolutions: things you won’t change because they are uniquely you. 

I have never been a fan of cardio. In all my years of professional dance training, I dreaded our conditioning classes. It always felt hard, and boring, and uncomfortable. After living through an accident that shattered one of my feet, and left a small brain injury, it’s come as a great surprise to me that it is now something I love.

Before my accident I was a full time athlete. My body was a movement machine, dancing for about 6 hours a day- some times more. Dropping to the floor and then getting up milliseconds later. Moving and sweating was my life, and I loved it. I loved feeling physically powerful, and dynamic.

The summer before my final year, I was on a second floor balcony when the railing collapsed. I fell 20ft onto concrete steps. My head smashed open to the bone resulting in frontal lobe damage to my brain. I had major whiplash and tissue damage down the right side of my body, immense pain around my right hip, and multiple bone breaks in my left foot.

My immediate, and only true memory of that moment was praying I would still be able to move.

When I first started walking again I had been in a wheelchair for a couple of months, and was working with muscle mass that had deteriorated down to almost nothing. It was really hard for me to look at my legs, and see that one was muscular and strong, while the other had completely atrophied. 

I was forced to be kind, and humble to my body. I was grateful for the days when I didn't feel like I had been hit by a truck. I was grateful for small, slow movement, and the ability to walk to the bathroom without assistance.

One year, and two surgeries later I was able to walk around mostly comfortably without any assistance. I refused to lean in to the chronic pain and stiffness, so went to pilates and yoga multiple times per week.

Five years later, I ran my first half marathon. When I signed up for the training program, I was scared. I was scared to work hard, and I was scared to fail. I was scared my body wouldn’t be able to handle it, and I was scared feeling incapable would send my back into a PTSD spiral.

Our first group run was 5km. I had run 5km before, but never without stopping, and only ever on a flat treadmill. For some this was a breeze, talking casually to the runners next to them. For me, it felt like the route had been designed to challenge every step that I took, every breath inhaled. My body was confused. Why were we doing this? Hadn’t we been through enough? I spent the entire run reminding myself “You can do it, you’ve already won”.

5km run, or walking to the washroom alone, knowing that YES, I CAN-  was the only important thing I needed to focus on. That being in recovery didn’t define me, that having brain trauma, or PTSD didn’t define me. That accomplishing the things I go after, THAT’S what defines me.

"You can do it,

you've already won"

My first training goal was to run for 10 minutes. When that felt like too much I reminded myself of all the other, much tougher things I had done. Like the time I woke up after surgery, and was in so much pain it silenced me. This was nothing compared to that, so I ran.

When we got to hill training I would look at the monsters we had to climb, and think of them as my recovery. One big mountain to climb, one little step at a time. Maybe stopping for a breath, but always moving forward.

The combination of visualizing my story in our routes, and constantly chanting “yes I can” got me through 18 weeks of training. When it came time to actually register for race day, that familiar fear started to creep back in. But this time, I was ready and prepared to give my fears a big sweeping hug, and remind myself it wasn’t about the finish. It was about proving to myself I was more than my traumas, than my PTSD.

The amazing thing about repeating a positive affirmation to yourself, is that at some point, you don’t have space to believe it isn’t true.

When I crossed the finish line of the Scotiabank Half Marathon 2019, I wasn’t thinking about my past pains, or past struggles. I was thinking of how incredible, how HUMAN our bodies are. That they can do amazing things, and that I will never, ever take that for granted. That no matter WHAT comes my way in life, Yes. I. Can.

I am also extremely grateful to have had an amazing training group via The Running Room Yonge and Eglinton, who were quick to remind me Yes I Can, in the moments I forgot.

Follow along with Dominique's journey @domchesh and stay tuned for her new project The Embodied Alchemy Podcast, launching January 30, 2020. You can also follow along here. Photos by Eva Charalambides.